Ministry Activities, 2014-2015

ECMI-NHI USA Director George Brown, (left photo, center) and International Director Chris Wigram (left photo, second from left) meet with MPC missions representatives at NPC on September 21, 2015. George and Chris talked about strategy development within ECMI and how the organization was reaching out to supporters.

IMC Chair John Bernbaum (left photo, at left) talks with ECMI-NHI USA Director George Brown, (left photo, at right) at NPC on May 4, 2015. Members of the NPC mission program (right) met with George to hear an update on NHI-ECMI transition activities and about ECMI’s work in Eastern Europe.

On May 2, 2015, NPC in conjunction with Vienna Presbyterian and Heritage Presbyterian hosted a fundraising concert for ECMI at St. Paul’s. NPC was glad welcome the ensemble back at for another concert after the successful fundraising concert in 2011.

In February 2015, NPC hosted NHI Bulgaria Country Director Dimitrie Todorov. Dimitrie met with NPC missions leadership during his itineration visit to Washington, DC. Dimitries updated them on New Hope developments in general and on NHI activities in Bulgaria. He also provided information from Lviv NHI worker and Ukrainian Country Director Roman Matviyiv on NHI’s activities during the Ukrainian crisis. NHI partners with Vienna Presbyterian Church and with Heritage Presbyterian (Ft. Hunt area) in Washington, DC. After the meeting, NPC members hosted Dimitrie at dinner. Dimitrie Todorov (far right) enjoys dinner with NPC mission pastor Donna Marsh (second from right) and Europe Working Group members.

Ukraine talk at Wrestlers Class In November, 16 2014, the Wrestlers Class hosted Robert McConnell, a former US Assistant Attorney General, who talked about his faith and how he has seen God at work as he and his wife Nadia pursue their interest in Ukrainian affairs. He and his wife founded the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation in 1990, through which they educate people about Ukraine and advocate for Ukrainian interests. Robert McConnell talks to Wrestlers about his faith and how he has seen God at work in Ukraine. Wrestlers’ Class leader Paul Arveson (left) along with missions (NHI) host Howard Tucker-Frost and speaker Robert McConnell (right)

Luncheon Seminar on Ukraine’s Relations with the EU On March 16, 2014, NPC hosted the lunch-time presentation, “EU and the East: Three Countries, Three Responses,” which addressed the 2013 negotiations the EU had with Ukraine (where NHI works), Moldova, and Armenia to develop association agreements. Nadia McConnell discussed Ukraine’s initial decision to endorse the “Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) at the November 2013 European Union Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. She then discussed President Yanukovych’s last-minute refusal to sign that led to the political turmoil during the winter of 2013-14 and the eventual overthrow of his Communist government. David Wallace talked about Moldova’s efforts leading up to the Vilnius Summit when Moldova signed the DCFTA and agreed to continue negotiations for an association agreement. Howard Tucker-Frost addressed the EU-Armenian courtship, then the eventual decision by Armenia, under Russian pressure, not to sign the trade agreement. The group, including Thea Bournazian, also talked about the church’s missions activities involving Ukraine, Moldova, and Armenia. (NPC is connected with Ukraine through NHI; NPC has two partnerships in Moldova; and NPC has a close relationship with two ministries in Armenia.)

Cooperation with Marriage Ministry Because of New Hope ‘s outreach activities in Moldova, Europe Working Group members began its Marriage Ministry work in the early 2000s in cooperation with New Hope. In January 2005, NPC members hosted Moldova team leader Oleg Reutski to Washington to talk about these marriage ministry program possibilities. In June 2007 an NPC team traveled to Moldova to provide training on Alpha Ministry’s The Marriage Course and other aspects of marriage ministry. The Moldovans responded very favorably to this training, and NPC members began working with New Hope to establish The Moldova Marriage Ministry. After a while, the leadership of the program was transferred to the Moldova Baptist Union, but New Hope remains an important consultative partner in the ministry. National Presbyterian remained in regular touch with New Hope, providing weekly Marriage Ministry prayer needs for New Hope’s prayer e-mail, during the years the prayer letter continued. NPC will resume this connection when the prayer letter returns. Also, NPC remains in touch with Vienna Presbyterian and Heritage Presbyterian, two other NHI partners, on various NHI initiatives in the region. New Hope offers “Train the Trainers” events to strengthen skill and confidence among children’s workers. (New Hope Bulgaria). More than 100 Christian families in Ukraine have opened their homes to orphan children. To date, 361 children have been placed through New Hope’s Orphan Care ministry.