3.1.22 Blog
I have been wanting to wait until I had the opportunity to contact my good friends Ben and Dana Spry directly before I wrote this.
I first meet Ben and Dana when I was seminary student in Louisville. Ben and Dana had meet at Carson Newman while Dana was studying abroad from the Ukraine on the campus of Carson Newman in Jefferson City TN. After they married Ben felt called to study at the seminary level and it was in the fall of 2007 I had the privilege of meeting Ben and Dana. Since 2007 Ben and Dana have served the local church in multiple capacities and currently live in Powell TN. Many here at Middle Creek might remember Ben speaking for me in the pulpit on multiple occasions.
I could say so much about their story and God’s grace and leading in their lives but will save that for another time because the time and need for prayer for Ben, Dana, and their family is urgent. Dana’s father passed away a few ago and her mother thankfully was able to relocate from the Ukraine to the east Tennessee area. However, Dana’s brother and extended family are still currently in Eastern Europe and in harms way. Here is the latest news I have. Dana’s brother Serhii and his father in law Ivan have taken Dana’s sister in law (Ira), 7 yr old niece (Caroline), and 3yr old nephew (Roman), and Serhii’s mother in law out of the Ukrainian city of Lviv for safety. Serhii and Ivan returned to the city to help the Ukrainian solders protect Lviv. For reference the city of Lviv where Dana’s brother is at is around 50 miles from the boarder of Ukraine and Poland. Thankfully the intensity of fighting is located further east around the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Kyiv is 340 miles from Lviv however the situation throughout Ukraine is extremely unstable.
I have asked Ben and Dana what we can do and they have only asked that we pray specifically for Ukraine, Serhii and his family. If you would make it a matter of priority to pray for Serhii, Ira, Caroline, Roman and their family it would be greatly appreciated.
I will keep everyone updated as I know more
Corey
