OFReport.com
A Time to Write

This summer, we printed our Ukrainian translation of Learning from the Atheists, by Michael Pearl.

A Time to Write

Joshua Steele 5 min read
newsletter ministry photos

Ministry in a COVID-19 world continues to present both challenges and opportunities. With face-to-face meetings often restricted, we are again reminded of the value of the printed page — both physical and digital. For the past several months, our team has devoted more effort to writing, and in particular, to translation.

Download PDF

This summer, we finally printed our Ukrainian translation of Michael Pearl’s Learning from the Atheists (opens in a new tab). We’ve had the Ukrainian text for quite a while — an initiative begun by Serhii Chepara several years ago — but it needed review and page layout. Now the project is complete and copies are circulating among believers in Lviv and other parts of Ukraine.

After losing the Zhylavy family in 2019, we began to search for a new Ukrainian translator. Serhii introduced us to Fedir Levchuk, and we decided to hire him for a small project as a trial run. After several weeks of collaboration with Fedir, we completed our translation of another of Mike’s booklets: Pornography: Road to Hell (opens in a new tab). We were very pleased with the quality of Fedir’s work, and we’ve already got him busy on our next translation project — this time, a full book. By Divine Design (opens in a new tab), by Michael Pearl, is a book I’ve wanted to translate for a long time, and one that was instrumental in bringing my good friend Nathan Day to Christ many years ago. We’ve now completed two chapters, and Fedir is hard at work on chapter 3.

Ukrainian edition cover of Michael Pearl's booklet Pornography: Road to Hell, titled Порнографія: Дорога в пекло

Local Church Ministry

Despite the afore-mentioned challenges of the pandemic, our involvement in our local church here in Lviv seems only to have grown. I am preaching regularly on Sundays, and two of our daughters (Abigail and Hosanna) sing most every week with the music ministry. These people are like family to us, and we’re so grateful for the part we have in this body!

Some people still aren’t able to attend church services in person, so one of the men in the church has been faithful to stream the messages live on YouTube. Care to listen to some Ukrainian preaching? Check out the video here!
Some people still aren’t able to attend church services in person, so one of the men in the church has been faithful to stream the messages live on YouTube. Care to listen to some Ukrainian preaching? Check out the video here! (opens in a new tab)
Abby and Hosanna continue to sing with the music group on Sundays. My long-time friend Ruslan (playing the guitar) leads the music ministry at our church and does an outstanding job with it!
Abby and Hosanna continue to sing with the music group on Sundays. My long-time friend Ruslan (playing the guitar) leads the music ministry at our church and does an outstanding job with it!
The Steeles in 2020. We finally took an updated family photo with Mia!
The Steeles in 2020. We finally took an updated family photo with Mia!

How You Can Pray

  • Our Bible First course in Ukraine is still going strong with around 90–100 active students at any one time. Pray that God would continue to bring fruit in this ministry.
  • Pray for wisdom regarding CMO 2021 relative to the pandemic. More details coming soon…
  • Pray for health and strength for our family.
  • Pray for peace and liberty in Ukraine.

Keep scrolling for more photos from our family and ministry!

Back when the weather was warmer, we enjoyed a fun family picnic at our favorite park.
Back when the weather was warmer, we enjoyed a fun family picnic at our favorite park.
Fun with Dad at the playground!
Fun with Dad at the playground!
Brother, if it has a steering wheel, David is there! 😎 🚗
Brother, if it has a steering wheel, David is there! 😎 🚗
Mommy and Mia 🥰
Mommy and Mia 🥰
Abby continues to develop her artistic talents, and recently she’s gotten into sketching portraits. This is Jonathan Day, Nathan and Katelin’s youngest boy.
Abby continues to develop her artistic talents, and recently she’s gotten into sketching portraits. This is Jonathan Day, Nathan and Katelin’s youngest boy.
And here’s another of her portraits, this one of Rebekah.
And here’s another of her portraits, this one of Rebekah.
We continue to send out Good and Evil books to folks across Ukraine. This photo was sent to us by a church in Lutsk that received a case of books in October.
We continue to send out Good and Evil books to folks across Ukraine. This photo was sent to us by a church in Lutsk that received a case of books in October.
Kelsie and I recently celebrated 16 years of marriage.💞 God is so faithful!
Kelsie and I recently celebrated 16 years of marriage.💞 God is so faithful!
We decided to try a new restaurant here in Lviv. I enjoyed some tasty pumpkin soup with this lovely lady!
We decided to try a new restaurant here in Lviv. I enjoyed some tasty pumpkin soup with this lovely lady!
Kathryn gets a turn in the dentist chair. (Wow, when you have six kids, you get to know the dentist office pretty well! 🥺)
Kathryn gets a turn in the dentist chair. (Wow, when you have six kids, you get to know the dentist office pretty well! 🥺)
Hosanna recently celebrated her tenth birthday!
Hosanna recently celebrated her tenth birthday!
We had a fun party with some of her friends from church.
We had a fun party with some of her friends from church.
We recently repainted our living room, and the little kids begged to try out the roller with Dad.
We recently repainted our living room, and the little kids begged to try out the roller with Dad.
“Roll it slowly, Kathryn, so you don’t spray paint all over Daddy!”
“Roll it slowly, Kathryn, so you don’t spray paint all over Daddy!”
“Look, Mom, I’m painting!”
“Look, Mom, I’m painting!”
“OK, Mia here’s the deal. This is your new bed. This is where you will go night-night. So lie down and go to sleep. Yes, right here. OK niiiiight night.” Why do I feel like I’m in that bedtime scene from Monsters, Inc?
“OK, Mia here’s the deal. This is your new bed. This is where you will go night-night. So lie down and go to sleep. Yes, right here. OK niiiiight night.” Why do I feel like I’m in that bedtime scene from Monsters, Inc?
Animated still from Monsters Inc of Sulley reacting with the caption You
Where’s Daddy?
Where’s Daddy?
There he is!
There he is!
Kathryn gets some ice cream on her Daddy date!
Kathryn gets some ice cream on her Daddy date!
In November, we were blessed by a visit from Mike and Denise Ireland. As many of you know, Denise (formerly Hutchison) served on our team for many years. She and Mike were married earlier this year and are preparing to return to Ukraine as a couple.
In November, we were blessed by a visit from Mike and Denise Ireland. As many of you know, Denise (formerly Hutchison) served on our team for many years. She and Mike were married earlier this year and are preparing to return to Ukraine as a couple.
Edmund and Agnes are a missionary couple from Northern Ireland who serve here in Lviv. Edmund organizes Christian conferences each year with his church, and I’ve helped him several times by providing Ukrainian translation. Recently they had our family over for dinner and we had a marvelous evening of fellowship together!
Edmund and Agnes are a missionary couple from Northern Ireland who serve here in Lviv. Edmund organizes Christian conferences each year with his church, and I’ve helped him several times by providing Ukrainian translation. Recently they had our family over for dinner and we had a marvelous evening of fellowship together!
In August, Hosanna and Rebekah took part in a mini summer camp organized by a lady in our church named Margarita (center in the photo above). They spent about a week in the Carpathians and had a fantastic time!
In August, Hosanna and Rebekah took part in a mini summer camp organized by a lady in our church named Margarita (center in the photo above). They spent about a week in the Carpathians and had a fantastic time!
Our family doesn’t emphasize Santa Claus, but we do like Dad’s fun hat!
Our family doesn’t emphasize Santa Claus, but we do like Dad’s fun hat!
Mom and the older girls did a great job with the tree! Now if we can just keep Mia from plucking off the ornaments… 👶🏻
Mom and the older girls did a great job with the tree! Now if we can just keep Mia from plucking off the ornaments… 👶🏻
Do other people have problems with limited refigerator surface real estate? We have a house full of artists! 🤩
Do other people have problems with limited refigerator surface real estate? We have a house full of artists! 🤩
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

Like what you’re reading?
Let’s keep in touch!