Normally, I begin my email updates with whatever new song has been bouncing around in my head and how that song is fits into what has been going on in my life. But as I sit down to type, the song that comes to mind is one that is older than I am:

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Bible Class

This has been a theme in my 1st-3rd grade Bible class. This entire quarter, we have been walking our way through the gospel of John, and for the last three classes, we have been “stuck” on the story of Lazarus. My goal was to get up to the cross this week and then share the resurrection story as a reinforcement to what I know they will be hearing in their churches this Sunday. But there has been so much great conversation that I simply can’t move forward yet.

Baptism

One of my 11th graders took the step of faith to get baptized earlier in March. He has been serving God for most of his life, but it has been great to see how his faith has grown and deepened over the past year. He is hoping to graduate early so that he can finish and leave for college before turning 18, and the reality of leaving the nest and stepping out on his own grows ever more real.

War Update

This past winter has been universally recognized as the most challenging since the full-scale invasion began three years ago. Most days, we had less than a couple of hours of power and heat. Alarms and attacks were a nightly occurrence, and there was at least once each week when sleep was not going to happen. But as winter moved into spring, things have been looking steadily better. By the mid February, we had power more than half of each day. By early March, there was only an hour or two without power, and this past week, I believe there was only one day where we did not have power for a couple of hours.

That said, attacks and air alarms are still fairly regular. Today (Thursday, April 2), the students spent the first 20 minutes of the school day, as well as the last hour of school, downstairs in the shelter. And from a worldly, political perspective, peace is still as far away as ever. So although things are better, they are not good.

The man in the front is KCA’s IT tech, Andre. He was drafted this winter.

Outreach Ministry

The family of some of our students, as part of their ministry, sends 1,500 loaves of bread to troops on the front line. They will be sending a special Easter bread this weekend, and many of our middle and high school students will be volunteering on Good Friday to help make and prep that. This way, those serving on the frontline can remember and celebrate the resurrection of the Bread of Life.

Please Pray

1. For peace. The same make and model of missiles and drones being used in the Middle East these past few weeks have been seen in the Ukrainian skies for the past few years. Pray for peace in both regions.
2. For my elementary students. There has been some great conversations and since we will be in the last week of Christ’s life next week, there is an excellent time for kids to surrender their own lives to Him.
3. For my summer plans. I will be in the States for most of June and all of July, but there is still some scheduling and funding necessary for this trip.
4. For my writing. I have recently begun a new book project (on top of everything else). Please pray that it will be anointed and that I can be effective in my use of time.
5. For the ministry tomorrow. Pray that God would bless our students as they seek to be a blessing to others.
6. For churches around Ukraine as they celebrate Easter. The opportunities for evangelism this weekend are as great as anywhere. Please know that I will be praying for your churches during this time as well.

Forever His Servant,
BJ Richardson