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Mission continues during political unrest in Ukraine

December 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The student outreach team in Odessa, Ukraine.

The student outreach team in Odessa, Ukraine.

Despite political and social upheaval, the task of proclaiming the Gospel to students in Odessa, Ukraine continues.

Pastor Oleg Schewstchenko reports that the political situation made 2014 a challenging year. “Some of the students left town and some had to leave the country even before they were able to finish all their exams,” he explained. However, the pastor and more than 25 students gather every Tuesday to study the Gospel of Mark. He noted there are a growing number of private, small gatherings in his outreach ministry due to the political situation.

The students have also gathered to sing and pray for the situation in the country and for elections in Ukraine and Odessa. The pastor says that at all the events “we had opportunity to invite new people and to share the hope we only have in Jesus.”

This year at special outreach events on Valentine’s Day, a student day and Easter Pastor Oleg shared the Gospel with more than 100 people and gave to students more than 25 English and 50 Russian Bibles.

For more than 20 years Lutheran Church-Canada has served the spiritual needs of college and university students in Ukraine. With the support of Concordia Lutheran Mission Society the vital interaction continues.

Here’s how you can support this outreach.

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Partners in mission in Ukraine

October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Pastor Schmidt with a translator and the six students of the current seminary class.

“Going” seems to be a constant theme with our partners in mission. One such partner in mission who did “go” several times is the Rev. Albert Schmidt from Edmonton. He has served God’s mission in Ukraine since 1998 when he first went to teach new Ukrainian seminarians basic courses on “Christian Doctrine” and “Homiletics” (preaching).

Our Lord first moved him to “go” in this way through an advertisement in The Canadian Lutheran seeking instructors for the fledgling seminary program. He signed up for a year, and his wife, Marlene, accompanied him for several months. Pastor Schmidt has taught six different sets of courses to three different classes of students. He found it a real joy to teach the students who were always very receptive and respectful.

The Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine has experienced slow growth. As everywhere, some congregations are struggling, while others thrive. It is remarkable however that a synod numbering just 13 congregations now has a third class of men called into ministry, some of them a second generation.

Your partnership with CLMS supported God’s plan for growing this church family.

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Gift of knowledge shared with seminary students in Ukraine

September 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

May 1, 2011

It is a joy to share the Good News. Teaching seminary students to share the Good News and grow the church in Ukraine, as new pastors, is even more exciting. Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS) provides the funding so the experience, knowledge and the in-depth understanding of our North American theologians can be shared at the Ukrainian seminary in Odessa.

Albert Schmidt, a spirit-filled, enthusiastic pastor from Edmonton, Alberta, recently returned from Ukraine where he had the privilege of teaching “The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels” (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and “Pastoral Theology”, a practical course which directs and guides pastors in the conduct of the pastoral office. His experience of 51 years of pastoral work is cherished as real value to the students. Making the lessons as practical as possible helps the students understand and empathizes with future church members.

After discussions on “visiting the sick” Pastor Schmidt and the seminarians traveled to one of the hospitals to visit with patients. Dr. Schmidt shares “They went in with fear and trepidation, but came out filled with joy.”

Matthew Heise, a pastor from our United States sister church, traveled to Odessa in mid-March to teach two courses at the seminary. Pastor Matt is a travelling missionary who is very willing to teach in Ukraine. His fluency in the Russian language is a real asset and allows him to quickly connect with the seminarians. The first course he taught was Hermeneutics, a basic how-to in reading the Bible, and then a course on the Book of Revelation.

Pastor Matt shares, “It has been a joy to interact with the students, get used to their southern Ukrainian accents while they get accustomed to my American take on Moscow-accented Russian.”

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