Born in the Soviet Union where faith was forbidden, Christina’s journey reveals how God’s grace broke through the walls of communism and continues to shine through the darkness of war. In this moving episode of The Gospel Today Podcast, Christina shares her childhood memories in the USSR, her family’s discovery of the Bible, and how she now serves women and families in Odesa amid missile attacks and fear.

What leads a pastor’s son from a small church in Washington State to the war-torn city of Odesa, Ukraine?
In this interview, Caleb Suko shares how God shaped his calling, guided his family through decades of ministry, and taught him to trust Him — from seminary classrooms to air raid sirens.

Two murders have shaken us in recent days. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in front of thousands as he debated university students in Utah. Iryna Zarutska, a young Ukrainian refugee woman on her way home from work, was murdered on the subway.
Two lives cut short. Two tragedies that remind us that no country, no system, and no human promise can guarantee safety.

What drives a Ukrainian pastor to trade his pulpit for the frontlines of war? In this interview, Chaplain Andriy Zalishuk shares his extraordinary journey from pastoring a small church to walking alongside Ukrainian soldiers in the trenches. Hear how missile strikes, destroyed cities, and the cries of refugees motivated him him into chaplain ministries —bringing the hope of Christ to men facing death every day.
 
Learn more about The Gospel Today https://gospeltoday.online

In this episode, talk about our transition from ABWE to Gospel Today and do our best to answer your questions. Over the past 20 years, we've been blessed with a cohesive team and a ministry focused on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. We cherish the memories and experiences with ABWE and are excited to continue our mission with The Gospel Today.



In this episode, we address some of the key questions you've asked: Why are we making this transition? How will it affect our ministry? What changes can you expect? We assure you that our core focus remains the same—effective evangelism and discipleship. We also discuss the new financial processing through Allegro, ensuring more resources directly support our ministry here in Ukraine.



We introduce our advisory council, a group of dedicated individuals providing guidance and accountability as we navigate this new chapter. We also share our plans for upcoming seminars and our travels to the United States and South America, where we hope to connect with many of you.



Your prayers and support mean the world to us as we embark on this journey. We invite you to listen, engage, and continue to pray for Ukraine and our mission. Together, we can spread the gospel and bring hope to many.






Give online



Give by check: Make a check out to Allegro Organizational Solutions and include a note with the designation code GospelToday-Ukr.001.

Mail to:



Allegro Organizational Solutions



5535 Memorial Dr. Ste. F-811



Houston, TX 77007





Give by phone: Call Allegro at 713-874-1519 during business hours to provide your giving details over the phone.




 

Description:Forgiveness is one of the most powerful—and most difficult—acts we are called to as followers of Jesus. This episode explores the deep biblical roots of forgiveness, revealing how unforgiveness poisons relationships, breeds bitterness, and separates us from God. From the Old Testament sacrificial system to Jesus' words on the cross, this episode walks through key Hebrew and Greek terms for forgiveness, theological insights, and real-life applications. You'll learn what true forgiveness looks like, why we all desperately need it, and how to both receive and extend it in your daily relationships. Whether you're holding a grudge or wondering if God could ever forgive you, this episode offers hope and healing.

What is forgiveness?
Let’s first look at a few words that are often translated “forgiveness” in the Bible.
כָּפַר
To appease, make atonement, forgive, be merciful. Literally a covering: (reminds us of the covering God gave Adam and Eve in the garden after they sinned)
This is the most common word in the OT that refers to forgiveness. We see it most often in relation to the sacrifices in the Temple. These sacrifices made a “covering” for sin. That is, they didn’t really atone for sin on the heart level but rather were a sign of the need for God to atone for sin. This word shows us that whenever there is sin something must be sacrificed in order to atone for it. Without atonement sin will become something worse. In some contexts this word speaks more directly of God himself miraculously atoning for our sins and purifying our hearts. 

Isaiah 6:7 NIV - 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

In this verse we see a beautiful picture of the prophet Isaiah. Here Isaiah is before the throne of God when he realizes his sin and guilt before God. As a picture of the forgiveness that only God can offer, the Seraphim comes to him with a burning coal and touches it to his lips. True atonement and forgiveness from God purifies us from the guilt of sin in our life.
Let me just say here that we all need this forgiveness from God. Isaiah wasn’t some sort of “evil criminal” yet when he was confronted with God’s holiness he was able to clearly see the defiling effects of sin in his life. He realized that he was guilty and had no right to stand before God. One of the reasons that people often don’t even think they need forgiveness is because they go on comparing themselves to other people who are, in their opinion, worse than themselves. When it comes to sin and righteousness there is only one with whom we should compare ourselves and that is the Almighty, All Holy, and All Righteous God. Look to Him and you will certainly feel your need for forgiveness and find a way to obtain that forgiveness. 
סָלַח
To forgive, pardon, or spare (Strongs)
This word is the most specific in its meaning. Primarily, we see this as something that God does towards us.

Isaiah 55:7 NIV - 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Here we can see that for forgiveness to happen in our hearts we also must participate. Isaiah instructs us “Let them turn to the LORD.” Without a turning to God there is no real forgiveness. God’s forgiveness requires that we turn to Him. Another word we use for this turning to God is “repentance.” Repentance describes a deep change in mind and heart when we recognize our guilt before God and humbly turn to him and ask for his forgiveness, believing that he can and will forgive us. 
How amazing it is to realize that God offers his forgiveness freely to those who seek it with a repentant heart. You don’t have to donate a certain amount of money to the church,

Our ministry has changed a lot since the start of the full scale invasion. Like it or now the conditions around you can have a powerful negative or positive affect on how you share the gospel. Here are a few ways that I see the conditions of war have changed how the gospel message goes out. 

We must say, however, that the content of the gospel message never changes. Nevertheless, our methods, approaches, and attitudes about the gospel can change drastically.
1. War Tests the Gospel
Verse: 1 Peter 1:6–7 (NIV)
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 
Mat 13:20-21 (NIV)
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. - 



War strips away comforts — It reveals whether we truly trust in Christ or in our circumstances.
Faith becomes visible — In times of fear and loss, authentic faith stands out and shines as a testimony.
Heroes of the faith are born - Some of the most unlikely people are shown to have extraordinary faith.
Superficial belief is exposed — War reveals the difference between cultural Christianity and true discipleship.




War Focuses the Gospel Message

Verse: Hebrews 12:18–28 (NIV)
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear." 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire." 

Distractions fall away — In war, entertainment, politics, and possessions lose their grip. Eternity comes into focus.
Urgency increases — People are more open to truth when death and judgment are near.
The gospel’s core is clarified — Not “your best life now,” but “eternal life through Christ.”
Secondary theological issues -Theological debates that can often separate Christian in peace time tend to become meaningless in war time.


War Makes the Gospel Practical

Verse: James 2:15–17 (NIV)
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,

Recently, I’ve heard claims—mainly from conservative media in the West—suggesting that the Ukrainian government is persecuting churches. Is this true?







In this video, I share firsthand insight into Ukraine’s religious freedoms, the constitutional protection of faith, and the real reason behind the 2023 law concerning churches tied to Moscow.



While Ukraine remains a country where religious freedom is protected, the situation in Russian-occupied territories is completely different. I share the story of my friend, Pastor Alexander Safetnikov, who was brutally beaten by Russian forces simply for his faith. His story is just one of many, as Russian occupation has led to the targeting, imprisonment, and even murder of evangelical believers.



If you have questions about what’s happening in Ukraine, let me know in the comments! I want to provide clear, unbiased answers from someone who is living here and experiencing it firsthand.

America is in an identity crisis. People are searching for their identity and going to all kinds of drastic measures to change their identity in the desperate hope that with a new identity they will finally overcome their feelings of depression, anger, frustration, and lack of self-worth. . 



You can simply look at some of the best selling books to find evidence for this. Last year the book “Untamed” was published by Glennon Doyle and has remained in the top 5 on the New York Times best seller list for 68 weeks straight. The book is a memoir that describes how she, a discontent wife and mother of 3, in her late 30’s suddenly falls for a woman, realizes she’s lesbian, divorces her husband and starts a new life with a new identity. The tagline of the book says “This is how you find yourself.” 

Unfortunately, her story represents millions of Americans.

But what do we see when we go back to the founding fathers of the United States? Where did they find an identity for a new nation. We discover that there was no question in their minds about the identity of the United States because they based that identity upon a strong and unwavering faith in God.

John Adams the 2nd president of the US speaks about this foundation of faith in a letter to Thomas Jefferson
“The general Principles, on which the Fathers Achieved Independence, were the only Principles in which, that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their Address, or by me in my Answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all those Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all those young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities Sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence.

Now I will avow, that I then believed, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God: and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature and our terrestrial, mundane System.”
Sadly, those “immutable” principles of Christianity and the existence and attributes of God are quickly fading today in the USA. What many don’t realize is that when belief in the truth of God’s identity is lost, we also lose our own identity. Personal identity crises will always follow a public faith catastrophe. That is to say when the common population rejects God, the individual is left with no means to understand his existence and will resort to all new, strange, and extreme ways to obtain a meaningful identity apart from God. 

Another way we could look at it is like this, all identity crises are really about losing the identity of God, not of self! Find God and you will find yourself! Loose God and you will lose yourself! This is why God begins his very first written words to his chosen people with: 
Exodus 20:2-3  “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
 

God was creating a new people and their identity would be the foundation for their nation. God knew that if their identity was not grounded in the nature of God himself then it would sooner or later veer off track. God’s very first words were words that clearly, uniquely, and undisputedly identified himself as God and God alone! 

If you don’t get anything else out of this sermon I want you to understand and to do one thing. Stop searching for your identity, stop looking for that elusive change you think you need to make in order to fulfill your desires and longings. Stop going to extremes to change your body, your lifestyle, you dress, or your home, or something else in search of identity.

Unfortunately, as you look around our world it is not hard to find people who are rich, famous, in places of power, and over all who seem to be enjoying the “good life” yet they are also evil and have no fear of God. They say what they want and they do what they want. They seem to live on their own terms. Not only do their lives go against God and his Word but often they threaten the lives of those who are poor, who are in difficult circumstances and yet who honor God. 



This type of injustice can be found in any nation at any time. Evil men who are well off who do evil things to good people who are in difficult circumstances. We have seen this scenario many times throughout history. Evil and powerful people doing terrible things to poor and God fearing people. 

Many of us may have experienced such situations in our personal lives as well. Maybe it was a bully at your school growing up. Maybe it was someone one at your work who threatened you, who made your life tough, who was out to get you no matter what. These are the real life situations that who often find ourselves in and they can cause us to ask questions. 

“God why does it seem like the wicked prosper while we suffer?”

The other questions that we can ask is, “How should I react when the wicked are threaten me and I have no means to stop them”

Today we are looking at Psalm 37 where we find that David often dealt with these same questions. This theme comes up often in the book of Psalms, we can also see it clearly in Psalm 10 and Psalm 73. I recommend that you read through those psalms later.
Introduction to Psalm 37
We tend to think of Psalms as just being a hymn or a worship song. While this is true, many psalms also have the character of wisdom literature. Here we find a psalm that has a lot in common with the book of Proverbs. In fact it looks like Solomon quotes the first 2 verses of this psalm word for word in Proverbs 24:19-20. In this Psalm we find short and powerful statements of wisdom. We also see clear instructions for how we should view the world, how we should think about wicked people, and how we should react in these situations. The wisdom of the Proverbs can often be described as the skill of seeing the end at the beginning and in this Psalm this is exactly what we see.   

If we were to sum up the message of this psalm we could say two things. 

The success of the wicked is temporary but 
The blessing of the righteous in permanent

It’s application is thus:

Don’t worry about wicked people
Trust in the Lord

This is a very simple way to look at it but sometimes that can be helpful for us as we take a step back and look at our own lives in contrast to the lives of the wicked. 

As we go through this text today I want to focus on 10 ways in which the righteous should react to the success and the threat of the wicked. 
What you shouldn’t do!
The first two imperatives are negative, this is because generally as humans we react negatively to the success of the wicked. Before we can step in faith and walk the way God has planned for us we must first rid ourselves of these negative reactions. 
Do not worry about wicked people (v1)
Psalm 37:1-2 NIV - 1 Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
I want you to notice how clear, how strong, and how straightforward David is here. He leaves no room for doubt. We are stopped in our tracks and told to stop. Also note that this is an unusual beginning for a psalm. Most psalms begin by addressing God, “Praise the Lord.” Thus, from the first line of this Psalm we can see that it has a unique nature. This is a Psalm that is more addressed to the ind...

There is something about the worth of the Gospel that is greater than any threat we can face, physically or otherwise.



For us personally, I believe that God called us to Ukraine, and the conditions where we live should not change God's calling in our lives. This morning, I want to talk with you a little bit about the worth of the Gospel in our lives. We all make decisions based on what we think is worth it, what we value in our lives. The thing we value most, above all else, is the one thing we will always be willing to sacrifice for, compromise for, give our time, energy, efforts, money, resources, and strength to.

Today, I want to talk with you about living a life worthy of the Gospel. What does it mean to live a life worthy of the Gospel? How do the truths of the Gospel change the way I relate to others, make decisions, and react to problems?

The Apostle Paul helps us to understand:
Philippians 1:27-30

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Introduction to the Text
Before we look at the details of this text, let’s talk about the context. Paul is writing to the church in Philippi, a church he knows well. They were worried about him because he had been arrested and put in prison. Paul tries to calm them by telling them:
Philippians 1:12 NIV: "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel."
Amazingly, Paul sees his imprisonment not as something that hinders him from preaching the gospel but as something that aids it. Paul experienced many difficulties in his life, but one thing always remained the same: his commitment to Christ and to the Gospel. Paul was so committed to Christ that even the threat of death could not keep him from serving Christ.

When Paul was in Philippi (Acts 16), he was attacked by a mob, beaten severely, and thrown into prison. But this didn’t stop Paul. The Philippians personally witnessed his commitment to live for Christ and to preach the Gospel. So when Paul wrote to them, they knew it was true!
Philippians 1:21: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Yet, Paul knew that he would go on living for a while to serve the people he loved. The truth is that Paul was more worried for the Philippians. He says:
Philippians 1:30 NIV: "since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have."
From what Paul says here, it seems like the same people who persecuted Paul were now persecuting the church in Philippi. Some of their church members may have been beaten or put into prison. It was a difficult time for the church, and Paul wanted to encourage their spirits and strengthen them in the faith so that they could endure the persecutions and remain faithful to Christ.

What is the Gospel?

Before we move on, let me answer one question: What is the Gospel?

Answer: The Gospel is literally “good news.”
Mark 1:14 NIV: "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God."
The good news is that Jesus came as Savior and Lord. He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. The good news is that God will forgive and give eternal life to everyone who puts their faith in Christ!

What is the relationship between risk, God's glory and God's calling in our lives. This sermon based upon Isaiah 42:8-9.

We answer your questions about life in Ukraine and what's going on now here on the ground exactly 2 years after Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022.



Below are some of the questions we answer in the video/podcast.

1. What is your plan if Russia wins the war and perhaps Odessa is threatened with being under Soviet control?
2. What is the perception of the Ukrainian people about America's support or lack of support?
3. At the beginning of the war, when you were relatively safer in Moldova, what made you go back to the war in Odessa?
4. Two years in, is complacency towards the "war" starting to show in the people there?
5. Is it appropriate to pray imprecatory psalms over Russia? How do you not hate them?
6. How have you seen God continue to work and the church continue to minister or grow during the war? Admittedly, you have been answering this question regularly in the telegram group, but just in case people aren’t following along day-to-day…
7. Are our bombings and drones becoming like car accidents to us here on the other side of the world or are you fearful that each one could hit your apartment, church, or car?
8. Is Ukrainian going to take over as the main language in Odesa, and are you learning it or already fluent in it?
9. Can you tell us more about the churches that have been planted since the war began? How did God bring that about? How are they worshiping and discipling?
10. How is the ministry coping with the challenges so far?
11. How are the children adapting to living in a country at war? What is the new reality for them when their world has been turned upside down?
12. Can you recap what that day was like for you, your family, and your closest friends?
13. How is your marriage doing?
14. How are your kids doing?
15. What spiritual challenges are you and the churches facing here in the second year that you were not facing in the first year?
16. What are some of the faith-building lessons God has taught you that you would want us to grasp as well, even though most of us are not in a country at war?
17. How have these past two years changed the way you view life on earth, and how do you stay joyful and not give way to anxiety?
18. How do we best encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ukraine?
19. How do you spend your romantic time with each other in such difficult times?
20. What is the sentiment on the ground? Is it divided? Are Ukrainians talking about wanting the war to end or being willing to keep going?
21. What are some of the challenges of facing the church in Ukraine?
22. What are some of the better ways to be helping from afar?

The situation in Ukraine continues to draw concern. Winter brings heightened worries about power infrastructure and heating, especially in the face of potential advancements by Russia. The big question on everyone's mind remains: Will the United States continue to stand by Ukraine? As we navigate this uncertain period, your prayers and support are invaluable.

Despite these challenges, we're grateful for the provision of power and heating so far. We recognize the freedom we have in Ukraine—a freedom allowing us to share the gospel and support churches. It's a reminder of the larger impact this conflict has on spiritual freedoms.

Our efforts to aid soldiers include providing essentials like hand warmers. A recent testimony from Pastor Lê in Hồn illustrates the power of prayer in protecting Ukrainian soldiers from intense bombardment.

The unwavering faith of the church in Hồn is remarkable. Even amid danger, they emphasize the importance of corporate worship, highlighting the essentiality of spiritual nourishment.

We're actively involved in two projects. The first, "Teach Us to Pray," focuses on elucidating the depth of the Lord's Prayer and its gospel truths. The second is a Christmas outreach endeavor aimed at distributing gift packets with gospel material to children in need.

Your prayers and support mean the world to us and to Ukraine. If you'd like to be a part of these projects or contribute in any way, check the link in this newsletter for more information.

Thank you for standing with us and for Ukraine. Your prayers and support provide hope and strength during these challenging times.

If you have any questions or want further updates, feel free to reach out. Your engagement and care make a significant difference.

Let's continue to pray, support, and believe for Ukraine's protection, provision, and eventual peace.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where it seems that terrors are multiplying. None of us want to be in a place of terror and yet we have all been there one way or another. Certainly, our family has been at the center of some terror in the past few months in Ukraine.



At first it was rumors of war. Tanks, artillery, soldiers, weapons of every kind moving in on three sides of the country. For at least a month we received almost daily communications from the US government to leave the country. 







Then on the morning of February 24th we were woken by a phone call at 5:00 AM to inform us that the war had begun. Christina saw one of the first missiles directed at our city fly past our living room window and 30 seconds later we felt the boom. Now we knew war had started!  



When it comes down to it, terror is something that happens in the heart of man. On one hand you can’t control it very well and on the other hand there are things we can and should do at Christians to keep terror from ruling our lives. In fact, as Christians we have a unique advantage when it comes to terror, we have the greatest, most powerful, and most effective anti-terror weapon, which is the Word of God and presence of His Spirit in our lives. 



Today we will look at Psalm 31. We will take a deep dive into the terror of David’s heart. In doing so we must examine our own hearts. We must recognize our terrors and learn to deal with them the way David did. This is not an exercise for the faint of heart, so I encourage you to take up your shield of faith and breastplate of righteousness. We need sober minds and hearts to look into these things. We need honesty with ourselves and courage to recognize that which terrorizes our hearts. May God humble us as we look to his Word and see our own hearts in the heart of David.



Introduction to Psalm 31



We must remember that a psalm is never meant to be a theological treatise or a “how to...” nevertheless we find within each psalm deep theological truths and guidance that can help us how to get through many different situations in life. 



First, however, a psalm represents the heart and the emotions of its author. Here, like in so many other psalms we see tension within the heart of David. We see his fear and we see his faith, we see his anguish and we see his answer. We must recognize this Psalm for its beauty, for its spiritual and emotional power, and for its depth of truth and wisdom. As we look to this psalm we must allow ourselves to see ourselves through the eyes of David. As we step where David stepped I believe we will not only see the relevant theological truths but that God will also deliver to us the real help and healing that we need in these terrifying times. 




David heard terror on every side




Psalm 31:13 NIV - 13 For I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side!" They conspire against me and plot to take my life.



You might be wondering why I am starting with verse 13 in the psalm. The reason is because like many psalms, the middle is often the climax or the hinge of the psalm upon which the rest of the psalm hangs. This is true for psalm 31. Here we see David building to a point and he completes this with verse 13 which is the middle of the psalm. 



Let’s look at how David built up to this verse. This middle section starts in verse 9 where David tells us “I am in distress!” As we read from verse 9 through verse 13 we get a very graphic picture of what terror looks like. 



Here are some of the words David uses to describe his terror:

The Orthodox Church teaches that praying for your dead loved ones helps their soul make the 40 day journey from earth to heaven where along the way they will encounter many devils and 20 testings that will purify their souls and prepare them for heaven.

*Quick links

2:35 Visit to Kyiv Pechersk' Lavra  

5:35 Going into the caves

12:00 Praying for the dead

14:25 Orthodox teaching of what happens after death

15:13 The 20 "Mytarstva the soul must pass through

20:36 Bible verses used by Orthodox to explain "Mytarstva"

28:30 Discipleship book

Today Christina joins me on the podcast to talk about her ministry of counseling both unbelieving and believing. Also we talk about the difference between parenting for the now and parenting for the long-term.

*Quick links

1:33 Background on Christina's counseling ministry

4:15 Why is it important to meet in person?

6:08 How do you counsel someone whose homelife is far from ideal?

7:50 What is the biggest problem unbelievers have with the gospel?

12:22 Marriage is hard work

16:25 Have fun while you're young

20:24 What is the difference between parenting for now and parenting for long-term?

25:05 What are the small things that change the course of a family for the worse?

30:22 The difficulty of given spiritual direction in the family

33:45 Being open to talk with your children about uncomfortable questions

As we think about sharing the gospel with LGBT people let us remember that they are people too. Every one of us is a sinner and every sinner needs Christ. The biggest need of every homosexual, is Christ. No matter how you share the gospel, do your best to keep the focus on Christ. There will be many distractions and many questions but we must always bring it back to Christ, the truth of who he is, and what he has done for us. 


1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
We can also say that the most important thing Christ has called us to do is to share the gospel of Christ and the cross. Let’s not make it too complicated, let’s be loving, let’s be clear, and let’s share the gospel.
Remember homosexuals didn’t start the LGBT movement.
In the US the foundation for the LGBT movement was not laid by homosexuals but rather mainly by heterosexual Christians.
“Today’s movement toward the total acceptance of homosexual behavior and relationships was only made possible because some heterosexuals first did their best to undermine marriage.”

Dr. Albert Mohler “We Can’t Be Silent”
Dr. Albert Mohler explains in his book that the sexual revolution began by the destruction of marriage and the biblical meaning of family. 
“Heterosexuals did a very good job of undermining marriage before the culture forces began advocating for the normalization of same-sex relationships and the legalization of same-sex marriage. The marriage crisis is a moral crisis that did not start with same-sex marriage, nor will it end there. The logic of same-sex marriage cannot end with same-sex marriage. Once marriage can mean anything other than a heterosexual union, it can and must eventually mean everything”

Dr. Albert Mohler “We Can’t Be Silent”
We must admit the guilt of many heterosexuals who destroyed families through divorce, adultery, and sexual sin. This is what laid the foundation for the LGBT movement today. They are simply continuing what we started. As we admit our guilt it changes our attitude and approach towards the LGBT community. Rather than making this an “Us vs them” battle, we realize that we as heterosexuals are not without guilt. Thus any conversation we have with the LGBT community must began not began with a finger pointed at them but rather with the pronoun “we”
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Humility is vital when we approach anyone with the gospel but when we share the gospel with the LGBT community it is even more vital. Why? Because often there is already the assumption by the LGBT community that we are pointing our finger down upon them. We must have the humility to show them that we are all sinners before God. 
1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
I must recognize my sin as “worse” than their sin. This is the attitude we must have when we share the gospel. We recognize our own sin as worse because we are intimately connected with our own sin. Because we see and feel the effects of our own sin. Because we know the secret sins of our heart that only God and I can see! This attitude must permeate our hearts when we share the gospel. It will often be through simple humility, openness, and service that we will win the opportunity to speak with someone about Christ. Without this humility our efforts to share the gospel will look more like someone trying to expose another’s sin and shame them before the public.

Let them know that you also struggle with sin, even sexual sin. Speak to them as a sinner who found grace in Jesus not as a finger-pointing preacher whose only remaining sin is being too long-winded on Sunday mornings!

As we look at the Bible it doesn’t take long to find out that the sexuality of mankind as a central part of creation. If we read through the account of the creation of Adam and Eve it seems that Moses goes out of his way to show the differences between the sexes and that these differences were good and they were determined by God himself.
https://youtu.be/uoJmPkn6Ah0
 
What about Eunuchs?https://answersingenesis.org/answers/in-depth/v12/does-jesus-reference-to-eunuchs-affirm-transgender-people/ 

When you look at transgenderism you will quickly find many similarities between the terminology they use and gospel terminology. In this episode of The Gospel Today I give talk about transgender vocabulary and how much of their terminology echoes gospel terminology.
https://youtu.be/pAZPTm8Ju-c
I also talk about how one church transitioned after COVID made them rethink their Church's name.
 
Quick links
1:00 Ministry news
6:01 The trans gospel vocabulary
19:03 A church transitions to a new name because of COVID
 
Walter Heyer story
Outbreak Church