Christianity in the Ukraine

[zakatak]

I want to hear your views on Christianity and the church in Ukraine? Do you find it boring and unneeded? Have you ever had any bad experiences with the church? What is something that needs to change in the church? My name is Zach Balon and I am going to plant churches in the Ukraine and I want to hear what people have to say about the church. Do you have any advice for a pastor who wants to plant a church that is relevant to the times and to the people. What are some of the biggest needs that people have that a church could help out with. I got much love for the people of Ukraine and so does our heavenly Father. keep the peace,
zach balon

[StasUA]

From my point of view, Churchs are NEEDED in Ukraine, many of them were eliminated by communists, and others. People need to go to the Churchs, to come down, Churchs give hope to our people. God Bless you.

[Cossack_Mamay]

Christianity has very deep roots in Ukraine, and shurely will flourish, and there is no need for different sects to come here. Many "preachers" from the US are looking for converts abroad. Does it mean people in the US are alraedy "enlightened"? Or maybe they consider their "american values" are the best and think they should be "planted" all over the world?

[Ruslana]

Sure, but it doesn't mean, Stas that everybody in Ukraine will go to churches just because there's going to be more of them. Main thing is what's happening in people's soules.

I don't know what kind of luck you have, to build churches, but I remember three years ago, our mere of the city did not let us to build on the church's property, tillte Sunday school. Long time we tried to got permission to build garag on our church's property.
Well, we have garag naw, but still no Sunday school.
I know for some reason, people have an opportunity to build churches, (I mean rich churches, full of gold inside) and at the same time - so, so many people are homles and intelligent, educated people does not got their salary, children without homes, hospitals in weak and poor conditions and so on (there is a big list). And isn't going to be better for people and country to take all that gold and give to people( at least) who are suffering without food I'm just thinking about it sometimes and can't come out with any realistic conclussion.

[This message has been edited by Ruslana (edited 04 March 2000).]

[StasUA]

So what are you saying Ruslana? we shall take all icon, sell them to foreigners, get money for them, go out to the street, and give them to everybody??????

[Foggy]

Speaking as one who has been to Uk and helped plant churches...

It is a mistaken notion that all foreigners want to do is to make a "foreign" church. We were very careful not to take any cultural baggage along with us. We did not pastor churches, we assisted Uk preachers in getting a church going -- not by any methods or enlightenment we took along, but by providing financial support so Uk pastors could minister to those who attended their churches. And, of course by being there, we helped them draw a crowd! Many of the villages I visited had never had an american walk their streets before.

We took nothing from Uk except memories - - and a deep love for the Uk people. We did not sell anything. We did not americanize anyone. We did not do anything except go to often remote villages that had no church of any kind and try to make the fellowship and comfort of Christianity available to them.

FOG

[Foggy]

To Zacatack:

BTW, don't call it "the" Ukraine if you get there! Those I met were very adamant that "The Ukraine" was a russian province; Ukraine is the name of an independent republic!