Sasha Ministry
SASHA: Shepherding a Servant's Heart
Rev. Patrick Whaley is a United Methodist pastor who has served in the Memphis Annual Conference for 30 years. Since 2006 he has been appointed as “Teaching Pastor and Missionary” in Eurasia representing the countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. With this appointment Rev. Whaley established a non profit organization called SASHA Ministry—Shepherding A Servant’s Heart, Amen. He must raise every penny of support for the ministry!
The 15 countries of the former Soviet Union stretch across 11 time zones and more than 300 million people. Three of the countries have a non active, yet Christian background, 5 countries are predominate atheist and 8 countries have a deep Muslim influence with ongoing Christian persecution. In Russia, less than 1/1,000 have ever been in a church and 1/10,000 have read from the Bible. Russia continues to be one of the most strategic countries influencing America, Europe and the entire world politically and economically.
SASHA Ministry has taught and led conferences alongside Bishop Hans Vaxby of Eurasia, General Board of Global Ministry and World Methodist Evangelism. He has developed the 5 Year Plan of Pastors Continuing Education and Lay Leaders Training and every DS, pastor and church lay leaders have attended his conferences. Faith sharing, passionate Christian education experiences with cultural and contextual understanding and intentional outreach ministries into the communities are vital components as we plant new churches and ministries.
This year the Ukraine/Moldova Annual Conference voted unanimously and signed by Bishop Vaxby that Patrick spend at least three weeks in every church in 2010-2011 because of the overwhelming results in baptisms, attendance, faith development and outreach ministries of the SASHA Ministry in the churches where he spent the most time.
Recently, SASHA Ministry led a conference for 45 youth and young adult leaders from cities all across Ukraine through contextualizing the Bible and emphasizing the importance of living out the Gospel and multiplying new leaders 200 additional youth and young adult leaders were trained the end of July and August.
Last year Germantown UMC sent a team to Lugansk where they led a pastors and lay leaders’ training event on Stephen Ministry and the importance of small group ministries. People came from across eastern and southern Ukraine and Russia for this spiritual conference. A year ago it averaged 30 in worship, had 1 Wednesday night Bible Study and no ongoing mission outreach. Today, worship attendance has tripled with plans for a second service meeting Sunday afternoon.
From October 7-19, a team of eight from Germantown UMC will again travel to Ukraine this time going to Chernovsti and Uzhgorod in the Southwest corner.
SASHA Ministry is extremely thankful to Germantown UMC for its support of space, financial record keeping, encouragement and monthly support of $200 per month through the mission’s budget. We ask for your continued prayers and financial support as we currently are giving leadership to more than 250 churches and ministries in some of the most difficult places in the world to be a Christian.
SASHA Ministry is totally dependent upon the gifts of individuals, groups and local churches. Please contact Patrick Whaley at sashaministry@gmail or call 337-4178 for more information.
