Passing of Bishop John Doroshuk

[Bajhbr59]

This was posted by Bishop Howard on saturday. Please remember this family in prayer

We mourn the loss of our dear Brother and Bishop John Doroshuk. He was carried across Jordan's river last night while the family sang around his bed. He was a great Missionary Appostle and God used him to reap an awesome harvest in the revival lands of the former Soviet Union. Our prayers go out to Sister Ruth and the Doroshuk family.

[Mat]

I sent this email to my church members:

It is with sadness that I must report the death of one of the greatest men of God in our generation. Bishop John Doroshuk has passed from this life to the next. I have copied a statement concerning his ministry below, but there are not enough words to truly convey the magnitude of this man's ministry. In my opinion he is among the greatest missionaries of Christian history and for the Church of God of Prophecy his work is to be ranked with that of A. J. Tomlinson in respect to scope and sacrifice. We will deeply miss Bishop Doroshuk here at Lynnhaven Community Church because he was one of our Harvest Partners in outreach to China. I knew the Doroshuk family from my teenage years in Canada (his brother Walter was in my wedding) and how his entire family ministered in western Canada. I remember going to the Swan River Church where he was pastor for a provincial convention and learning that the church was bi-lingual, English and Ukrainian. When the old Soviet Union "came down" Bishop Doroshuk's ability to minister in Ukrainian (which is much like Russian), along with his being a Canadian citizen, made him God's man of the "age" for this mission. However, it was Bishop Doroshuk's Christian character and work ethic that made him so effective. My parents, who had ministered in Canada in the 1970s, traveled with Bishop Doroshuk to Russia and the Ukraine in 1995. They were amazed at the schedule he keep, the lives he touched and the dangers he faced. Often as they drove they would encounter "road blocks" set up by soldiers who were trying to extort money from travelers. Time and again Bishop Doroskuk would refuse to give them any of "God's money" despite the weapons the soldiers carried. Books could be written, but it is the record in heaven that will tell the whole story. Thank you Bishop Doroshuk!

The following is from our Presbyter in the region:

Bishop John Doroshuk Loving Memory

Yesterday, 23.07.2011 around 9:00 P.M. Alberta Canada time, Bishop John Doroshuk Apostle, Missionary, Father, Mentor, our friend went on to be with the Lord. His family was gathered around him after nearly 18 months of care, the last few spent in his hospital bed. The family was singing favourite choruses and hymns when Bishop John peacefully sighed his last sleepy sighs of life and departed to be with our Lord. He battled the tumour in his brain for far longer than ever medically expected, and was miraculously spared the typical pain and suffering. To the end he maintained love, peace and acceptance of the Lord’s will in his life, where ever Jesus would lead him, “Brat Ivan” as his friends in the CIS called him, was ready to follow. In life and in death he was obedient, consequent, peaceful and anointed. For 50 odd years John and Ruth Doroshuk served the Lord in the Church of God of Prophecy and in fellowship and service with many other churches and movements.
Almost two decades of ministry were dedicated to his planning and work in eastern Europe and western Asia after several years as pastor and bishop in Canada. Shortly after the fall of communism John and Ruth made their first trips in to the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Within months they were moving everything they had to Rivne, Ukraine where they set up several years of house and office. From that time, churches were planted, leaders were mentored, sons of faith birthed and fathered, hundreds if not thousands gave their lives to Christ in more than 10 nations of eastern Europe as well as many journeys and times of ministry in western Europe and the Middle East where he served as a faithful father and elder on the Europe, CIS and Middle East General Presyter’s counsel.

Having established solid works in much of the CIS he concentrated much of his last years strongly eastward, giving much time to eastern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and even Mongolia and China- often leaving strong works in his path.

His loving wife and family prayed for him and supported him all along the way, watching him exceed several years of well earned retirement– he just would not quit! He kept telling me, Brother Clayton, there is so much to do!

To the family, we owe so much gratitude for their magnanimous gift of their great husband, father and grandfather. To John we owe our hearts, and many of us the foundations years of faith and ministry he nourished in us.

We have sweet sorrow comforted only by the joy of knowing he has fought the good fight, finished the race and received his crown in Glory.

Brother John– I love you and I speak for hundreds when I say we are proud to be sons and younger brothers in faith birthed in your heart and ministry.

Clayton Endecott
General Presbyter Europe the CIS and the Middle East Church of God of Prophecy

Mat (back for a moment)