Poor people in remote parts of Ukraine
among the first to receive new translation

This man in a remote village in Ukraine started reading his copy of the Ukrainian New Testament as soon as he received it. Photo: Ukrainian Bible Society (UKR02DJ-3)

KIEV, Ukraine — The main aim of the Ukrainian Bible Society is to reach the most remote places in Ukraine with the message of the Gospel. Furthermore it has a new translation of the New Testament with which to do so.

Bibles currently in use among Ukrainian Christians include an assortment of translations, one of which is nearly 100 years old, one 70 years old and the most recent approximately 50 years old! Even in the last 50 years, however, the language has changed considerably, especially since Ukraine became independent in 1991.

So all Ukrainian Christians – there are thought to be about 30 million – are ready for a modern translation, initially of the New Testament but eventually of the entire Bible.

There are many small towns and villages in Ukraine where people live a hand-to-mouth existence and never have the opportunity or the means to buy a Bible of any kind. In an effort to meet the needs of these particularly needy people, the Bible Society, in co-operation with churches and other Christian organisations, arranged a program of free distribution of the new Ukrainian New Testament.

During the 12 days of the program the Society staff visited 24 different towns and villages.

Answer questions

It was a great opportunity to tell people about the love of God, to share the New Testament and to answer people’s questions about why they should read the Gospel. During one tour of small villages, they gave out 1,200 copies of the New Testament to elderly people and 450 copies to young people.