This church was begun in 2003 with 30 believers who had a desire to start a new church and they asked Mark to pastor. The Blessings felt the Lord give confirmation, so Pastor Mark accepted. Living Word Church has approximately 65 members. The preaching is in English with Ukrainian interpretation and the worship services are a combination of contemporary praise music and hymns, sung in both Ukrainian and Russian. They also sing some Jewish songs, in both Hebrew and Ukrainian. One of these, Mi Kamocha (Who is Like Thee), was most likely sung by our Lord Himself as He attended synagogue; the words of which were written 3,500 years ago by Moses. We owe a great debt to the Jews for keeping this rich heritage alive through thousands of years of dispersion. The church has ministries for children, youth, family, widows, women & men, discipleship, Bible studies, a prayer ministry and home groups. Living Word is also partnering with and assisting a new church plant in eastern Ukraine. The church ‘blesses’ the Jewish community by keeping the grounds of the Lviv Jewish Holocaust Memorial, which is located where the Jewish ghetto was during WWII. One of Mark and Rhonda’s goals is to teach the church the Jewish roots of their faith and what they owe the Jewish people – love and blessing.
   Living Word church is a loving family that assists one another and desires to see many Ukrainians come to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Their desire is for God’s Word to be living and active in their lives and for Living Word Church to be a light for Jesus in the city of Lviv. If you are ever in Lviv, it would give them great joy to have you come and visit. For information, you can contact Mark & Rhonda at bethel1@blessingministry.org for directions, or from within Ukraine dial 8-063-239-6083.  May the Lord bless you greatly!