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Congregation shows commitment to sharing God’s Word
UKRAINE — There can be no doubt that the Bible is at the very centre of the lives of those who attend the largest Adventist church in Kherson. Both individually and as a congregation, they clearly show their desire to keep learning from the Bible, to allow it to guide them in all things and to share it with others. They begin their time together each week with an hour of Bible study. Around 100 people listen carefully as Ludmila Barabash leads their discussion about the Holy Spirit. “Are we prepared to accept the Holy Spirit into our hearts?” she asks. Consulting both their Bibles and a book of study notes, they make thoughtful responses and are eager to learn from each other. People speak up confidently to share their thoughts and opinions, and many also make notes to read again later at home. Nurtured While the Bible study is taking place, the church’s children
are also being nurtured in learning to read and understand God’s
Word. Upstairs, the youngest children are playing in one small room,
while in another a group of seven- and eight-year-olds is learning to
find various books of the Bible, and a group of older children is studying
Luke’s Gospel using study notes specially written for young people. The devotion of all the members of this congregation, from the youngest
to the oldest, to the Bible is also reflected in the fact that it has
close links with the Southern Region branch of the Ukrainian Bible Society
and was one of the first supporters in the region of the Society’s
Bible Day initiative (see article).
Alexander Babiychuk, the Regional Director, has been invited to speak
at the service that follows the Bible study hour. He explains how the
Bible unites Christians to bring God’s Word to everybody, regardless
of their age, social background or how they live their life. “People often say that they are a Christian but don’t put this into practice in their lives,” he says. “That’s why we need to raise the profile of the Bible. One of the main ways of doing this is to set aside a special day and to encourage those in positions of authority to become involved. Thanks to Bible Day donations last year from congregations like yours, we are now able to supply you with large-print Scriptures for distribution to elderly people who would otherwise not be able to read the Bible. We are very grateful for your support.” Not enough Pastor Timofey Gladkov continues this theme in his sermon. “It’s not enough to just give somebody a Bible,” he tells the congregation to murmurs of agreement. “You must pray that it touches their heart.” As the service concludes with a hymn about the Bible, boxes of large-print Scriptures from the Bible Society are brought to the front to be blessed. They will be used in the church’s ministry to needy elderly people in the area. Afterwards, many members of the congregation are eager to tell the
Bible Society visitors about the Bible’s role in their journey
to faith.
This report refers to projects UKRFR1, 88508 and 88509. (WR 405/15 - 09/10.06) [9 photos] |
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56-year-old
Ludmila Barabash is a very active member of the main Adventist
church in Kherson. As well as leading Bible study sessions, she
undertakes voluntary work on behalf of the church among local
visually impaired and deaf people. Her faith is also a driving
force behind her professional life, as she is a doctor at a Christian
rehabilitation centre for alcoholics and drug addicts. 
Valentina
Grisanova (67) has been worshipping at this church for six years.
“When my husband was 60, I bought him a Bible, but I didn’t
read it myself,” she says. “Soon afterwards our son died
and a lady from this church was very supportive to me during that
difficult time. I started to search for some meaning in life and
I began to pray. Then I attended some Bible study courses. I began
coming to this church regularly and in 2000 I was baptised. Now
I do voluntary work for the church, such as visiting the sick. I
also hold a regular church meeting in my home. My husband reads
the Christian literature I give him, but he has not been baptised
yet.” 
Ludmila
Limareva (66) tells how the Bible inspires her to write Christian
poetry. “I used to be involved in secret government work, but
the Holy Spirit prompted me to repent and I came to this church,”
she says. “Now God has given me the gift of writing poems.
I’ve been doing this for the last 12 years and some are being
printed.” She reads a few lines from one of her poems: ‘God
is the meaning of life. The Bible shows God’s love to his people.
The Holy Spirit inspired the pages of the Bible, and in this way
God’s Word became understandable to us.’