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MORE THAN SURVIVAL
Recently Valerie Antoniuk, President of Ukraine’s Baptist Union, spoke of how some of the new churches planted in the most-affected eastern side of his country following the start of hostilities in 2014 had subsequently closed following Russia’s full-scale invasion, when their ministers had been forced to relocate.
However, despite a significant number of pastors leaving the country altogether, resulting in 150 new Ukrainian churches being planted elsewhere in Europe, the church within Ukraine itself remains strong. Many new churches have been gathered, with displaced pastors eventually settling within Ukraine. More than 600 additional ministers have been newly ordained and have begun sharing the Gospel in their own country.
This sharing of the Gospel remains central to all these missionary pastors are seeking to do. Despite the ongoing conflict, and the necessity of supplying people’s physical needs, those leading the church in Ukraine know how vital the proclamation of the Good News is, if people are to come to faith in Christ.
SGA’s long-term commitment to the Ukrainian church is hugely appreciated, whether it be their ongoing financial support of Gospel workers with whom there is a long-term relationship, or the emergency help currently being offered to those whose pressing needs are more temporary in nature.
This is support that SGA delights to provide, enabling as it does the advance of the Gospel in what remains a very troubled land.