Charlevoix Family of Faith

Michigan Bridge News:
Greetings again! It has been a while since our last newsletter, and we have many wonderful things to share with you. We have had a wonderful holiday season stateside with friends and family. Valeriia is having fun experiencing American culture, but admittedly, she is very much missing home. We are preparing to return to Ukraine during the 1st week of April. Our work there is ongoing and we are excited to get back.

I am delighted to announce an update on the heating system project for Pastor Brugosh and his congregation. They have completed the installation of the necessary pipes and radiators so that they can continue to celebrate the Lord this winter in the warmth of their recently acquired church!! I have been asked to extend a very special thanks to those of you who have donated to meet this ministry need. It is so wonderful to see this relationship growing. Currently he is preparing for the upcoming spring season and eagerly invites your church and missionary teams to have an opportunity to enjoy the reward of short or long term missions in his community. There are many building and community projects where we can join forces and work together as we share the gospel. If interested please contact me for details as to how you or your church can get involved. His vision for a youth center, community center, and fellowship hall is directed at the intention of creating discipleship programs, counseling centers, and an outreach base where together we can assist his congregation as they are the hands of Jesus reaching out to their neighbors in need. He has wonderful reports from many of his church members testifying to deliverance and freedom from numerous types of bondage. We are very anxious to return to Uzhgorod, and continue working with Pastor Brugosh.

Personal News:
We are into the 7th month of pregnancy and everything is going wonderfully!! I am excited to announce that the ultrasound suggests we are expecting a boy, Russell Daniel Wiser III. One of our biggest concerns regarding the pregnancy, while at home for the holidays in USA, was prenatal care. We do not have insurance, and we are paying for doctors visits out of pocket. We began calling around and pricing different doctors and midwifes in the area. Obviously, one of the main questions they ask is, "which insurance do you have?" None. One office asked about my occupation, so I told them that we are Christian missionaries to Ukraine and are only going to be in the States for a few months. This started a wonderful conversation and finished with, "OK, we'll call you back with a price." When they called back the next day, the nurse explained that the doctor would like to donate his time and that he would see us for free!! I was overwhelmed. They have been very wonderful, attentive, and we are so very thankful for their love offering. We will not disclose the name of the office, but please, take a moment and join us in a prayer of thanksgiving and lift them up for their extreme act of kindness and love, God knows who they are.

We are hoping to return to Ukraine by the 1st week of April to deliver the baby there. Our expected delivery date is May 29th.

We are having a going away party / State side wedding reception / baby shower March 1st here in Northern Michigan. You are all invited and we will be sending our formal invitations soon. Hope to see you there. Call 231-432-8177 for questions about the reception.

Michigan Bridge Ministry is a Christian organization dedicated to supporting missionaries and the projects with which they are involved. Our Goal is to do what we can to help unify the body of Christ in all parts of the world. Our mission partners are both overseas and domestic.

It is our desire to be able to “bridge” the gaps of distance, language, culture, and doctrine by supporting disciples who spread the Word of God and share the Love of Jesus Christ with the world.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Psalms 82:3 (NIV)
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“The Committee for Sexual Protection of Children in Ukraine is committed to developing and maintaining a program that equips this country with materials and resources for a thorough understanding of the moral and social implications of sexuality as we strive to defend the Ukrainian Moral Laws. The programs two fold agenda teaches health, birth control, and abstinence while providing information and access to sources for abuse prevention, Christian rehabilitation counseling, and legal recourse. This goal is being realised by cooperating with both Christian and secular organizations at the international, state, regional, and local levels.”

By reaching out and assisting expectant mothers and young families they not only provide resources like clothing, food and diapers, but also they provide compassionate emotional and spiritual counsel.

Please take a moment and watch the short video to learn more. If your church is willing to join efforts with us for the bottle drive, or if you have any questions, please contact me for more details or go to the PRC web site.

When we return to Ukraine, we will continue the development process needed for the creation of the abuse crisis resource center where our ongoing efforts toward defending the rights of children and moral laws will be coordinated. This year we hope to finalize the paperwork for our NGO status, develop relations with our expanded network of partners, and secure a permanent building where our growing education library and administrative offices will be located.

As we have reported in the past, we have a lawyer who is helping us draft our By-laws and assisting us with the necessary paperwork in order that we can get non profit status. We have our team almost complete, and should be in position to apply for NGO status some time this year.

Our Network of partners is growing. We have been granted membership with Comission for Children at Risk. CoMission exists to equip, resource, and network Christian leaders, organizations, churches and individuals to minister more effectively to orphans and street children in Russia and Eastern Europe. Also, located at the bottom of this page are NGO's which we have had an opportunity to contact and who are interested in assisting CSPCU. They are not legally bound to us, and no formal documents have been drafted detailing our relationship, but the directors of these NGO's have been contacted and are willing to help us in what ever capacity they are able, even if only through counsel, network, and mentoring.

We are expanding our education and resource library. We are always looking for additional resources, specificall ones written in Ukrainian or Russian. We have contacted other organizations who are currently developing sexual education courses specifically designed for Ukraine, and other post-Soviet cultures, and hope to be able to work together to build a library/resource center for the Transcarpathian region. For this year, we will be working out of our house, and it will be acting as the library and Administration offices.

We have a great team of eager workers, trained professionals, qualified leaders, and ambitious evangelists. We are excited about this coming year and welcome your comments and input toward this vision and ministry.