Urkaine is one of 12 countries referred to as the Commonwealth of Independent States - countries that were once under the rule of the 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, Kazahstan, and Armenia since 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed.
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 tremendouse growth in the Ukrainian Church.
Work & Witness is one of the greatest movements in the history of the Church of the Nazarene. It was not a planned program of the World Mission Department but a ministry that began with a group of concerned laymen who wanted to meet the needs that they saw around them. As global access became easier, so did the opportunity to experience missions first hand through personal involvement.
Work and Witness is all about connecting teams with needs. Help with construction, medical, technical, and evangelistic needs may be offered by teams of 2 or more people. The team's willingness to be available for up to 21 days and to pay all of their expenses is a key dynamic of the Work & Witness ministry. This self-funded movement has given Nazarene missions a huge boost into the 21st century.
