Great concert #2 in Cherkassy tonight. The church's A/C was on when we walked in for our rehearsal (there's a running theme here....) which helped us immensely. Performing in unrelenting heat can be so debilitating, so these new amenities (which are a new trend) are greatly helpful, especially in a hot summer as this one is. There was a large and appreciative great audience, many from Zolotonosha and other places nearby filled the church. Of course, the multi-generational audience included all from the "babushkas", to young families with children, teenagers, and everyone in between. Many people in this region know and love Evangelion which is often known as the "Group-a Dennis-a Port-a." We sang our full concert, and once again it was wonderful not to hear clapping as we finished pieces, but those murmurings of "Slava Bohu" after a piece had finished. The continuity of the program and its emotional flow was not impeded, but actually enhanced by this tradition. There were so many wonderful points in the concert; those quiet "that's what that piece is supposed to sound like" moments throughout. It was so good to see friend and colleague Bev Solberg and NWC music student and senior Hannah Lindahl out in the audience, as they begin their week of camp in Zolo, and then head home next weekend. "Time flies when you're having fun." Before our final song, Sasha Kreschuk (of the Christian Music Academy supported by MIWC) delivered a impassioned address to the audience  about the importance of musical excellence, maintaining the choir in worship, and how we must fight to keep it active and vital within the church. If only his words could be heard in our own country! I so appreciate his "eagle-eye" vision as the leader of music for the entire Baptist Union here in Ukraine; over 3,500 churches benefit from his leadership and vision! Today alone, Sasha visited 12 different churches during his travels from Kyiv to Cherkassy. Please pray for him and our other ministry partners here - both the ones with Music in World Cultures, Music Mission Ukraine and the Shepherd's Foundation. There is so much important work being done here. On to Poltava tomorrow. Now, it's off to a well-earned sleep. Dobranitch!

It's a Small World, After All!

We have come to Cherkassy to sing, to participate in worship in a church - normal activity for Evangelion on tour, right. But, what are the odds that on any given Sunday of the year, there will be a large contingent of Minnesotans visiting that particular church in Ukraine? Today - it was a youth group from New Life Church in Woodbury, Minnesota here to lead a youth camp and outreach ministries. They are led by Pastor Matt Swigart (a NWC grad and former Northwestern College Choir member!) and other members of New Life Church. There are also longstanding Bethel University connections here, not surprising due to 20 years of the Baptist sister church program in the Cherkassy oblast. A powerful day of worship, during which we sang most of our concert, Matt Swigart preached. Together we shared warm worship (though we were grateful for what A/C the church did have) and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. And, the day has only begun. Concert tonight at a different church on the other end of town. Looking forward to more NWC and Bethel and Kingdom connections!