Ukraine
This article was originally published in the May 2018 edition of ITMI Monthly.
“The moment of the first water toxicity check is hard to describe in words,” ITMI’s Adi Ban reflected.
His heart sank as he read results- 801 TDS. TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids and is a measurement of all sorts of impurities in the water.
A reading over 100 is considered toxic.
This was the water that people of Toretsk, Ukraine were consuming.
Adi’s team - two men from his Young Couples’ Fellowship and four pastors from other parts of Ukraine - had the privilege of delivering and installing a water filtration system for the local church.
Filtration System for Local Church
Adi with Men from the Church as they Get Their First Taste of the Pure Water!
After the filter installation, the new water toxicity reading was 17 TDS!
They were SO GLAD and GRATEFUL!
Clean water isn’t the only way Adi is bringing good news to the people of Toretsk.
At a church service later that day, he and his team shared from God’s Word and shed light on family life.
Adi Sharing the Good News and Answering Family Life Questions
Adi and his wife, Ema, have discipled young families in their city in Romania for over a decade. The pair have consulted on and co-authored books on the topics of Biblical marriages, families and parenting.
They lead two bi-weekly groups that explore God’s plan for marriages, parenting and families. Together, Adi and Ema regularly educate and empower Romanian families with Biblical truth through conferences and counseling.
The Ban Family, Romania
This expertise in Biblical family matters was put to good use during the Q & A session that followed the service.
Others in the community overheard the church was getting a filter that would yield “good and pure” water. They wanted to know if the church would share this treasure.
Through Adi’s discipleship and ministry, this local church now has a wonderful opening to share clean, safe water with their community.
This is a beautiful opportunity to demonstrate and declare that there is someone who, just like the filter, can remove the toxicity from our hearts and make them new again.
This is the ministry Adi has been faithfully building for years. He's been investing in young men around him, discipling and teaching them to share the love of Christ with those around them.
It's something he couldn’t have done without the support so many of you generously supplied. Your support enables our partners to make these big impacts in parts of the world where it is needed the most.
About the Authors
Summer Kelley is a writer and follower of Jesus living in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and three kids. She’s had the honor and privilege of telling ITMI’s stories since 2006. Summer loves reading, the outdoors and Coca-Cola Classic.
Steve Evers has advocated for and served the ITMI partners as ITMI Director since 2001. Approximately once a year, Steve visits with ITMI partners in their countries and brings stories back to encourage supporters. Steve enjoys photography and mechanics, (both hobbies that have greatly benefited ITMI partners!) Prior to becoming ITMI's Director, Steve served on the Board of Directors for 4 years. Steve lives in Arizona with his wife, Darlene.