Nelson Newsletter – May 2009

Greetings from Ukraine - where it is finally warm and green! God is showing off His power and beauty with the flowers and new life that surround us. The transformation of the earth reminds us of the power of the gospel to transform lives. The miracle of the new birth in Christ transforms us, holding us spellbound. And it should! We are spellbound at God’s grace that has allowed us to be here in Ukraine and witness lives being trans-formed. Sometimes the transformation in people seems slow and sometimes it seems to happen overnight. But, it is all God’s work. He began it, and He will finish it. We are blessed to be part of GCE, working alongside missionaries with a similar passion (photo). Here is what we have seen recently of God’s transforming grace.
Great Commission Europe Staff -April Conference

House Churches We continue to meet in our apartment on Sunday to worship Christ, build each other’s faith, and reach out to our lost family and friends. Danelle and I have been refreshed by:
- Listening to Vlad and Lena ask heartfelt questions, seeking to grow as young parents.
- Helping Dima and Marina reach out to the lost at the Autistic School. Dima has also helped me recruit students for our sports camp in June.
- Hearing Sasha, a new believer, pray for his roommates and his sister to come to Christ.
- Encouraged by Sergei taking the initiative to share the gospel with some Mormons.
We so much want them to “get it”; to run with the Holy Spirit and make disciples of their fellow countrymen. Pray for us as we mentor them and several house church leaders in the Kiev area.
Family Affairs We flew home last month to hear Grace sing at her final recital. She sang like an angel! Danelle, our other daughters, and our daughters-in-law prepared food for the reception. And thanks to the Batchelors for cleaning up! It was a rich family time that made good memories!

While we were there another major event occurred. Stephanie & David Shirley got engaged! We are so happy for them! David is a godly young man who loves the Lord Jesus and treats Stephanie as his princess. He’d better! ☺ They plan to get married August 8^th in Atlanta, and will live in Athens, GA. David is in graduate school and Stephanie has one more year at UGA.
Running Camp We are presently recruiting high school students to attend our running/sports camp June 15-20. Alan Parrish and a few other coaches are coming to help teach running techniques, lead discussions about health and share the gospel with these young people. We hope to have about 20-30 students attend this event.

Steve’s New Book Do you know someone who is considering marriage; or perhaps a teenager or a single person trying to understand love and relationships? Steve has written a new book, Secure In An Insecure World, addressing our insecurities, fears and doubts that often lead us to unwise, and even desperate decisions regarding marriage. Steve’s book is filled with real life stories from his years of interaction with college students. He offers practical ways to find love and contentment before marriage. To read more or order a copy, please go to www.gcmnelson.com. We published this book here in Ukraine and plan to use the proceeds to have the book translated into Russian. We are excited about the possibility of these truths transforming lives in the former Soviet Union as well.

Prayer Requests:

1. God would capture the hearts of those in our house churches with His love for one another and the lost.
2. God would bring students to our camp with open hearts and save many.
3. God would lead our House Church conference in Kiev, May 21-24.
4. God would start many new churches outside of Kiev.
5. God would prepare David and Stephanie to have a Christ-centered marriage. 2 Corinthians 11:3

We are yours in our Lord Jesus Christ,


Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter - March 2009

Running Camp plans crystallized during last week’s meetings with Alan Parish and the coach, Vladimir Fedorets. God is answering our prayers! The two camps will take place June 8-12 and 15-20. Please pray for the students to attend the camp that God wants. Pray for them and their parents to be open to the gospel. Pray that God would assemble the team of Americans to come and serve these students.
House Church continues to grow as the Spirit of God changes lives! Danelle and I are thrilled with the small group (13 people are involved) that meets in our home every Sunday. This past month two unbelievers, Victoria and Eugene, have attended our meetings. Pray for their salvation. Ask God to empower the believers to lay down their lives for others, and to start new house churches in their homes. We are asking God to bring revival here!
Kostia and I had an excellent time last Saturday talking about knowing God personally as we ran and walked in the park. We met through our English club several years ago and have become close friends. He is a lawyer whose father deserted them, his only brother died in an accident and his mother, with whom he lived, passed away last June. Kostia has shared with me his hardships, as well as his dreams. Please pray for God to open Kostia’s eyes to his need for Christ.

Additional Prayer Requests “but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.” Acts 12:5
> Pray for the folks in our house church to multiply; lead others to Christ and make disciples.
> Please pray for our European staff retreat April 8-12 to be lead by God and building to all.
> Pray for Danelle and I to effectively disciple leaders. We are mentoring house church leaders.
> Pray for many new churches to begin as a result of our preaching the gospel in other cities.

Thank you for standing with us financially and prayerfully,

Steve & Danelle

Nelson Newsletter – February 2009

Hello dear friends! How are you holding up? Our world is changing rapidly and leaving many of us uncertain, afraid, and anxious about our future. Isn’t it comforting that we know the One who holds the future in His hands? “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 Satan attacks our faith to destroy it. “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16. We too sense these attacks on our faith, and covet your prayers! Thank you for praying for us, as we fight the good fight of faith here in Ukraine. Here are some recent answers!

Marriage Conference We had ten couples and a few singles attend our one day marriage conference. God answered prayer by preparing their hearts to receive the word of God. Danelle and I both taught, and there were good questions and a lively discussion at the end. Ukrainian marriages desperately need instruction, encouragement, and good role models. Maxim Rakovich translated the teaching, and we plan to put them on our simple church website where anyone who speaks Russian can listen to them, it is also in English. Timmy Powers and others have done an excellent job with this website which reaches out to all the countries of the former Soviet Union. Check it out! www.simplechurch.com.ua
Sasha Neskuba is a young lawyer who began attending our English club last year. Last summer I shared the gospel with him personally. During that time, I asked him, “Sasha, if you were to die today, would you go to heaven?” He said he knew that he would not go to heaven. He thought some day he would become a Christian, but he still had more questions. Then, two weeks ago, his roommate had a dream in which Sasha died. After hearing the dream, Sasha remembered our conversation from last summer, and knew he would have gone to hell if he really had died. That day he asked Jesus to save him! Please pray for his spiritual growth.
Running Camp will be held the last two weeks of June! We are in the process of planning a camp for high school students interested in running. Alan Parish, a coach and teacher from Rome, Georgia, is coming over in March to meet with Coach Vladimir Fedoretz and I to plan the camp. Please pray for the Spirit of God to lead us and draw many to new life in Christ as a result of this camp.
Please pray for us as we continue to study Russian so we can be more effective. Pray for revival in Ukraine; a movement of the Spirit to embolden each Christian to love the lost and share the gospel.
We hope you enjoyed our latest ministry video – Running to Win. You can watch it by going to this site: http://2macaroon.com/mv08/SN_08.php
We thank God for you and pray for you often!


Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter - December 2008

Merry Christmas!

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! What a joy it is to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to freshly wonder that God became a man for us! Our God indeed loves every person in the world and wants them to have eternal life, abundant life, and new life through Christ! It is our prayer for you to experience Christ in 2009 in a very real and deep way.
God graciously gave us seven wonderful children. Here are some of their highlights from 2008.
Scott and Maria gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, James Stephen Nelson, in October. They are in love with him and each other more and more every day. They feel that God has been trying to teach them many invaluable lessons. The financial crisis has brought challenges to Scott’s business. They ask that you pray for their needs and that they listen and pay attention to God.
Micah and Whitney both just graduated with their Masters in Fine Arts.  This August Micah spent two weeks in China during the Olympic Games, premiering a documentary commissioned by Coca-Cola.  He won a regional student Academy Award, and was a national finalist for an experimental short film he produced.  Whitney was recently featured in Peach Magazine in their 2008 "Movers and Shakers" issue as "The Artist".  This spring she will exhibit in her first museum group show, and she was awarded three artist residencies.
Matthew, Julie, and Jasper continue their frigid adventures in New York City where Matthew is working towards a Master of Fine Arts (matthewstudio.com); Julie manages her seamstress business (juliesews.com); and Jasper is learning dance, vocal performance, art, gymnastics, and culinary craft, all within the six hundred square feet of their apartment (jasperruns.com). Recent accomplishments for the trio include: Matthew's successful completion of his first semester; Julie's ability to scale four flights of stairs and go through a narrow Subway turnstile while sporting a purse, diaper bag, stroller, six bags of groceries, a new vacuum cleaner, and a squirming two year old (seriously); and Jasper's uncanny expansion of vocabulary, hair growth, and mastery of the summersault.
Matthew and Amanda continue to learn about marriage and enjoy being together.  Matthew started a new job as a purchaser for a display manufacturer. Amanda has worked for two years at the same financial company. They are thankful to have their jobs, but need prayer because both of their companies have had several layoffs. They are leading a Bible study group with their church, Trinity Vineyard of Atlanta, where they are deeply involved. They also like peaches! This photo was taken on the Newton farm in Millen, GA.
Stephanie finished the first block of the Early Childhood Education Program at the University of Georgia. She made the UGA Ultimate Frisbee A Team. This spring she will travel with the team to a number of meets, so please pray for safe travel and opportunities to share the gospel with the girls on the team. Most are not believers.
Grace recently finished her first lead-role in the opera The Medium at Shorter College. She is currently working on the opera Cinderella, where she will perform as one of the step-sisters. Next semester she will have a lighter class load, so she will be looking for a job. Please pray for her to find the exact job God wants her to have.
Merry is enjoying her first semester at Georgia College and State University. She has been active on the campus by participating in intramural sports, leading a Bible study in her dorm, and hanging out with her new friends. Also, as Hall council President, she loves to plan and participate in events in her dormitory. She is very glad to be back in the States so she can see her brothers and sisters more frequently. But, she is also looking forward to her visit to Ukraine in January.
These are financially challenging times in which we live, and we need God’s grace and peace to sustain us. A few of our ministry partners have had to cut back on their giving this year. Danelle and I need your financial support to continue our work in Ukraine. Please pray about sending a special gift to our ministry, or increasing your monthly support. Make your gift out to GCM, using the address below. Please know that whatever you do, we are deeply thankful for each of you, and the sacrifice you make each month. We cherish your friendship and look forward to eternity together with you and our Lord!

Maranatha!

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter - November 2008

Greetings from Ukraine! Thank you for your vital part of our work here. Here’s the latest news.

Safe Haven Orphanage Bagdon (with goatee and glasses) and his wife Anya (holding their son) continue their fine work with older orphans at Safe Haven. They invite specific orphans who are interested in spiritual matters, when they leave the state orphanage (have graduated), to come and live with them at Safe Haven. Safe Haven is a Christian ministry which teaches young people life skills, helps them get jobs, and/or attend college. God has radically changed many of their lives! Also, there’s a house church that meets at Safe Haven and the orphans are a vital part of it. Danelle has met with the women of the church several times to study the Bible and answer their questions about marriage and children. We are excited for this opportunity to build into their lives. Recently, they started another church!

Family Affairs On Saturday, October 11^th, my father passed away. Donald H. Nelson lived for 85 years and was happily married to my mother for almost 60 years. We got the call in Ukraine from my family and left the next day for Atlanta. The funeral service was a sweet time of remembering my dad, celebrating his life here and his eternal life with Christ. It truly captured his life and personality and glorified God. My brother, sister and I all spoke, along with his pastor and friend, Bryan Pillsbury. Our daughter Grace sang several songs, and David Carnes played the piano, as requested by my father. The trip was bitter-sweet. We were able to be there for the birth of James Stephen Nelson, Scott and Maria’s first child. And we were able to attend the opera, in which our daughter Grace had the lead. She amazed us all! We thank God for my father and all the great memories he gave us. We miss you dad!

Prayer Requests “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
1. Mentoring. Pray for us to have love and wisdom as we mentor Ukrainians.
2. Revival. Pray for God’s love for the lost to motivate Ukrainians to evangelize.
3. Disciples. Pray specifically for Maxim and Lena, Ivan, Vlad and Lena, and Bagdon and Anya to be committed to God’s plans for Ukraine and to be effective in making disciples.
4. Russian. We continue to need God’s grace to persevere in learning Russian.
5. Sports School. Pray for our future Bible study with Vlad (coach) & Elena. They initiated this!
6. Mother. Pray for God’s grace to strengthen my mother as she adjusts to life without dad.

Yours in our Savior’s love,

Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter - October 2008

International Church Conference God brought 50 men and women from Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine for a four day conference. They were invited to participate because they are practicing house/simple church in their countries and want to multiply these churches. It was a unique conference with many open discussions where we shared from our heart what God was teaching us. The love and unity was amazing, considering that most of these believers had never met. We discussed leadership, discipleship, and evangelism. Several times we prayed together, asking God to save specific unbelievers. We also asked God to send out more workers into the harvest. Please pray for our role in their lives. This may involve traveling to their countries to encourage and train them. Did you notice that Danelle has a halo? Is it the reflection from my running jacket, or did I truly marry an angel?
Our House Church We meet in our home each Sunday as a church with a small group of young believers. The concept of each person participating is catching on very well. We would like to see them own this and run with it, leading people to Christ and multiplying these groups across Kiev and Ukraine.
Sports School Outreach Olympic coach Vladimir and his son Anton came to our apartment recently. Danelle and I answered their many questions about God and shared Christ with them. Praise God!
New Ministry Video David Mansfield was here helping us make a new video about our ministry in Ukraine. We are thankful for David’s expertise, and we eagerly anticipate the results!

Prayer Requests

1. Our language studies: Danelle has a new tutor she likes. We would both persevere.
2. Our health: it has been one area of spiritual attack.
3. Our house church: the young believers mature and that God would save people through us.
4. New churches: in Cherkose, Chernigov, and the countries above.
5. The birth of James Nelson: for Maria and James to be safe and healthy. It will be soon!
6. My father (Don Nelson): health problems.

Serving Christ in Ukraine because of you,
Steve and Danelle

Nelson Newsletter - August 2008

Greetings from “Hot ‘Lanta!” We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Atlanta this summer, and it has been hot! God has given us quality time with our children, my parents and friends. We spoke in several churches, had parties for our supporters in Atlanta and Columbia, SC, and met with many of you personally to share about our work in Ukraine. We felt God’s amazing love and grace and it refreshed our souls! Thank you all for being on our team! Speaking of teams, did you watch the Olympics? (Did you notice the gold in our newsletter?) There were many nights where we gathered with family and friends to see the amazing feats performed in Beijing. We were looking for my Ukrainian friends – coaches and athletes with whom I have shared God’s love and truth. Aren’t you glad you don’t have to get to heaven by winning a race, by your performance? Salvation is a free gift of God! I had a chance today to explain that to Brian, a plumber from New York, who was here fixing a leak. He said he was very open and eagerly took the Bible and booklet I offered him. Praise God! The harvest is plentiful saints! Look around you today and be ready to give an account for the hope that is within you.
Russia Invading Georgia Many of you have asked us about what impact Russia’s invasion of Georgia will have on us in Ukraine. We don’t see any immediate danger. Russia will continue to put pressure on Ukraine and others in Europe by controlling the natural gas supply. Please pray for peace in Georgia!

Ministry To Orphans Bagdon and his wife Anya (on right, in white) do an excellent job ministering to former orphans. They help them transition to the real world - finding jobs or attending college. They invite them to live with them where they hear the gospel and see God’s love daily. They disciple them if they trust Christ as their Savior. Here is a baptism of three new believers. About 7-8 have given their lives to Christ this year! They asked Danelle and I disciple them and to help with the church meeting in their home. It has been a pleasure to work with such kind people!
Mentoring Men My main purpose is to mentor young men. It is so simple - living life together, serving others together and being a friend. In June I spent several days with Ivan at his home in southern Ukraine where I met has grandfather (right) and mother. Ivan appreciated the rich spiritual conversations we had. So did I!
Prayer Requests After three years of living in Ukraine, we are more adjusted to the culture, more fluent in the language, and also we are empty nesters; therefore we are trusting God, and anticipating a year of great fruitfulness Here are some specific requests.

• Kiev Simple Church Conference (Sept. 11-14)
• Great Commission Europe Pastors/Wives Conference (Sept 30-Oct 4)
• Effective Mentoring With Maxim, Ivan, Vlad and Serge.
• Starting New Churches in Kiev and Chernigov
• Stephanie, Grace & Merry In College
• Matthew, Julie & Jasper Living In NYC
• Scott and Maria’s Baby Due In October

Yours in Christ’s Love,

Steve and Danelle