February 2024

Churches, Children and Construction

OUR PURPOSE AND MOTIVATION

Mission 823 founders, Shawn and Amy Sullivan, are unashamedly, unapologetically Christian.

Everything that they do comes from a gratitude for the grace that God has shown them through His son Jesus Christ.

This is why they strive to honor God, show compassion and lead others to do the same.

They believe that pouring their lives out for Him and others around them is the least that they can do because of all that they have already received.

Not everyone will believe as they do, or as we as an organization do, but we will do our best to love others as Jesus unconditionally loved us, without asking for anything in return and despite our responses or performance.

We try to live out our thanks for His grace so that others may draw closer to Him as well.


OUR FOUNDERS CELEBRATE THEIR 39TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Shawn and Amy celebrated 39 years of marriage on February 15th of this year. They met in Orlando, Florida, at Amy's home church, where Shawn visited while stationed there in the U.S. Navy. 

Just three days after their wedding, Shawn's new orders sent them overseas. For four years, they were separated from their family, friends, country, culture, and language, relying on their faith and each other to get through.

When asked about the secret to a successful marriage, they always reply, "There is no secret, only faith that allows us to fully, unconditionally commit to love and serve each other always and forever, no matter what. No trial periods, no probation, no prenups, just pure commitment!" Congratulations to the Sullivans on this remarkable milestone!


NOT SO HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

February 24, 2024, marks 730 days, or two full years, since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

While the news may be silent and stories twisted, we are on the ground, serving those in pain—children who are suffering and families who are broken, bleeding, and burying their loved ones.

We are not government officials, politicians, or soldiers; we are the hands and feet of Jesus, rescuing, restoring, and bringing healing and support to those tormented by terrorism and war.

Despite any geopolitical turmoil, name-calling, or untruths, our mission remains steadfast. We serve people, period.

Please remember the people of Ukraine and join us in saving lives through Mission 823.

Your support is crucial in continuing our work and bringing hope to those who need it most.


Join the Mission 823 Newsletter

Stay up  to date with all our activities in Ukraine.



FRONT LINE CHURCHES

Mission 823 is just finishing up a successful two-year church planting commitment with Yevgeniy Kirichenko in Yaremche, Western Ukraine. 

This has become a great little church, serving sacrificially, growing organically and almost completely self-sufficient.

They're getting ready to build their own building on their own land!

We've been approached by Baptist Union leadership in Ukraine to come alongside two ocal churches in Ukraine if this is something that interests you.

We work exclusively with national pastors that we trust.

Send us a request for more details of this new campaign to get an idea of what we are trying to accomplish.

Basically, 2 pastors at $1000/mo. each and 2 mission point/church start-ups at $1000/mo. each for a 2-year commitment for a total of $96,000.

Reports and pictures are given monthly, reviews quarterly and reassessment annually.

If you would like to help us plant churches near the front in Ukraine, contact us directly with questions. 

RUSSIAN TROOPS CONTINUE TO PERSECUTE, TORTURE AND EXECUTE CHRISTIANS IN UKRAINE, ESPECIALLY TARGETING BAPTISTS.

Friends of Mission 823, advocates for Ukraine who are actively working in country have researched and documented widespread intentional persecution of Christians, especially Baptist Pastors and leadership.

There are numerous, chilling, verified testimonies telling of current examples and retelling past horrors.

Help us strengthen, rebuild and plant churches in Ukraine to counter this evil.

Visit this site and explore for more details: https://russiatortureschristians.org.


FEEDING UKRAINE'S KIDS

Food shortages, lack of work and destruction of farms, warehouses and supply chains are causing children and families in Ukraine to suffer from hunger. 

Mission 823 has the privilege to feed and care for hundreds of children and families every month.

We continue to receive requests for food assistance, especially near the front lines.

Sponsor a child today for a feeding program with a recurring monthly gift. Donate now and designate your donation as "Feed Kids".


BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Our professional designers, architects and engineers are hard at work improving and upgrading every aspect of our Family Homes and Youth Camps.

Camp Willow Park is receiving structural improvements and an aesthetic facelift that will allow us to serve many more children in much better ways this summer.

Ukrainian and American teams coming to serve traumatized kids will be blown away by the new improvements and amenities.

Come see it for yourself! Ask us how to put a team together.


TAKE THE WARM NETWORK CHALLENGE!

We'd like to challenge each and every one of you to take action on behalf of Ukraine's children in the easiest, most painless, least expensive way possible.

This challenge will result, however, in possibly the most powerful, life-changing results for kids who are suffering in Ukraine. Are you ready? It's simple!

As soon as possible:

1. Personally introduce us to a Pastor, Business Leader or Person of Influence.

2. Tell them why and how you support us.

3. Arrange a meeting with us to discuss how they can get involved with Mission 823.

That's it! Our goal is to increase the number of monthly partners supporting this work so that we can grow and stabilize the mission under war conditions. 


Please visit Facebook and Instagram pages and You Tube Channel and share them widely. We need a lot more voices and ambassadors actively participating so that we can have the greatest impact for the people of Ukraine.

Thank you and God Bless You!

Shawn and Amy Sullivan

CONTACT INFO:

Shawn - [email protected] - ph: 817-313-3656

Amy - [email protected] - ph: 817-773-4758

Office - [email protected] - ph: 352-432-8587

Website: www.mission823.com

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