FLF at work - Summer 2009 Update

Summer
2009

It is a joyful experience to have a part in developing training and retreat opportunities or to have a part in creating curriculum.

And, it is humbling to receive thanks from those that have benefitted from the work of Future Leadership Foundation.

This newsletter contains several notes of appreciation and news of a major milestone reached. You can also find the opportunities for the future -- upcoming events and material needs.

FLF invites you to take a few minutes to read this edition of Reaching Across and to be a part of a ministry that is active and producing results.

Please encourage others to receive this newsletter: E-mail newsletter@flfmissions.org.

Russian Federation

My dream for Russia is that each town will have its own Evangelical church, that each pastor will be theologically educated, that each church will have its own place of worship, and that each citizen of Russia will receive the Good News."
            -- Rev. Peter Mitskevitch
               Rector, Moscow Theological Seminary
                (pictured in top picture, front row, center)

This flagship seminary of the Russian Baptist Union was founded in 1993, with a current enrollment of approximately 541 on the main campus and six regional learning centers.

This month in St. Louis, Dr. Ian Chapman, president of the Moscow Theological Seminary board, and Dr. Ted Rodgers, executive director of the Russian Leadership Ministries (www.russianleadership.org), met with some of the leadership of FLF. Together they discussed compelling opportunities at Moscow Theological Seminary.

Pray for both organizations as they work together under the direction of the Holy Spirit to see how they can partner together in ways that will help the seminary as they produce future leaders.

Ukraine

Ukranian leadership event: You can be involved

One of the new strategic partners for the Future Leadership Foundation that God has brought is Yaroslav (Slavik) Pyzh and his family (below). At age 30, Slavik is beginning his final educational stage with a Ph.D. program at Southwestern Seminary, Fort Worth, TX. He is currently academic dean of Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary, the only Ukrainian-speaking Baptist seminary in the country; he will become president upon the retirement of the current leader, Dr. Ivan Romanyuk.

Pyzh family

Slavik will join four Americans in leading the All-Ukrainian Regional Pastors and Senior Leadership event, November 16-20 at the Skole, Ukraine, Retreat Center. (See more below.)

The event will address vision development and casting, strategic planning, change management and organizational leadership for 20 regional pastors and 5 national staff.

Specific emphasis will be on transforming the churches/people from a legalistic, inward focus to an outward, soul-winning focus. During the week, each participant will develop his own plan to implement in their region so that churches can be more effective in reaching their communities for Christ.

A separate leadership track for spouses will focus on biblical women of influence to help them minister to local church pastors' wives.

FLF invites you to help sponsor a regional pastor and spouse for the entire week. The cost of a full week is a $300 contribution though we would be grateful for you to designate any amount. Send it to: Future Leadership Foundation, PO Box 105225, Jefferson City MO 65110. In response, we will partner you with a specific Ukrainian couple who will communicate back to you following their retreat.

For more information, call 866.652.5150, and press "1" at the prompt to reach FLF Executive Director Roger Hatfield, or by e-mail at rwh@flfmissions.org.

Can you help provide a vehicle?

Slavik Pyzh and his family could use the non-cash gift of a vehicle while in the Ph.D. program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; he expects to complete this in 2011. The Pyzhes need a multi-use family vehicle with seating for 7-8, either a Ford, Chevy, Toyota, or Honda product. They are also in need of a smaller car for around-town use, transporting four kids to school, etc. The vehicles must be in very good shape with less than 150,000 miles.

The charitable donation would be to First Baptist Church, Ellisville, Missouri, who would handle the details and work with the donor on documents for IRS substantiation. Contact Mike Murray at 636.451.2254 (home) or 314.605.4840 (cell).

Meeting needs at Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary

Ukrainian Seminary president Dr. Ivan Romanyuk and academic dean Slavik Pyzh have requested Future Leadership Foundation's assistance in securing an intense week of training, November 16-20.

The planned course has three tiers of training: Crown Financial's basic stewardship training
"Called to Honor," biblical studies in guiding the recompensing of church pastors and staff
"Mission, Vision and Work of the All-Age Sunday School"