James "Jay" and Piera Young, Christian workers in Italy and Ukraine

April 18, 1997

Dear ones in Christ,

It's early Friday morning in Odessa, and I felt the need to drop you a personal note. Piera is better, thanks to God, but, sadly, I have contracted one of the many viruses present in this developing country's major port city, am now running temperature, feel really bad, but we continue to push ahead. Being ill when at home is bad enough, but to be sick while in Odessa compounds the misery. Piera's and my living conditions here in Odessa are incredibly "spartan" and we long for our own beds... Our hosts are wonderful Christians, but the space in their home is what it is, and it would be an understatement to say "we're a little cramped." While in Kiev missionary coworkers gave us some antibiotics to take if we needed them. Piera and I both have begun to take them to avoid more serious respiratory complications. Let me give you an update on the situation here.

Our series of studies, "Why We Are Members of the Lord's Church" started very well and have been well attended. But there are now serious complications.

Those "Religious Affairs" authorities are trying to intimidate our people here as much as they can. When I came to speak and hold studies in October, our men went to their office with their invitation letter addressed to me thinking they needed the approval of the authorities, and the authorities told them: "whatever you do in your church does not interest us, it's ok with us..." This time, our men wrote me a letter of invitation to us to hold the studies in Odessa, but, because of what the authorities had told them in October, they did not think it was necessary to secure that office's approval. Obviously tipped off by a "mole" in the church (which the authorities have been successful in seriously threatening!), their agent shows up at the second meeting (which was Monday evening)! Brother Valentin and I went to greet him and not only did he refuse to greet us, he threatened both us personally and to close the church because, as he said, "you continue to break the law"!

Valentin phoned the "chief" of that office on Tuesday asking to know what the problem was with my holding the series of studies for the church, which was unpublicized. First the chief told him that my visa is not good for Odessa (which is not true!), but to come to his office for a visit, but not to bring me... When Valentin and Valery (both leading men of the church here now) went to the "Religious Affairs Office" the authorities demanded a full explanation of my "business" in Odessa, and evidence that I did, indeed, have a visa from the University in Kiev. When our men asked them if they wanted to see my visa, they responded: "We know all about him." The night before I had phoned the President of the University in Kiev where I regularly lecture on the Bible and Christianity. I told him of the developments here in Odessa, and advised him that the police might contact him to know if I enjoyed official status with the university. He told me not to worry, that he would set anyone straight who might inquire as to our status with the university.

These authorities of the "Religious Affairs Office" are "holdover's" from Communist-Soviet times, and have the support of the Russian Orthodox Church which wants all of us out of the countries of the former U.S.S.R. And they still threaten people. The American Embassy in Kiev told me that they are part of the opposition to the current government, that all they can do is harass us and our people and to be sure and inform the American Embassy if any discrimination takes place regarding our churches. If we are arrested (which is unlikely), the American diplomats told us to call them immediately and they would intervene very quickly.

The authorities proceeded to reprimand our brothers because they FIRST did not secure the authorities' approval for their invitation to me before having me to come to Odessa. When our men brought to their attention the fact that on my last visit the authorities said such a procedure was not necessary, they did not even answer! It's obvious the authorities are looking for any pretext possible to discourage our people and those of us who come here to work. Our men will return today to that office to furnish them with the information they have demanded. In the meantime, we're going to continue the studies, our visits, evangelism and work with our children.

Regarding our work with the children, we are most pleased to report to you that little SERGEY YAVORSKY (whom we brought to Italy in November of last year for medical treatment and with whose expenses many of you assisted) is doing very well. He has developed physically far beyond our brightest expectations, and we will carry back to Italy the results of a recent echo-cardiogram for the review of doctors there. We have added to our program some other very needy children, and God continues to work through us to help those who cannot help themselves. Thanks to all of you who help us help others.

The church here is continuing to do what we have taught them: they are teaching and baptizing people and the church continues to grow and now is at great peace. There is the problem of a stable place in which to meet, of course, but God will find a solution for that, too. Our work as faithful evangelists is always to carefully implement 2 Timothy 2:2: "What you have heard...entrust to faithful ones that they may teach others also." This is what we are doing in Italy; it's what we are doing here. This is the only way to insure the continuity and survivability of the churches we plant and seek to nourish.

Some missionaries see the need to continually report baptisms they personally perform. Piera's and my policy is to teach, teach and let the locals do the baptisms. Sometimes the baptisms occur when we have taken our leave of the congregation to which we have brought our studies and evangelism. The glory must always go to God. We are sowing seed for eternity, and some of our labors will reach fruition long after we are no longer on the scene. The New Testament teaches clearly there are three steps which must be accomplished before there will be growth in God's Kingdom: the sowing of the "seed of the Kingdom" (see Luke 8), followed by the "watering" process and then God who "makes it grow" (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Let's all continue working together for eternity! Thank you so much for your continuous prayers for the work you and we are doing together and for the people whose lives are being touched by God through our ministry.

The Lord's and your servants,
James "Jay" and Piera Young