Cause for Rejoicing in Ukraine

“We are expecting this program to grow fast once it takes off in Ukraine. When the churches begin to realise what the audio Scriptures can do for their members they will be eager to become involved
in the listening program.”

KYIV, Ukraine — In 1997 legislation was passed in Ukraine which is having a positive effect upon the work of the Bible Society, reports Mrs Maya Benediktovich, International Relations Assistant to the Bible Society Director. Under these new laws the Ukrainian Bible Society (UkBS) has been exempted from having to pay land tax. Also, as far as Scripture production is concerned, value-added tax will no longer be charged on Bibles printed locally.

Pavel Stavnichuk, the UkBS General Director, said: “This is a cause for rejoicing, because the UkBS will be saving up to 30 per cent on locally-produced Scriptures. We are also hoping that the tax policy on Bible imports will soon be changed. This will have a very positive effect on Bible work here.”

Time and effort

Thanks to the support of national Bible Societies through the UBS, and also of individuals who give of their time, effort, money or prayers for the Bible cause, the UkBS has been able to develop in all three areas of distribution, translation and production of the Holy Scriptures.

Over eleven months of 1997 the Society distributed 112,241 Bibles, 23,311 New Testaments, 26,925 Portions, including 2,574 Braille Portions, 20,607 Children’s Bibles and 3,269 Bible helps. And many of these Scriptures are now being produced locally: 15,000 Ukrainian Children’s Bibles, 50,000 Russian Children’s Bibles and 56,000 Russian Bibles have been printed in Ukraine.

Evaluation

In translation work, 1,000 copies of the draft of the new Ukrainian New Testament translation were produced in 1997 and given to church leaders for evaluation. The translation work on the Old Testament, based on the Septuagint Greek, has been completed and is currently in manuscript-correction stage where it is being thoroughly checked by prominent Ukrainian linguists.

In the development of Scriptures in other forms than the print media, cooperation has begun with Hosanna, a U.S.-based group providing resources, audio training, and funds for the translation of Scriptures in local languages onto audio cassettes. The first production is a trial using 100 copies of the Ukrainian New Testament on cassette, and distribution has taken place across the country.

Impressed

Having returned from a visit to the United States where he met with Hosanna representatives and saw some of the work there, Mr Stavnichuk said: “I had never imagined that this work was so vast and important, and I was impressed with the professionalism and responsible approach of the people involved. We are expecting this program to grow fast once it takes off in Ukraine. When the churches begin to realise what the audio Scriptures can do for their members they will be eager to become involved in the listening program.”

Another successful project is the production of the New Testament in Ukrainian Braille. (Please see World Report June 1997, 321/2.) There are more than 60,000 blind people in Ukraine and the work done in preparation for this production was completed in record time. Now, 500 of each of the books of the New Testament and the Psalms have been distributed free of charge throughout the country, to libraries and schools and centres for the blind.

Braille readers

In fact, there has been such a demand that they are being reprinted before work starts on the production of Genesis and Isaiah which are also ready. Following the article in the World Report (mentioned above) about the many eager Braille readers in Ukraine and the need for extra funds for this project, many more sponsors have come forward and the extra funds for Braille Scriptures have been raised.

“May God bless all those people around the world who have made contributions to our Ukrainian Braille Bible project, for their generous hearts and their care for disabled people,” said Mr Stavnichuk. “We know they will be rewarded from Heaven.”

Also due to support from the fellowship of Bible Societies, the UkBS was able to carry out free Bible distribution to several special groups of people and institutions in 1997: the people inhabiting the Chernobyl area received Scriptures; children and orphan groups, refugees, prisoners, the Army, kindergartens, school libraries, Christian schools and others all received free Bibles or New Testaments. The UkBS is especially conscious of disadvantaged people who need the Word of God, to bring them hope and to plant peace in their hearts. (WR 330/6 - 4.98)

This page was last updated on Wednesday, 8th April 1998.