Summer Season

Summer should be sunny and bright. But Clouds of War continue gathering in the East, and the whole world seems in turmoil. Whatever the seasons in our lives, however, we are to be faithful: “Preach the Word… In Season and Out of Season” (2 Tim 4:2).

In Season – This is the Regular Ministry: Preaching and teaching goes on apace. Clay is no longer President of seminary, so he’s free to develop Christian Education and to consult on Women’s Ministry. Seminary duties continue: grading, keeping up with students, preparing to teach fall classes, Board and Staff meetings, Graduation, team care, occasional preaching in our local church, and traveling to Poland to teach the whole Book of Acts in one week!

Marriage seems to be in season, as several of our students and church members are tying the knot. Hooray! May the Lord raise up more covenant families! Darlene took July to help family in Jackson, and we may come on Home Ministry Assignment in winter.

 Out of Season – These are the sometimes odd opportunities that arise in the midst of our faithful service:

-    Doing Egg Toss and  singing “Proud Mary” at English Club, which led to side discussions and individual sessions. These led to further Discipleship meetings, correcting aberrant internet teachings on divorce and remarriage. Some students have received Christ and are coming to church!

 -    WAR has brought upheaval to many. We visited Refugees in Odessa and Syrian refugees in Poland. We got to know refugee families in Kiev. Will the Russian War come further west? Seminary student Sasha moved from the East to central Ukraine, so he decided to plant a church there! Clay is consulting. Just as in the book of Acts, God even uses evils such as persecution and war to spread his Good News. New Student Mikhail told Clay in his intake interview that military service led him to seek the meaning of life, leading then to church and to faith. This is a day of opportunity! Please PRAY.

 -    Meetings with refugees, Chaplains, and PTSD counselors tell us that many Christian Pacifists end up at war, struggling to connect duty to country and family with their theology. So, we dedicated an issue of the ERSU Seminary Journal to this, and Clay contributed “Christian Ministry in Time of War”.

Ukraine continues her struggle for Freedom. But her real and eternal hope is only in Jesus! Thanks for your prayers for Ukraine! 

Clay & Darlene Quarterman, 
Kiev, Ukraine