Ukraine Giving - Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.

Ministry Description

Jorge and Laura Radziwiluk started Word of Life in the Ukraine 1992. In 1993, the ministry started growing through Bible Clubs and the camping program. Today, there is a staff of more than 20 nationals that are reaching thousands of young people every year. An old camp property near the capital Kyiv was purchased in 1999. It has been renovated and now hosts camps through out the year and a Bible Institute. Graduates from the Bible Institute now serve God in over 10 countries worldwide. Many of them continue to have a deep Gospel impact in their local Churches and communities. The ministry in Ukraine includes extensive Gospel outreaches, seminars and other projects in partnership with local Churches. Summer and Winter camps are always a special and effective ministry of WOL Ukraine. In 2013, Jorge and Laura Radziwiluk passed on the ministry to a young and vibrant staff. The leadership was passed to the new director Matias Radziwiluk and associate director Serhii Korobkin. Under their leadership, the ministry continues to deepen the relationship with local churches and dreams of having a meaningful Gospel impact in Eastern Europe. Sadly, the ministry has been deeply impacted since the russian invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. The missionary staff has been courageously and sacrificially serving the suffering people of Ukraine, with new opportunities that have appeared due to the ongoing war. Ministries to displaced people, evacuations from war zones, assistance to liberated cities and ministry to the Armed Forces are some of the new ways we can continue to advance the Gospel in this new reality.

Country Description

With 603,000 sq. km, Ukraine is the largest country entirely within Europe and one of the most fertile regions in the world. This country attracted much attention after the nuclear tragedy at the Chernobyl power plant in 1986. This disaster brought log-term consequences to the country with contamination of water, food and many serious health problems. Today Ukraine is an independent country with a distinct language and culture. It is known for outdoor museums where villages display their culture in crafts and living conditions of the past. Cultural heritage can also be seen in centuries-old cathedrals in nearly every Ukrainian city and town. Years of communism have influenced a generation of Ukrainians, having tried to erase their national identity and religious freedom. Since the fall of the Soviet regime, a new era of independence has brought brought new life and opportunities for this amazing country. While under communist control the evangelical church was severely persecuted. Today the country of Ukraine enjoys such Religious Libery, that it is unparalleled to any European country. Ministry opportunities are vast and diverse. But in spite of that, a 2006 survey conducted by the Razumkov Centre for Economic and Political studies, found that: 62.5% of all respondents were not religious, not believers or not affiliated to any religious body. Religious apathy, specially among the youth is at a rise. The past 3 decades of Independence in the new, modern era of Ukraine have been a time of struggles to detach itself from an old Soviet mentality, and the influence and control of the russian federation. This struggle has led Ukraine to a fight for its very own existence. After 2 revolutions that marked Ukraine's clear path away from it's soviet past and a hybrid war that was started in 2014 by russia, has led to the biggest continental war in Europe since the Second World War. Today, Ukraine is fighting a war it never started, agains an insatiable imperialistic enemy that has brought devastation, death, evil and suffering to the innocent people of Ukraine. Today, Ukraine fights for freedom, independence, life and peace.