Alabama, Ukraine Baptists partner to share Christ

In November 2005, Alabama Baptists voted to partner with Ukrainian Baptists to spread the gospel. 
   
This January, leaders signed documents formalizing the partnership. Before the ink was dry on the partnership agreement,  plans were already underway for teams to go to Ukraine. 
   
“The overarching goal of the partnership is to take the message of Jesus to those who have not heard. We are trying to mobilize Alabamians to go and engage in Intentional Evangelism,” said Reggie Quimby, director of the office of global partnerships and volunteers in missions for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).
   
Secondary goals include church planting and leadership training, he noted.
   
Slavic Nesteruk, vice president of the Ukrainian Baptist Union, agreed with Quimby’s assessment of the partnership goals, reported Mick Stockwell, International Mission Board (IMB) missionary. Stockwell works closely with Nesteruk in his work as strategy associate for the region. Nesteruk told Stockwell that leadership training among Ukraine nationals is a critical need. 
   
Ukrainian Baptist leaders need training in Sunday School, discipleship and personal evangelism. Volunteers are also needed to teach in Bible colleges and seminaries. 
   
Rick Lance, SBOM executive director, lauded the partnership.
   
“Alabama Baptists are in a unique position to help our fellow believers in Ukraine to reach the almost 50 million people who live in this strategic nation,” he said. “Ukraine is the geographic and cultural crossroads of the old Soviet Union.” 
   
At the partnership signing, Nesteruk expressed hope that the partnership would result in encouragement for the Ukrainian churches and relationships between churches in Ukraine and Alabama. 
   
Quimby said he expects at least 10 teams to visit Ukraine in 2006.
   
While there are large areas with little or no evangelical work, Quimby reported that people in Ukraine tend to be responsive to the Christian message. 
   
Baptists are particularly strong in the nation, where the Ukrainian Baptist Union reports that the number of churches has increased from 500 to more than 2,000 in the last 15 years.
   
“Our missionaries in Ukraine and the evangelical church leaders have a passion to reach this part of the world,” Lance noted. 
   
“Our desire is to assist them in this Kingdom endeavor. Years ago, this opportunity would have been a mere dream, but now it is a reality.” 
   
Quimby envisions a wide range of projects for the partnership. 
   
“We want to see missions mobilization in every aspect — children’s clubs, youth clubs, block parties and some construction,” he said.
   
The groups from Alabama will include Vacation Bible School teams, a campus ministry team and several medical teams, among others.
   
Morgan Baptist Association is planning to hold an old-fashioned tent revival in late August. 
   
Donnell Brown, director of missions (DOM) for Morgan Association, said the association is planning to take a team of pastors, a worship leader, children’s workers and others to Donetsk, a large metropolitan area in southeastern Ukraine.
   
“Tent evangelism is not very effective [in America] any more, but it is still effective there,” Brown said. “We will try it and let the Lord do the rest.”
   
The group plans to have backyard Bible clubs and clowns to attract people to the tent where worship services will be held at night. 
   
Although the association is only planning one trip at this time, Brown expects an ongoing effort. 
   
“This is not something we will just do one time,” he said. “This is a three-year partnership. We hope to establish a church during that time.” 
   
An ongoing effort is exactly what Sam Taylor, IMB missionary to Ukraine, would like to see.
   
“We strongly prefer to speak about ‘strategic partnerships’ rather than ‘volunteer teams,’” he said. “So much more is accomplished when a stateside church stays focused on a particular church for two to three years rather than sending only one team one time.”
   
According to Taylor, there are benefits to focusing on one church or group in a strategic partnership. 
   
“Staying focused makes the church’s missions leaders more efficient in preparing and sending missions teams,” Taylor said. 
   
“Deeply rewarding personal relationships between church members are formed. Pastor-to-pastor encouragement occurs,” he said. “And the stateside church can experience the joy of watching the daughter church as it grows and develops.”
   
Quimby agreed, noting that he is seeking associations that will form strategic partnerships in Ukraine. 
   
Ukraine is divided into sections called oblasts, similar to our states, and Quimby would like to find partners for many of the 25 oblasts. “We want to impact the entire country,” Quimby said. 
   
Tuscaloosa Baptist Association has already formed a partnership with the Odessa oblast. While the association has not yet finalized its specific activities, DOM Jerry Wilkins said he expects projects to include training, evangelistic events and ministry events such as vision, dental and medical assistance. 
   
Michael Allen, minister of music at Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Northport, in Tuscaloosa Association, is familiar with Ukraine through his wife, Yana, who is from the Odessa area. Allen is working with a task force to prepare a ministry plan for the association’s approval. 
   
He pointed out that there are opportunities for many different kinds of ministry for Alabama partners, and the novelty of being from America helps reach people in Ukraine. 
   
Lance urged Alabama Baptists to get involved in the partnership. “Please pray for our evangelistic and missionary efforts in Ukraine. Consider how the Lord can use you to make a difference for Him in this partnership.”
   
Nesteruk invited Alabamians to help Ukrainian Baptists spread the good news not only to Ukrainians but also to the former Soviet Union and the Asian continent. 
   
Individuals, churches or associations interested in the Ukrainian partnership may contact Quimby by calling 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 239, or e-mailing rquimby@alsbom.org. (Mick Stockwell contributed)