Transcarpathia, Ukraine
Former Soviet Mayor Now Open to Gospel
Terry Butler is a special projects manager who works for Vermeer Manufacturing. With support from the Transcarpathia PMT, Dale and Mary Andringa, Terry has made several trips to Transcarpathia. He recently shared this story of great encouragement and cause for prayer.
Anna Roglev is the wife of Mikola Roglev, and their son, Christo, is 30 years old. Mikola was the mayor for the city of Munkasca in the Transcarpathia region of Ukraine during the time of the Soviet Occupation.
Shortly after the Luke Society’s Christian Medical clinic started operation, Anna got sick and started to go to the clinic for treatment. She got more than she bargained for when she found the love of our Lord Jesus Christ through the doctors and staff. She started to attend church more regularly, and her faith has healed both her body and her spiritual life.
Christo, on the other hand, had not been attending the church for many years and felt disconnected from his relationship with Jesus. He said the church never personalized the good news in such a way that Christo knew how to apply the teachings of Jesus to his life.
I met Christo during a mission trip in 2001. He started asking questions as to why I was there and why I wanted to help them start a micro business installing water and sewer lines. My consistent reply was that Jesus wanted me to help - that it was my love for him and for the Ukrainian people. He couldn’t believe this. He still thought I wanted something from him, so he kept asking me more questions. My reply was always the same. I told him about the love of Jesus and how He died for us. I spent ten hours with Christo on the way to the airport, reading Scripture verses, and trying to answer his questions and gain his trust.
It was during a second mission trip to Romania in August where Christo came with me to help build a school. While we worked, I learned that through his affiliation with the doctors at the clinic, his mom Anna, and my personal testimony, he had accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. In fact, he said there had not been a day that he had not read his Bible and prayed to God since the time I left him at the airport. He said that when he opened his Bible and started reading the Word, Jesus came alive in his heart.
When we first met, Christo was sure he would have to fight me because he knew I wanted something from him, but now he loves me for helping to show him Jesus. This is the best compliment I have ever received. If it were not for the work the PMTs, Mary and Dale Andringa, and the Luke Society in this Eastern European country, I would never have had the chance to share the Word with Christo and his dad, Mikola. Mikola is starting to ask questions about Jesus and is visiting the clinic. He better watch out because he is liable to get more than physical healing because they are in the soul healing business as well.
Pray for Mikola Roglev, that he comes to know Jesus the way his wife and son have, so they can spend eternity together worshiping God with you and me.
Terry Butler