CCX Lviv Graduation party 2011

This Wednesday we've had our last meeting of the semester and our final PIZZA PARTY (which became a good tradition now)! This semester was kind of hard, since we were not in L'viv for almost a month (when we went to Passion Ft.Worth and then our vacation) and overall students were hard to gather all at the same time...:-) You know how it is. So, for this meeting we wanted to get everyine together for one last time this semester.

"This evening I was reminded once again, that God is there, He's big and I am very small. I should remember about this!"

We thank the Lord so much that he allowed so many people to come. Some, whom we haven't seen for many, many month, but also 5-7 new people, who have never been to CCX meetings before. We had students from L'viv Conservatory, Polytechnic university, State University and Culture Institute. The name of the party was Indescribable: The Misteries of the Universe and we've based it on Louie Giglio's lecture "Indescribable". TURNED OUT REALLY well... One of the girls, who was at the meeting said at the end: "I was born in a penticostal family and went to church most of my life. But later I've got frustrated with the church and people there. When I left my parent's house and went to the university for couple of years now, I've lived far from God. This evening I was reminded once again, that God is there, He's big and I am very small. I should remember about this!"

We also had some games, sontests and a GREAT DISCUSSION, after the lecture, which at the end WE HAD TO STOP, cause people got so fired up talking about God in their lives. I also had a chance to tell people about importance of their personal relationship with the Lord and they should read the Bible taking it as a foremost authority.

Again, special BIG thanks to all our team of volunteers: Andriy, Vira, Alina (great decoraitions), Tolik and Taras - for the help in organizing this PARTY!! Without your help it wouldn't have happened. We also thank New Horizon's church of L'viv for the opportunity to meet in their appartment. Overall, the Lord has once again been faithful allowing us (even with all our busyness and lack of time) to finish the semester STRONG and look confidently into the future of CCX L'viv as we await Misha and Irena - our staff workers - to come and join the work here in September 2011. Please keep praying for CCX Ukraine and God's work in the hearts of Ukrainian students!!

Some pics from CCX L'viv Graduation Party 2011

Passion 2011 Ft.Worth: Day 1

First day of Passion 2011 at Ft. Worth just passed by and WOW - what a start! The main verse that Louie spoke on this evening was from Philipians 1: " For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain!" Powerful, powerful words!!

The conference has started out kind of slowly (most people started getting registered around 18:00), but sure enough by the start of the first session we had a room full with over 10,000 students in it. The worshp time was great, as always, even though sound was not the same as usual. But when we opened the word of God the Lord has really started opening up what the conference will be about.

"Has the TRAJECTORY for your life been set?"

Louie was reading from Philipians 1 and then from Acts 9:1-5, 9 and talking about how it is important for us as Christiains to first and forewmost to be the "servants of Jesus Christ" (that's how Paul introduces himself and Timothy in the beginning of the book). It is important that people know us in that role first of all. Then he contiued talking about why Paul always introduced himself like that - at some point in his life he went through a life changing encounter with Jesus Christ. and he just could not be the same (Acts 9:1-9).

That meeting on the road to Damascus for Saul (whom Paul used to be) has set a TRAJECTORY for the rest of his life. A change that he went trough was enormous and inreversable. "Can we all confidently say that in each of our lives we went trough that change?" If we didn't and just pretend being a Christian, the we will not be living out the words of Paul, where death would be gain for us, but to continue living in this world is Christ.

"We often turn Paul's word upside down! "We live to gain, and when we die then we will be with Christ (even though truth be told, we really do not want to die)"

It was interesting, that even though the book of Philippians is mostly about joy, from the very first session of the conference the keynote was seeming to be on transformational change that takes place in our hearts, when we experience God face to face for the FIRST TIME. The question, which Louie was getting at that first evening was: "Have you ever really experiened that transformational change, that only God can bring in your life?"

Then in the evening before we went to the David Crowder live concert we went to the prayer area, which is called "Kneel" to pray for around an hour: for the conference, for our nation, campuses and the world. It was an incredible experience, even though I'm usually not the most endurant person when it comes to prayer:-( However, this time it was such a blessing both for me and Katya to go through...

Well, I think this is enough information for this post, even though that first day of Passion was that and much more (as it usually is at Passion conferences). Good night, will update more later!!

PASSION 2010: Day 4

This last day of Passion was both happy and sad. It was great to be there and experience the final accords of this AMAZING conference, with Louie speaking from Philippians 2nd chapter about the importance of working OUT our salvation. It was important to hear and be encouraged that the meaning of this conference is NOT only the conference itself, but what will happen after it. Should watch it on ALL DIGITAL ACCESS later and dig deeper...

I can definitely feel that this is the most important outcome of our trip to Atlanta - what we will do and how will be live after we are back to Ukraine... and I am grateful, that the Lord has started and amazing NEW season in our lives after attending Passion 2010 in Atlanta and meeting all those wonderful people. They were a great example of how to live for Christ and to have Him increased and glorified in our own lives.

It was sad to leave, but on the other hand by doing that we had another interesting acquaintance waiting for us. One of the volunteers (his name was Jim) that server at Passion 2010 and lives in Atlanta has graciously agreed to host us in his house for 2 days... He lives at Buckhead and attends church there, which is a part of North Point Community Church. Jim gave us a really warm welcome at his house and cooked great food, both days we stayed there. It was cool to get to know him better and find out about what he's doing. THANK you Jim for your HOSPITALITY!!:-)

He also gave me bunch of books and DVDs of Andy Stanley, who spoke at the conference as well, so now I am listening and reading to a lot of his stuff, which I really like... He speaks a lot on leadership, which is an interesting topic for me.

Anyway, we are leaving Atlanta PACKED with impressions, which, I am sure, will RIPPLE through our hearts and lives for MANY MORE years to come. Thank you LORD for Passion 2010 and for true AWAKENING!!

PASSION 2010: Day 1

OK, today was the first day at the conference... and we are just back to our hotel room. Wow, it is hard to describe what we have experienced today. Right from the start we've felt that this is going to be a very special conference, since we were invited as guest leaders and have met so many wonderful and interesting people in here.

Today, before the main session we had a dinner together with guys, who are a part of Passion leadership team. We've met people from Texas, who have been to L'viv in the past and know some of the people we know back home. So it was cool to talk about different things together. Also, we've had a chance to see some of the main musicians from the Passion team - David Crowder (and his band), Christy Nockels and Christ Tomlin.

Louie Giglio preached the first night from John Chapter 11,12 about Jesus healing Lazarus, and how we all should consider awakening for the Glory of Gog and trade our "small" lives for being a part of MUCH BIGGER picture, that God is painting around the world.

Then we had our Community groups (where we split into smaller groups, well ours was 3,500 people) and discuss what we've heard at the sermon, sharing how it has touched our lives).

Anyhow, this is briefly how it was. All together over 22,000 have registered for the conference. So it is AMAZING to see so many united for the GLORY of GOD. Will write more later.