Healing Mission to Ukraine:
September 17 - 26, 2004
St. Michael’s Church.

The Healing Mission to Ukraine Team, John and Patti Sosnowski, Jean and Johnnie Corbett from St. Michael’s, Susalee and Bill Sasser from St. Andrew’s, Mt. Pleasant, Michele Bryan, St. John’s Johns Island, Weezi Shaw, Church of our Saviour, Johns Island, and Michael Repak, Seacoast departed Charleston International Airport on Friday, September 17 at 9:00 a.m. for their 10-day mission to minister healing and fellowship.

There we were warmly met at Borispol Airport in Keiv, Ukraine by Pastor Peter Chernyavsky and Sasha his son, Oksana and Rouslan, two of our four translators, and a van driver, Vasilli. After a two hour van ride from Keiv, we arrived at Central Baptist Church in Zhitomir, for prayers, a quick tour of the church, host assignments, and a schedule for the week. The plan was for the team to worship in a small village, Lyschin, on Sunday morning. Jean, the team leader was asked to speak first and introduce the team. Each team member shared their testimony, or said why they wanted to come to Ukraine. Then Johnnie preached the sermon. The Team was invited to sing as well! Sunday evening, we went to Central Baptist Church, and repeated the morning program. Sasha Chernyavsky directed a special youth choir presentation.

On Monday, we were divided into three teams (1) The Food Delivery Team: Johnnie, John, Michele, Weezi, a driver, a “social worker,” a “nurse,” and a translator who would pack bags of food for the needy in the village of Lychin and then Chudin (2) the Dental Clinic, led by Dr. Bill and assisted by Michael, and a translator (3) the Healing Conference led by Jean, and assisted by Patti and Susalee, and a translator. The entire team was present as we began each day of the conferences, and all ministered during the healing services. Pastor Peter is a man full of the Holy Spirit, full of the joy of the Lord, and a mighty man of prayer. This Godly man prays expecting God to answer his prayers. His main purpose of ministry is to bring the people of Ukraine into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

During the teaching and healing conference, we were blown away with the receptivity of the people, lay people and pastors. We were amazed at God’s willingness to confirm His Word in demonstration, as it was proclaimed. We witnessed miracles that we had only read about. The blind could see and the lame could walk. We had the privilege to go into two villages to deliver food bags and to pray with the people there. We went into the homes of the poorest of the poor, and people welcomed us with open arms and tears of joy for the gift of food, and prayer. Usually the first thing that would happen when we presented them with the bags of food, their tears would begin to flow. They could not believe that anyone cared for them! Then we would ask them if we could pray with them and what would they like prayers for. The people would state their request, and as we prayed, their tears and our tears would flow again and again, and again. Our translators were excellent assistants! We thank God for them.

Many years ago this scripture spoke to my heart, as I read the scripture of when John the Baptist was in prison and sent word to Jesus asking, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered, “Go and tell John what you hear and see; the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.” Brothers and Sisters, we saw sight restored, the lame walking and rejoicing, and we saw people who were touched by the hand of Jesus, turn, and touch and pray for their fellow villagers to receive healing for their diseases, and God showed up! There were poor people without even a morsel of bread in their homes - hopeless - and Jesus brought hope into their lives.

We simply don’t have sufficient words to thank each of you for your prayers and support during this mission. It was a truly anointed time! God was with us! It is time for us to share our wealth with our brothers and sisters in need. We left part of our hearts in the Ukraine and intend to go back and do what we can to relieve some of the suffering. ~ Jean Corbett