Its name says it all — Ukraine. Translated it is borderland and so it has been for most of its chaotic history. Russia lies to the east, Belarus to the north. To the west, Ukraine is bordered by Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Romania and Moldova are to the southwest of Ukraine, while the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov form most of its southern border.
In medieval times, the nation was the center of the East Slavic civilization and one of the most powerful countries in Europe. But by the 14th century, the territory was divided among a succession of foreign rulers. Prior to World War II, much of its western area was under the domination of Poland. Its east was part of the Russian sphere.
Following the war, Ukraine became part of the Soviet Union and remained so until 1991 when the Soviet Union crumbled.
Religiously Ukraine has been a Christian nation for more than 1,000 years.
In the 980s, prince of Kiev Vladimir the Great accepted Christianity, reportedly under the influence of his mother. Other tribal chiefs quickly followed, and the area has been a part of Eastern Orthodox Christianity ever since.
Today it is said to be Ukrainian is to be Orthodox.
But Baptists found sanctuary in Ukraine almost 150 years ago. Persecution by the Roman Catholic Habsburg Empire (Austria-Hungary) drove many free-church believers to the safety of Eastern Orthodox territory.
Anabaptists fled here as early as the 16th century.
Hostility between Romans and Orthodox can be traced back to Byzantine days.
Today there are parts of Ukraine and parts of other former Soviet republics where Baptists make up the dominant religious group. The first Baptist communities were organized in Ukraine in 1867. Still only about 1 percent of Ukrainians are considered evangelical Christians today.
Ukraine is about the size of Texas, but its population nears 47 million. Kiev, the capital city, and its suburbs have almost 5 million residents.
By comparison, Alabama has an estimated 4.6 million residents. Although Ukraine has been referred to as the “bread basket of the Soviet Union,” 68 percent of people live in urban areas. Just under 20 percent of the population is under 15 years of age, and just more than 20 percent is over age 60.
Ukrainian is the official language since about 73 percent of the people consider themselves ethnic Ukrainians. But Russia’s permeating influence is reflected in a large Russian population and the wide use of the Russian language.
Reliable statistics for Baptists in Ukraine are hard to come by. The Baptist Union of Ukraine reports just more than 2,800 churches and 150,000 baptized members. Attendance at the churches runs about 300,000, reports indicate. The latest U.S. State Department report says membership in the union’s churches could number 500,000, but local officials reject that figure.
Alabama Baptists began a six-year partnership with the Baptists of Ukraine in 2006. The effort was a joint undertaking of local Ukrainian believers, as well as Baptist representatives serving through Southern Baptists’ International Mission Board.
Since that time, 25 Alabama Baptist teams have gone to Ukraine with 220 volunteers, according to statistics provided by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions office of global missions. Eight additional teams are scheduled to go before year’s end.
Reggie Quimby, director of the office of global missions, is quick to point out that the statistics reflect those teams of which he is aware. “Some may have gone without working with our office,” he noted.
Among the partnership’s goals is an Alabama Baptist association partner for each of Ukraine’s 25 oblasts (states). While that goal has not been achieved, Alabama Baptists have been heavily involved in church planting. Many volunteer teams have worked in a variety of activities to support new church starts.
The Baptist Union has a goal of starting 125 new churches primarily in regional centers where there is no evangelical work. Alabama Baptists also have provided financial support for this effort.
Also Alabama Baptist State Convention officials have worked with national Christian leaders to try to lay the groundwork for an offering system similar to the Cooperative Program.
Quimby said Baptists in Ukraine have requested more volunteer teams than Alabama Baptists have been able to provide. For example, 17 teams were requested for 2009. Ten teams are scheduled.
“If we had succeeded in securing an associational partner for each of the 25 oblasts, we would have had more volunteers,” Quimby said.
This issue of The Alabama Baptist looks at the Alabama-Ukraine partnership at the halfway point. Various ministries are profiled and Alabama Baptists serving in Ukraine are featured.
For more information about the partnership and opportunities for service, contact Quimby at 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 239, or rquimby@alsbom.org.
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