News from Kiev

This last week the world lost one of the most kind and humble men I know, but our loss is heaven’s gain. George Markey was a farmer/preacher in
Indiana when God called him to Ukraine.  He had 8 children and the youngest was just a baby. But God called him and off they went with their 8 children and 32 suitcases.  Ukraine had just broken off from the former Soviet Union and when they arrived here, they said that it felt like they had arrived to a dark hole.  There were many hard times then.  Food and things to buy were scarce and some things limited.  His oldest son, George, was a teenager then and had just gotten his driver’s license.  He was reluctant but willing to come to Ukraine for a year.  (Now 15-16 years later, he is still here serving the Lord here in Ukraine.)

George and Pam had been here 7 years when I first came.  The church was young even though they had about 300 attendees.  They had many young people and older women.  Of course there were a few men there but men were greatly lacking.  I wondered who in the world George would pass off his church to.  I did notice one couple who had a baby… Alosha and Julia who were new Christians.  Over the years I have watched them grow.  They also were involved with the youth in our church.  Saturdays some of the kids came to my bible study and then afterwards went to Alosha’s.  After some time, Alosha and Julia followed the call of God to be sent out from our church to start a church in a small city that was “hard ground” so to speak.  It was hard work but they loved the people and a small church was formed.  He was a pastor of the church 3 years before George felt God telling him to turn the Kiev church over to Alosha and for George to go elsewhere to start a church.  Alosha stepped into George’s shoes and has done a wonderful job.  Both are humble men who love God and people.  It was so gracious of God to have George pass off the church last May.  I truly believe that if George was still the pastor of the Ukraine church, it would have been totally devastating for the church.  They would have felt like sheep that lost their shepherd.  As it is, the church grieves but is stable and strong.

When George left to help his daughter and son-in-law start a church in the 10/40 window, he was sent out as a missionary from the Kiev church.  The church laid hands on them and sent them out.  The church not only prayed for them but also turned around and supported George and his family financially.  During this crisis, they poured their finances into George and Pam without hesitation.  When one son didn’t have the money to go and see George in the other country during his initial illness, the Kiev church stepped in and bought his ticket.  When George died and the family was trying to get to the States, one family couldn’t afford for 2 of their children to go.  When the Kiev church heard that, they immediately bought tickets for the 2 girls.  They also paid the plane fare for one of George’s sons and wife to go to the States for George’s memorial.

In all of this, it has reminded me of Paul and his churches.  He was their spiritual father.  When he was hurting, they hurt.  When he had needs, they helped to meet them.  When his ship docked in an area, people from his church came to meet him.  They loved him.  It wasn’t easy for Paul.  He talked of his life being poured out for the church.  He had struggles and hurts.  At one time, he wrote the more I love, the less I am loved.  But in the end, the church loved him and grieved for him.  I have watched George and Pam pour out their lives in Ukraine.  They served and served and served some more.  Yet they didn’t neglect their children and all 8 children love God and are serving him.  I have observed the church’s love for them from their sending them out to now.  George is a father to them as well as Pam is the mother.  They are honored, respected, loved and cherished. 

There are several things about George that stick out in my mind.  Some are his love of God, his love of live, his joy and his serving spirit. As much as George hated driving in the traffic of Kiev, he spent much of his day going to meetings or transporting people to and from ministries and meetings.  He looked for ways to show God’s love.  There were times that he carried heavy bags of potatoes for an elderly man up many flights of stairs when the elevator didn’t work and the time/times he helped to shovel snow for the street cleaner. He took fatherless boys swimming often one summer because he saw the need that wasn’t being met. As I watch the church in Kiev, I see this serving spirit in them.  They are busy serving in many places and have a heart to serve in others.  And they do it with joy. George has passed on a legacy.

It is not a Ukrainian tradition when someone dies to sing and express some joy.  But the day when people heard of George’s death, they wanted to get together and have a praise and worship time in his honor.  So we met at the office and sang and prayed and encouraged one another.  It was a beautiful time.  You couldn’t know George long without seeing how much he loved to worship God. He mentioned often from the pulpit how he was ready to spend eternity just worshipping God. So much love was poured out to him with this illness that he was so touched...often to tears and it motivated him to fight to live.  But his fight is over and he is standing right now before His maker rejoicing, singing, dancing and praising God.

When I talk of George’s impact on the church, I am reminded that behind every good man is a good woman.  George could not have done all that he did without Pam’s support, love and sacrifice.  She definitely is a proverbs 31 wife and mother.  She truly is an amazing woman.

Please pray for the family especially Pam.  She has lost her best friend and coworker as well as her husband.  4-5 years ago they adopted a Ukrainian girl who had been abandoned and had many major health problems.  They have loved her.  Pray for Pam to have the wisdom and strength she needs in raising Christine.  I have seen Christine make amazing changes as a result of the families’ love for her. Please pray for the new church and ministry in the country where he has been.  His younger daughter and husband started the ministry and George, Pam, the younger children and another daughter and son-in-law went to help.  Right now since all the family are in the states, a man from here, a pastor from Hungary and 2 missionary women are there to help them with the ministry. Pray for God to multiply the ministry through George’s death.  He is a man who will not soon be forgotten.