I just received a note from a friend in Kiev, Ukraine telling me that Pastor Bogdan went to be with the Lord. Pastor Bogdan welcomed me and my translator, Mirav to his church during my short visit to Tuzhar (30 KM away from Chernobyl nuclear plant). Two weeks ago he was diagnosed with blood cancer and he died soon after that.
When I visited him and his church last October, he shared his vision and prayer requests with me (read the story on his church here):
1. Please pray for the local church to be the light and salt in the area, to live with faith, not with fear.
2. Send more teachers for Sunday school as the number of families and children are increasing now as the region finally started revitalization 26 years after the devastating disaster in Chernobyl and nearly 13 years after the nuclear plant was permanently closed (read the story on Chernobyl Museum here).
Now I would like to ask you readers of this blog to pray for this local church as they go through grief of losing their shepherd and that God may send another shepherd to comfort them and prepare them for the important mission of rebuilding their community.
Pastor Bogdan,
Thank you for your courageous leadership and commitment in your community. May you rest in God's peace and His loving presence!
