This article was originally published in the December 2016 edition of ITMI Monthly.
During this season of giving, we asked ITMI partners to give you their heartfelt answers to several questions. May their answers bless and encourage you!
Adi and Ema Ban
Oradea, Romania
What has God done in your ministry this year?
Our Young Couples’ Fellowship group, and the Sunday School teachers’ group decided to raise funds for the needy of Ukraine.
Though we had less than a month, we gathered the funds needed for our trip and ITMI graciously partnered with us, and we were grateful to the Lord for His provision.
Then a swine flu broke out in Ukraine, and we were strongly advised not to go by the Ministry of Health.
Everything was prepared for our departure, including a love offering from our church and the children in the Sunday school classes. I told everybody about the outbreak, but nobody from the group changed their mind – we all trusted the Lord and went!
Our team of fourteen went and served families in the church by distributing food packages to the needy and the local state-owned orphanage, praying for them, giving them New Testaments and sharing in churches around Chernivtsi.
The night we arrived our host told us that all the schools and public institutions are closed down due to the outbreak. Nonetheless, we visited over 200 families and yet nobody from our team got sick!
We went inside their modest homes, prayed with them, offered them a New Testament in their language, and brought food packages. The Lord was a shield for us and protected us from the sickness!
What is it about the people you serve that God has laid on your heart?
This year the Lord laid on our heart the ministry in the northwest part of Ukraine, led by John and Gabriela (Gabi) Patras. To see their love for the Lord, their love for the poor, and their dedication to share the Good News was an encouragement for us.
When we visited them with Steve Evers in May, we were blessed beyond words to serve them in church on Sunday. It reminded us of the “fire” in the lives of Romanian believers 30 years ago!
Adi Ban at John and Gabi's Church.
John and Gabi's church on their way to worship.
Gabi teaching Sunday School.
We felt so privileged to serve them.
ITMI and our Young Couples Fellowship Group raised the funds for 51 children whose parents are members of the church pastored by John, for each to have a school uniform, sports attire and a pair of shoes, as well as a fully equipped school backpack as the new school year commenced in September.
What would you like ITMI supporters to know?
Thank you, ITMI and partners, for your faithful obedience to lift us in prayer! Day after day, month after month, we see God answering the prayers of His people and His provision, and it’s such an encouragement to us.
The Ban Family
Steve Evers has advocated for and served the ITMI partners as ITMI Director since 2001. Approximately once a year, Steve visits with ITMI partners in their countries and brings stories back to encourage supporters. Steve enjoys photography and mechanics, (both hobbies that have greatly benefited ITMI partners!) Prior to becoming ITMI's Director, Steve served on the Board of Directors for 4 years. Steve lives in Arizona with his wife, Darlene.
