Ukraine
Ukraine - Hope Now
We continue to support the work of Talnoe Baptist Church in the village of Korsunka in Ukraine, through Hope Now.
Click here for more information about the church in Talnoe and the work of Pastor Valeriy Lysytsya
PASTOR VALERIY’S VISIT - We were very pleased that Pastor Valeriy from our link church in Ukraine was able to visit us for a week in June. He came together with his wife Luba and their interpreter Maryana. Although only a week long we managed to introduce them to many of our members and to see most of the activities which we run in our church. Of particular interest was a visit to Thursday Fellowship where the speaker was talking about the work of the Disabled Christian Fellowship. As one can imagine, provision and facilities for disabled people in Ukraine are rather limited. However, it was not only the Ukrainians who were amazed when the speaker, Jenny, demonstrated how her adapted car enabled her (with a remote) to lower ramps at the rear, ride into and through the car to a position where she could drive herself from her electric wheelchair!
At the Sunday morning service Pastor Valeriy, Luba and Maryana sang to us, without accompaniment, in perfect harmony. Following this Valeriy spoke of work of his church and their church plant and thanked us for our commitment to this work. At the evening service Valeriy not only preached but also told us of some of the problems he encountered as an evangelical Christian under communism. Although we have some knowledge of what it was like it came as a surprise that although some churches were tolerated, every effort was made to stop children and young people from following Christ. If children were found in church the pastors would be fined and young people professing evangelical faith were not allowed to enter university. One strange event which Valeriy related was the day he started to conduct a marriage ceremony in the house they were using as the church when officials arrived, set up loud-speakers around the house and proceeded to play secular music at full volume in an attempt to disrupt the ceremony.
The main aim of the visit was to strengthen our link with the church at Talnoe and Korsunka by encouraging people to pray, support and possibly make a trip to Ukraine. However, a secondary aim was to give them chance to rest and relax before a summer of very heavy commitments. Although Valeriy had made one visit to London in 1996 for Luba and Maryana it was their first trip to England. With this in mind trips were made to Tamworth Castle and Stratford and they even managed to go aboard a canal narrowboat.
Our time together was a great blessing. We thank God that finances were made available for this visit, that visas were granted without problems, that the weather was fine and that their journeys were safe.
They returned to Talnoe to run 4 summer camps (holiday clubs) for children of the town and surrounding villages; a youth camp (under canvas); to prepare for 8 or 9 baptisms and 4 weddings including that of Igor the youngest son of Valeriy and Luba.
Sue & Leigh Bilson with Pastor Valeriy with two young members of the fellowship in Korsunka
Members of the fabulous Ukraine Youth Choir visiting us as part of their 'Close to the Heart' tour, raising money for Hope Now for its work with the orphans and children of central Ukraine.
HEAD OF ‘HOPE NOW’ IS AWARDED MBE
Vic Jackopson, the head of ‘Hope Now’ was awarded the MBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours List for his service in Ukraine.
His work began there in the early 90s when he was asked by the Baptist Union to report on the state of Baptist churches in Central Ukraine following the fall of communism.
Whilst visiting a prison in Cherkassy he was asked by a minister if he could fund the setting up of a prison chapel. He had the exact amount of money with him that was required to adapt and equip a room in the prison for use as a chapel. Thus began the prison ministry there.
During a visit to the Cherkassy Rescue Shelter he met two boys who took him to where they used to beg (and live) in the town cemetery. As a result of this meeting the ministry in the orphanages and internats began.
Assistance with health care in local hospitals and isolated villages followed.
At the heart of all of Vic’s work is bringing the Good News of Jesus. Support of local churches, assistance in planting new churches and the training of new pastors in the Hope Now Bible School means that the Gospel is continuing to spread in this Cherkassy Region and further afield.
From abandoned child – children’s home – foster care – thieving – prison................ MBE! Vic can testify to the saving grace and Good News of Jesus Christ.