Dear pastor and brother Robin Webber and our dear brethren in the cities of Garden Grove and Redlands in the United Church of God,
We rejoice with great gladness that we have brothers and sisters dear to our hearts in America.
We are sincerely thankful to you for your attention to us and your regard for our past when under atheism our churches went through severe trial for their worship of God. We are thankful that God gave us strength and delivered us and that not one church left the Law of God even when they were left without pastors and preachers who were sent away to prisons in Siberia when it was necessary to preach deliverance to the Christian brethren. The choice was made voluntarily but with Christ you have freedom even in prison. A free person is one who is free from fear and sin.
We are happy for you in America that you have also endured the trying of your faith and we understand that this was also difficult for you as it was for us. But, God has blessed you.
We are thankful to you for your generosity, for your working with Mission Nazareth and for your gift, the laser printer that is a wonderful start of the work of Mission in the direction of printing spiritual literature in and for Ukraine.
To the generous people and supporters from America and also our dear Ukrainian-American friend Victor Kubik, his wife and real Christian Beverly we have been able to initiate several new projects that even Christians of other faiths don't do. Now that we have good results it is great to share this joy that we have together with you and let it be for God's glory and for the building of His Church. God's Truth is going to increase to thousands of people, believers and atheists, materialists and Communists whom we still have a lot of.
We like the name of your church, United. What you are doing is uniting people in love, truth, God's law in the name of Jesus Christ for the glory of God and for the salvation of people. This is the Church of God. Let God continue to bless you. We wish that you achieve new successes in 1997 in the spirtitual life and that you continue to seek His Truth.
Let your light continue to shine!
With respect and love,
The workers of Mission Nazareth and Victor Pavliy
The original letter accompanying the money from Garden Grove for the laser printer....
7/8/96 9:28 PM
Dear Mr. Pavliy and Friends of Mission Nazareth,
I bring you greetings from our congregations in California. We are the Garden Grove and Redlands congregations of the United Church of God. We reside in the outer suburbs of Los Angeles. We, like you, are Christian Sabbatarians, who for some time have been admiring your dedication to God and His scriptures.
Mr. Kubik, our common friend, has shared much with our people about the joy and warmth that your brethern feel towards the work and plan of God. I believe in his recent trip to your country he conveyed some of the challenges our own people have experienced concerning THE SABBATH which reminds and refreshes us with the reality of Christ's work throughout our common world. Your example of determination was a reassuring thought in my own mind and heart these past couple of years when things seemed dark to realize that we have fellow Christians around the world who have set us a wonderful example of perseverance under pressure and incredible odds.
We are pleased that we might be part of a growing relationship based upon mutual respect and a common interest in God's plan revealed in His Word. We have learned from you and we hope we can share with you. That is why we are happy that we might contribute to the well-being of Mission Nazareth by showing support for your computer/printer program. Please accept our financial support, not as an end in itself; but, as a new beginning in a relationship that can span continents and oceans. God's Spirit is a bridge with no beginning or end.
Ultimately through Mission Nazareth, the Garden Grove and Redlands congregations would like to establish a "Friend Program" that could as you so choose create closer friendships between us-- via pen pal letters and photographs. To exchange ideas and HOPE is a marvelous gift one to the other. Let us watch and follow where God's Spirit leads.
In Christian Love,
Pastor Robin Webber and the Garden Grove and Redlands Membership