|
History
of the
Church of the Nazarene in Ukraine
Brief History
of the CIS
Ukraine is one of 12 countries referred to as the Commonwealth
of Independent States - countries that were
once under the rule of the former Soviet Union. These
nations represent a wide variety of landscape, climate,
inhabited by at least 60 ethnic people groups, as well
as a diversity of religions, from atheism to Islam and
even to various tribal religions. The Church of the
Nazarene has been able to start work in several of the
former Soviet republics, including Russia, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, and Armenia since 1991 when the Soviet Union
collapsed.
Ukraine,
an independent nation (since 1991) with 46.3 Millionpeople,
occupies an area roughly the size of Texas and is located
in Eastern Europe. The capital, Kiev, is a city of 2,700,000
and dates back more than 1500 years. Ukraine is bounded
on the east and northeast by Russia, on the north by
Belarus, on the west by Poland, Slovakia and Hungary,
on the southwest by Romania and Moldova, and on the
south by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. All of these
countries are former Soviet Republics or satellites.
Christianity became Ukraine's official religion under
the leadership of St. Volodomyr in 988 A.D. In Soviet
times, religion was suppressed and believers were jailed
or even executed. Since 1991, Ukraine has been open
to religious organizations, including sects and cults.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the largest denomination.
Now we have the opportunity to witness to the Ukrainian
people that Jesus Christ wants to be their personal
Lord and Savior!
During
the final years of the Soviet Union, Nazarene Mission
Radio found its way into Ukraine. Jim and Donna Welchly
helped register the Church with the Ukrainian government,
and with organizing Kiev First Church in 1992. Rev.
David and Shelly Hayes were the first assigned missionaries.
In 1995, Bob and Colleen Skinner and family accepted
the assignment to Ukrainian District. At that time,
there was only one Nazarene church in Ukraine, Kiev
First Church. Since 1995 there has been a tremendous
growth in the Ukrainian Church.
Churches
in Ukraine >>
|
