Gethsemane church organized a public committee “Community. State. Church”, consisting of members of public organizations, local authorities and different Christian denominations. The goal is to make the healthy life style popular through various public events communicating the value of God ‘s word and prayer. The first step was November 18, The No Smoking Day

Just by the main entrance to the National University ( the first time ever we did such a thing!!!) there were two tents set up with banners saying “Choose life or Death will choose you”, “The Fate of a Smoker” (with lots of smoking connected diseases ) and “The Truth about Smoking”.

On the tables one could find free anti-smoking booklets, New Testaments (in exchange for a not empty pack of cigarettes ), Children’s Bibles and several volunteers from Gethsemane, catholic University and The Gideons Mission, ready to explain why the Bible is a better gift than a pack of cigarettes. Overall, about half a thousand of anti-smoking booklets were handed out and about 400 people came to the tents where we witnessed about the Bible and faith in Christ. Offering a New Testament with the booklet

Sister Sveta handing out booklets, New Testaments, and Children’s Bibles to the interested passers-by. We were happy to help see children interested in the Bible. Sister Alyona, 4 months after child delivery, witnessing about the power of the Word of God

The moment of the actual exchange – this young man decided to give away his pack of cigarettes to receive a New Testament. Maybe this moment will be a turning point in this boy’s life. There was a prayer book, where all who would like to be prayed for their smoking addiction deliverance, could write down their names.

Two TV channels were there and it was great that they showed it in the news that the Bible and faith in God ARE ABLE to free people from this strong addiction. At 4 PM there was a public interdenominational prayer with Gethsemane Head Pastor Valeriy Marchenko and a deacon of Roman Catholic Seminary Yuriy Tkach. This was the first prayer action in front of the national University in Lviv. A Good beginning! Pastor Valeriy called people to stop over and join to the prayer for God’s deliverance and help to people suffering from all kinds of addictions

People from all around could see and hear the prayers spoken into a portable sound system. Even more people gathered around us when we announced the ARMWRESTLING VS SMOKING CONTEST. Non –smokers were free to participate, , smokers had to give away their not empty pack of cigarettes. Armwrestling tournament Bohdan Morfei, a non –smoking student of the National University did win the contest! Not only the soccer ball was his prize, but also the Word of God!