Summer outreach in Ukraine

Youth camp out during the Ukraine’s annual tent camp.

UKRAINE – This past summer was a busy one for Lutheran outreach to youth in Ukraine. Rev. Alexey Navrotskyy, Lutheran Church–Canada’s Missionary in Ukraine, reports the operation of several Vacation Bible School (VBS) camps for children during June, July, and August. The leadership team consisted of six volunteers from congregations of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU). The team was led by Sergey Bevz, who was among those who graduated from Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Odessa) this past July. The VBS camps were held in several cities in the Ukraine.

Youth during the annual tent camp.

July saw the annual youth tent camp, with nearly 100 participants attending from SELCU congregations. Over the course of seven days, the youth had the opportunity to learn from several pastors, attend Bible studies, and learn survival skills for wild and extreme conditions (tenting at the seaside and cooking their food over a campfire). Rev. Navrotskyy also reports holding three public concerts put on in the central square of Dnepropetrovsk during national holidays in August and September. Through these concerts, they have built a strong relationship with local authorities and been able to share the Gospel with local youth through music, skits, and songs.

Outreach ministry in the Ukraine isn’t restricted to youth of course. In June, the theatre ministry in Dnepropetrovsk put on an hour-long play entitled “Centurion.” This is the crucifixion story as told by the Roman officer responsible for carrying out the death sentence. More than 120 people attended, and there are plans to put on the performance again in larger venues around the city. And Rev. Navrotskyy continues his regular work with Alpha and Omega (a university-age student ministry), preaching for the regional television channel, and serving as pastor for the congregation in Dnepropetrovsk.

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