While traveling through Western Ukraine, glimpses of the old way of life and new forms of technology are seen in many of the small towns and villages. New homes and new businesses are being built in many different areas. What a joy to behold evangelical churches dotting the landscape in various locations of this region! But sadness also appears when one realizes that some of these small towns and villages do not have church buildings...
Building new churches in the former Soviet Union can be time consuming, tedious and extremely expensive. The cost of materials, the instability of laws and the volatility of the currency are all major factors that impede progress. Yet the leadership and members of the churches continue forward with necessary projects. One such project exists in the city of Lvov, Ukraine. In 2005, property and a house were purchased by the First Baptist Church in Lvov...
The SMS missionaries of Lutsk and Rozhische gathered together for a time of sweet fellowship with Rob Zapotoski, SMS International Field Coordinator, this past month in the home of Benjamin and Larisa Rubahka. It was a wonderful time of reminiscing and reflecting on the past years of Christian ministry in Western Ukraine. Each missionary shared a special memory of ministry. All marveled at the manifold ways that God has used this small band of servants to accomplish great feats of faith. Then, discussions turned to the future...
