Breakthrough Mission Blog
October 10, 2011
Breakthrough Mission - Update #2
Friday: Lutsk
Friday morning the team was up early for devotional and breakfast before loading the tour bus and heading for Lutsk for our fourth concert of the tour. As the bus entered Lutsk the team saw Breakthrough posters at every bus stop. The director and youth from the Baptist church had done an excellent job of alerting the city about the coming event.
The young people in the church had been challenged to bring a friend with them to the concert. Half an hour before the doors opened around 200 people were eagerly waiting outside to enter the concert hall that holds almost 1,000 people. By concert time the hall was almost full, with people continuing to trickle in looking for seats.
The band warmed the crowd up with a jam session and found a receptive and enthusiastic crowd. 30 minutes into the concert the Gospel had already gone out in song, and a testimony of God’s power to change lives had begun.
When Michael stood to preach many leaned forward, considering the probing questions he asked. When the decision cards were counted 361 young adults had said “Yes, I want this new life with Jesus Christ”. The word for word comment of a concert attender who gave a positive response to Christ was, “It’s was unforgettable!”
Saturday: Lviv
After almost three hours of travel, the Breakthrough bus rolled into Lviv, the capital of western Ukraine. Our professional sound crew worked tirelessly without lunch because of our late arrival. The band and support staff brought in pizzas for them a couple of hours before the concert.
The concert was held in the hall where our sponsoring church, Hosanna Baptist Church, worships every Sunday. The youth from the church were there to help hand out programs before the concert and free CD’s after the concert. The greatest blessing to the support staff – Allison, Amy and Jan – came after the concert when the pastor and two young women came and said, “Please, can we have the response cards now. We want to start follow-up immediately.” The outreach–minded church already has three study groups started to help facilitate the connection between the church and the people who attended the concert. Pastor Vasily has an attitude of expectation in regard to the possibility of many or all of the 182 who responded positively entering the church.
