I first met Pastor Pavel Yefimovich Stankevich eleven years ago on my first trip to Ukraine.  His son, Peter, met my friend Dan Glick and me at the airport.  Peter was also a pastor, and until his death a few years ago, was a dear friend and ministry partner.  He and Dan soon introduced me to Pavel Yefimovich, and our friendship began.  

  This past week, Pavel turned 80 years old.

  His church, the Bratskoye church was, at one time, a great center of Christian light in the region.  A large part of the entire village were Christians, and the communists couldn’t do much to stop the life of the church in the village.  So, people would come from churches all around to experience a little taste of semi- “religious-freedom!” When the communists blocked off the roads, believers would even sneak through corn fields to get into the village for special services.  

   Pavel’s church is still thriving, although many young families have left for a better life in America.  I was deeply touched recently, when Pavel asked if I would move to their village and become the new pastor of the Bratskoye church.  Although the Lord has not led me to accept that kind offer because of other plans He has laid before us, I was honored by my friend, Pavel’s trust and confidence in me.  And I understood his concern as he sees many great opportunities to disciple and evangelize and yet few men able to step in and take responsible leadership.  We are praying together about that.  

  For his 80th birthday, there was a celebratory service followed by a special dinner.  When I went up onto the platform behind the pulpit where the ministers were to sit, I was amazed!  Standing there were well-known regional pastors from several conservative evangelical denominations.  Their respective churches, sadly, have little tolerance for one another, and to see these men on one platform was unusual indeed!

  But it was a testimony to the legacy and ministry of Pavel Yefimovich.  He is a man who has refused to become embroiled in the disputes and divisions that have occurred in so many of the churches - mostly over issues that have little to do with theology and more to do with authority.  Pavel’s great desire has been to see unity and oneness among brothers and sisters in Christ!  Even one preacher could not help but mention, as he stood up to address the congregation, “Pavel is a unique man to bring so many people together on this day in one place!”  I couldn’t help but think to myself, “We’d better get used to this, because this is what heaven is going to look like!”

  Part of the reason those ministers were all assembled was because they knew of the spiritual stature of the man they were honoring.  Pavel had suffered much harassment and persecution as an evangelical pastor during the Soviet era.  And yet, he had stood firm and solid as an example and inspiration to each one of the those ministers who were present on his 80th birthday celebration.  

  During the dinner that followed, a story was told about Pavel.  One day, during the communist persecution, he was arrested on the way home from preaching at a meeting of believers.  The KGB officer said, “We’ve warned you and warned you, Pavel Yefimovich.  And we must continue to punish you.”  He then proceeded to announce a fine that Pavel was to pay for attending the service.  But then he continued: “However...for PREACHING at the service, you will be fined an additional 70 rubles!”  

  “And so,” said Pavel Yefimovich to those of us gathered together at his birthday service, “I guess that’s what my sermons are worth!  70 rubles a piece!”  He smiled and we all laughed.

  But all of us there knew that his ministry was worth far, far more than 70 rubles.  No earthly value can be placed on the ministry of a man who has stood firm in proclaiming the gospel of Christ in the face of adversity and been able to unify and unite Christians around one common purpose in the face of divisions and conflict.   That kind of ministry is priceless, for “Behold, how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

  And if that’s the kind of ministry that has value to God, then may it be the kind of ministry that comes from each of our lives!