“Serving in Ukrainian churches is like stepping back into the Book of Acts: an energetic and caring family of believers, passionate about reaching their country and the world for Christ. What a great place to have raised our children.”
The Spiritual Need in Ukraine
Ukraine’s strategic location and volatile civil climate have uniquely prepared it to receive the gospel. Located between Europe and Asia, Ukraine has become a launching pad for missionaries to Eurasia and Central Asia, including countries like Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, where there is little to no religious freedom. Ukraine, on the other hand, has experienced far greater religious liberty over the past 20 years, allowing for the cultivation of church-planting movements and, more recently, mission movements.
Ukraine underwent a revolution in 2014, and has since been in sustained armed conflict with Russia. More than 13,000 soldiers and civilians in eastern Ukraine have been killed, others have been displaced, and countless towns have been damaged. As a result, the Ukrainian people face heightened physical and spiritual needs that can be met through our church planting in Ukraine. Suffering has become an expected norm of Ukrainian life, but there is more hope than ever, as younger Ukrainians are growing up without fear of being punished for independent thinking.
ABWE Canada in Ukraine
God has used the ABWE Canada team, in partnership with local believers, to plant and strengthen hundreds of life-giving churches in Ukraine and beyond. Many of these churches are healthy and growing, and have begun to plant new churches. Since 1994, the ABWE Canada-established Church Ministries Institute has equipped thousands of church workers, serving as a unique model for of high-quality theological education in the context of the local church. Despite these efforts, there is still a need for trained spiritual leaders. There is still much work to do – 98 percent of Ukrainians have not yet accepted the gospel.
ABWE Canada teams are partnering with local theological schools to offer creative training programs that are proving instrumental in planting new churches. Our goal is to establish resource and training centers across the country as well as to offer medical care and instruction in village clinics.
To expand our mission, our Ukraine team needs theological educators who can blend theory, practice, and a passion for serving alongside their Ukrainian brothers. We are also eager to expand a team of medical doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, missionary kids’ (MK) teachers, children’s workers, evangelists, and church planters.
