History of the Church of the Nazarene in Ukraine

Brief History of the CIS
Ukraine is one of 12 countries referred to as the Commonwealth of Independent States - countries that were once under the rule of the former Soviet Union. These nations represent a wide variety of landscape, climate, inhabited by at least 60 ethnic people groups, as well as a diversity of religions, from atheism to Islam and even to various tribal religions. The Church of the Nazarene has been able to start work in several of the former Soviet republics, including Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Armenia since 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed.

Ukraine, an independent nation (since 1991) with 46.3 Millionpeople, occupies an area roughly the size of Texas and is located in Eastern Europe. The capital, Kiev, is a city of 2,700,000 and dates back more than 1500 years. Ukraine is bounded on the east and northeast by Russia, on the north by Belarus, on the west by Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, on the southwest by Romania and Moldova, and on the south by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. All of these countries are former Soviet Republics or satellites. Christianity became Ukraine's official religion under the leadership of St. Volodomyr in 988 A.D. In Soviet times, religion was suppressed and believers were jailed or even executed. Since 1991, Ukraine has been open to religious organizations, including sects and cults. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the largest denomination. Now we have the opportunity to witness to the Ukrainian people that Jesus Christ wants to be their personal Lord and Savior!

During the final years of the Soviet Union, Nazarene Mission Radio found its way into Ukraine. Jim and Donna Welchly helped register the Church with the Ukrainian government, and with organizing Kiev First Church in 1992. Rev. David and Shelly Hayes were the first assigned missionaries. In 1995, Bob and Colleen Skinner and family accepted the assignment to Ukrainian District. At that time, there was only one Nazarene church in Ukraine, Kiev First Church. Since 1995 there has been a tremendous growth in the Ukrainian Church.

Churches in Ukraine>>