“God used us to do something great!”

Westlink Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas, has been a partner with CMF’s work in the Ukraine for 20 years, and has enjoyed a 15-year association with CMF missionaries Cory and Janice Lemke’s church-planting ministry in Feodosia, Ukraine. Westlink’s Executive Pastor Larry Wren and Lead Pastor Todd Carter recently returned from a 10-day visit to Ukraine. Larry shares some reflections on his trip and the years of fruitful partnership below:

At the Training Center, the two men taught a two-day course on Howard Dayton’s book, “Your Money Matters,” and provided Crown Ministry materials in Russian to each of the 40 participants. “There were lots of questions, as this was the first time for many to talk about giving, saving, debt, etc. openly and how they can teach these important truths with the groups,” Larry noted.

On Friday night, February 26, the group enjoyed a time of thanksgiving and celebration for the Lemkes and their 15 years of service in Ukraine. “We also had a CMF-style ‘capping’ ceremony complete with ‘International Harvester’ caps for the members of the  leadership team (Alexi, Nicholai, Dima, Sasha, etc.), encouraging them to move forward in the next chapter of training church planters, however God leads. It was a great evening of joyful celebration and prayerful launching for the future,” said Larry.

The two pastors also spent time with the various church-planters in their villages, and were pleased to see the progress that all were making. It was also a time of reunion for Larry.

“It was great to visit the Feodosia Church again where it all started.  Many of the dear friends we met on our first exploratory trip are still serving and ministering in that church.  We had a big idea that God would use us to start one church amongst the Crimean Tatars through that local fellowship.  But God had a much bigger plan.  He took two leaders from that church who formed a leadership team led by Cory Lemke, that in the past 10 years has planted more than 40 churches and is now planning to go to other Russian-speaking countries to train other church planters!”

Larry admits that this was a very emotional trip for him. “I have a great sense of joy and gratitude as I think about what has happened in the past 20 years. This has been a great church planting movement. Many new congregations have been planted and a system is in place with leadership to continue the movement.”

He also emphasizes the importance of the partnership between Westlink and CMF, which shared the original vision for a church planting team in Ukraine and connected Westlink with the Lemkes, who led the pioneering work. Westlink invested approximately $500,000 to encourage and support this Kingdom work.

“In summary,” concludes Larry, “it’s been a great ride. There is so much synergy when we can work together with a common goal. I think it’s really important that we celebrate all that God has done. In spite of who we are as individuals, fallen and prone to go our own way, together God used us to do something great.”