Christian Unity Ministries

Unity News

June, 2006

Simple Truths

by Kristi Tschoepe

I attended the Sunday night services at my home church the evening before our departure to the Ukraine. In the bulletin was a Congregational Response entitled “I Will Go”. It was just what I needed.

“And I will go where there are no easy roads,

Leave the comforts that I know.

I will go and let this journey be my home.

I will go.”

I was not excited about going and not at all sure why I was going because I felt totally inept. Nevertheless, I was left with no doubt that it was the calling of the Holy Spirit. Our team, Blake Coffee, Anne Farris, Connie Whilden and I saw the Lord at work everyday in everything we did and Luhans'k truly became our home.

Specific opportunities the Lord gave to me during our trip included sharing my testimony several times in church, leading the youth in bible study Sunday morning and at a “May Day Picnic” in the forest, visiting the senior members (babushkas) of Immanuel Baptist Church (one of the greatest blessings I have ever encountered in my lifetime) and serving wherever the Lord placed me each day. What a joy!!

I also had the opportunity to hear “The Five Principles of Unity” presented by Blake Coffee. He is truly anointed to share these principles with the Ukrainians. They are spiritually hungry and accepting of these teachings for their churches. After the first night's teaching of the first principle (the Principle of the Spirit), I was overcome with the understanding of why I was placed on the Board for Christian Unity Ministries. I finally got it!

But beyond all of this, the Holy Spirit presented me with the most precious gift of all: the blessings and lessons I learned from the Ukrainian Christians. The song “They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love” was never as apparent as in Luhans'k where there is a stark difference between the non-Christians and Christians. The Ukrainians outside the church reflected the gray and decay of the city. They never smiled. They were suspicious and grim. Many suffer from alcoholism and depression. The youth wore provocative clothing and reflected worldly desires, but the Christians were totally the opposite, exhibiting joyful expressions, wholesome lifestyles and love for each other, and reflecting Christ everyday. As in all churches there were a few rigid and troublesome members, but for the most part, the members were truly an inspiration. I learned in my everyday walk with the Lord to love the Lord with my whole being, love each other, serve the Lord, work hard, don't desire worldly things, and celebrate Life. These are the simple truths that were reinforced for me.

Thank God for simple truths.

Kristi Tschoepe is an Executive Board member of Christian Unity Ministries. She has over 10 years experience as a fund development director and special events coordinator for the Muscular Distrophy, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Trinity University and Bexar County Medical Society. She has designed and created many marketing programs for the agencies with whom she has worked and for her home church, First Baptist Church, San Antonio. Her passion is working with ministries, especially Christian Unity Ministries, and creating effective ways, with God's guidance, to educate and grow those ministries. Kristi has one daughter and lives with her husband, Mike, in Bulverde, Texas.

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