Prof.

Pastor Joseph Kuvshinikov, PhD

Developing Trustworthy Leaders of Influence around the
World for Christ
Thanksgiving 2015 Newsletter

Happy Thanksgiving!
As we look back on the year that has passed
we have much for which to be thankful. In
I Thessalonians 5:18, Apostle Paul commands
believers to give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. I
want to take this opportunity to say thank you
for all your prayers and support. The prayer of
a righteous person is powerful and effective
(James 5:16). 2015 has been an amazing year
with leadership development trips to Canada,
the US, South America and Poland. In addition
I will be returning to Argentina this December.
This newsletter gives me an opportunity to
provide highlights of how God has been using
us to further His Kingdom by developing
trustworthy leaders of influence.
Pittsburgh Slavic Church atba (Harvest) Celebration

Leaders developed in 2015

Prof. Pastor Joseph Kuvshinikov, PhD

Thanksgiving 2015 Newsletter - Page 2
South America - June/July 2015

Peru
Paraguay
Argentina

In June and July 2015 the Lord provided me with an

opportunity to spend a month in South America. I began
in Peru presenting my cross-cultural trust research at an
international academic conference. I then spend some
time studying the Inca culture to learn its influence on
missions. Next I travelled to Argentina for two weeks to
minster to those in poverty, teach students about hightrust leadership and come along side church leadership
to encourage and strengthen their servant leadership.
Finally I travelled to Paraguay where I was invited to
teach church leaders from across the country three
components of Bible-based leadership. First, I addressed
leading transformationally as Christ leads us. Second, I
discussed coaching and mentoring new leaders so that
they could become influential leaders who lead the
world to Christ. Third, I talked about the absolute
importance of leading with integrity. God provided in
more ways than can be counted. A special thank you to
the Lord for providing Pastor Oswaldo Lewczuk & Pastor
Carlos Cernik who coordinated much of the Argentinean
leadership development tour. A thank you for Gordon
Evans who coordinated Paraguay.

Peru
After presenting research
on how different cultures
learn to trust I travelled
to Machu Picchu to study
the Inca civilization. It
was interesting that their
culture also saw the need
for a wise savior.
Argentina & Paraguay
Meeting with pastors and
leaders from across the
country. Spoke to
students about leading
with integrity.
Worshipped with more
than 200 youth leaders.

Prof. Pastor Joseph Kuvshinikov, PhD

Thanksgiving 2015 Newsletter - Page 3
Poland - October 2015

In October 2015 the Lord provided an opportunity to

return to Poland, the birth place of my grandparents
and mother. I was invited to follow the footsteps that
Billy Graham took during his visit to Poland in 1978.
During his visit he proclaimed the Good News and
brought the message of salvation to the Polish people.
I was invited to come to several of the same churches
with a threefold purpose. First, serving the pastors by
providing leadership coaching that enhanced their
leadership, serving them as Aaron and Hur served
Moses by lifting his arms during battle (Exodus 17:11).
Second, I was invited to provide leadership development training to their leadership teams. During this
training the Lord led me to focus on helping them trust in God and allow Him to develop their authentic
servant leadership. Third, the Lord led me to provide congregational workshops addressing coaching and
mentoring designed to bring new believers into the Body of Christ and raise them up as Godly leaders who
can in turn reach others. God provided in more ways than be counted. A special thank you to the Lord for
providing Pastor Robert Blank who coordinated and translated much of the Poland leadership tour.

Warsaw, Wroclaw & Biaystok Served with local pastors to offer church leadership workshops.

Lublin Worked with city and university administration

to develop cross-cultural understanding/cooperation
peace building workshops for Polish & American
university students. Workshops will begin in 2016.

Biaystok Spoke to more than 50 young people

who were leaders of various ministries
throughout the city about authentic spiritual
leadership.

Polish Golden Autumn. The Lord provided me with an opportunity to visit the same fields near Biaystok
through which my grandparents, aunt and mother travelled while fleeing religious persecution. It filled me
with a deeper understanding of our God who is our banner and provider. It was very emotionally moving.

Prof. Pastor Joseph Kuvshinikov, PhD

Thanksgiving 2015 Newsletter - Page 4
Canada, United States 2015
The Lord provided several opportunities to serve and do
Biblical-based spiritual leadership development with
churches that serve Slavic populations in Canada and the
United States. Highlights include speaking at the harvest
celebrations that these churches host each year. With
grateful hearts the Slavic people decorate their churches
with bountiful harvests and hold services with great
numbers of inspiring messages and special numbers, both in
verse and in music. (Inset: Church of Christ Savior in Erie, PA)

Upcoming Workshops, Trips & Projects

Upcoming Workshop
Please pray as I will be speaking at a Thanksgiving retreat at Ebenezer Polish Camp in Erie, PA. My topic
will be how a thankful heart is critical to preparing a leader for authentic servant leadership. The Lord is
leading me to focus on the life of Daniel.
Upcoming Trips
Please pray as I will be traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina to work with Pastor Oswaldo Lewczuk, a
dear friend who is a pastor there. I will be cooperating with him on three projects. First, we will
participate in a city-wide evangelistic crusade. Second, I will speak at the 50 year anniversary of the
church he is leading and third, he has asked me to lead a workshop on leadership development. The
workshop will consist of two sections, both focused on hearing and obeying the Lord in your life. The
first section will address developing leadership in your own life. The second section will address
coaching and mentoring leadership in others.
Additional leadership development trips are already in planning stages.
Upcoming Projects
Please pray as I continue writing two leadership books. The first book is about the role trust plays in
high-influence leadership. The second book is designed to help readers understand how different
cultures develop trust. The goal of the second book is to assist people who work in cross-cultural
environments to develop trusting relationships across which the Good News can be shared.

Contact Information
Prof. Pastor Joseph Kuvshinikov, PhD
5414 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA 16506 USA

+1(814)833-7999
jkuvshin@velocity.net