Read Ministries Inc

Programs: In 2017 read ministries sponsored and conducted various christian literature projects in ukraine, belarus and central asia involving the training of evangelical church workers and the distribution of christian literature and media resources. Following is a summary of our activities in 2017:literature specialist development and church book distribution program in 2017 read continued to sponsor and support our literature specialist development program at kremenchug evangelical seminary in kremenchug, ukraine. This training program takes place over a two year period (2016-2018) and includes an expanded emphasis on counseling in order to equip graduates to meet growing stress-related needs during this troubled time in ukraine. The program in kremenchug, ukraine will culminate in 2018 with the graduation of 20 students and their respective churches resourced with the final installment of books completing their theological library. Since 2000, 439 students have graduated from our literature specialist development programs. These students are from all parts of the former soviet union. A total of 127,500 books have been distributed to these students enabling them to start and continue a christian book ministry within their respective churches. In this collection of books there are books for children, youth and adults. There are books for believers and non-believers. These libraries are helping believers and seekers find answers to their spiritual and practical questions. Seeking advice and suggestions from the literature specialist in solving a family, spiritual or personal problem is often the focus of the inquiry. In reality, the literature specialist often functions as a pastor especially to women. The literature specialist is essential for the successful operation and effectiveness of a church and its library ministry. In 2016 read made a three-year commitment to equip and train 12 ukrainians in a new cross-cultural missions training center at the kremenchug regional bible college. This training continued throughout 2017. These students will graduate in 2019 and will be involved in cross-cultural missions within and beyond the borders of ukraine. Church leaders training and resourcing projectsin 2017 read continued our focus on our church leaders training and resourcing projects. In partnership with almaty bible institute, this focus included training and resourcing church leaders in the country of kazakhstan with theological materials. In the fall of 2017, a national conference sponsored by the two organizations was held on the theme of church library ministry. Approximately 50 delegates attended and theological libraries totaling 1,500 books were distributed to the delegates and the churches from which they came. In 2015 read made a three-year commitment to provide graduate level theological materials to graduates of tavrisky christian institute and kremenchug evangelical seminary. This program is called our masters library project and continued through 2017. Approximately 30 students from ukraine, georgia and other countries of the former soviet union were assisted with essential texts for their graduate level studies. Similarly, read has partnered with the euro-asian accrediting association (eaaa) to provide much needed theological books to the graduates of accredited programs in eaaa schools. This project has become known as our graduates library project. In 2017, approximately 200 graduates were presented with collections of books at the time of their graduation. This is a 5 year program, commencing in 2015 and culminating in 2019. In addition to all of the above, in 2017 read was able to arrange for the publishing and distribution of a book to ministries involved with people with special needs. The book reaching out and bringing in: ministry to and with persons with disabilities written by david anderson, local author, was translated and published in 2016. A special needs conference for church leaders and book tour promoting this new ministry in ukraine occurred in the fall of 2017 in lutsk, ukraine. Special projects in 2017 included assisting and resourcing the euro-asian accrediting association with a book distribution project in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the reformation. Approximately 300 copies of three different titles were presented to 100 representatives of 55 theological schools from the countries of the former soviet union. Read was also happy to respond to a request from dnipro, ukraine to provide 200 sets of the camel story, a triology to the public schools in the dnipro region. In total and to date, read has been able to enhance and resource the theological education and ministry efforts of over 6,800 church leaders in ukraine, belarus, georgia and countries of central asia. These resources provide church leaders with the theological tools helping them communicate gods love to those who are starved for his word. Church based social outreach literature projectsprison outreach - during 2017 read enthusiastically supplied resources to church based social prison ministries in kharkov and poltava, ukraine. These prison ministries are serving those in jails, prisons and rehabilitation centers. They are bringing hope to the hopeless. Ministering to people who find themselves in poverty and unfortunate circumstances in this part of the world is one way read is fulfilling gods command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Refugee assistance in 2017 read once again responded to the intense needs of refugees fleeing the war zone in eastern ukraine. Read was able to share $10,000 with our ukrainian partners who give aid to these war-torn souls. A portion of this aid was in the form of evangelical literature for children and adults seeking to cope with the psychological and spiritual consequences of their war time experience. Resources were provided for church-based refugee relief programs in kherson, kremenchug, kyiv and zaporizhzhya, ukraine.