Roman Vecherkovsky (above) has been SGA’s regional coordinator in Ukraine for a little over two years. Recently, we were able to sit down with Roman and speak about the difference Project 70 is making in the ministries of Mission Pastors and Church Planters throughout Ukraine.
Roman, what has been your experience with your new role as SGA’s regional coordinator for Ukraine?
I have been working already with the Union of Churches for about 25 years, but it is a great privilege to minister with SGA which has given us great help in training leaders, in the work of evangelism, and in helping those who are in need.
Why is the sponsorship of evangelists and church planters important in Ukraine?
Our vision is to see new and growing churches in Ukraine so that people will hear and know God’s truth. We have 106 groups of believers which are new church plants. There are 98 brothers serving these churches but only 30 of them are financially supported. In our denomination there are 118 recognized evangelists/church planters, but they must take jobs to earn their living and cannot be full time in ministry. For us it is a special blessing that SGA is supporting a number of men to engage in full-time ministry.
What difference has SGA’s project 70 made for the men being sponsored? How have these partnerships helped to expand the work?
It has meant they can devote themselves fully to ministry.
One man for example, Denis, a faithful, proven evangelist, was trying to combine his ministry with his small optical business through which he supported his family. He had planted new churches but his time was limited. SGA’s sponsorship meant he could engage fully in evangelism, and exploit the contacts he had made through his business.
The support has released him to engage in ongoing evangelism, young people’s work, and outreach to many in his city enslaved by alcoholism.
Sasha is another example of this expansion of ministry. He has planted one village church in the conflict zone, and is reaching into another village to begin a work there.
Eight of the SGA-sponsored men work in the conflict zone in Ukraine. This would not be possible without SGA support.
One evangelist, Yurie, was supplied with a car by SGA, which has proved vital in his ministry in the ‘red zone’. Another, Ivan, was given financial help to establish a meeting place for his church. This, with humanitarian help for needy people, has created many opportunities to share the Gospel.
Project 70 Facts
What are your hopes for the future, and how can we pray
for you?
We have great hope for the future. There is great diversity in the spiritual scene in Ukraine. Some areas are culturally and religiously traditional and there is a general claim to be ‘Christian’.
However, only a tiny minority have a genuine faith – most are only nominally Christian. In some parts church buildings have closed down and people are careless about religion.
However, there is freedom to evangelize, and great responsibility to use that freedom. We rejoice in the growth of evangelical churches, and in an openness to the Gospel on the part of many who are disenchanted with tradition and the official state religion.
PLEASE PRAY
Our vision is to have a Gospel church in every town and city. Pray for us as we pursue this.
Praise God for the children’s camps supported by SGA. They have been a big blessing and give us hope for the years to come.
Pray for the training and preparation of workers and leaders in the new churches.