BWA Leader visits Ukraine

From Eron Henry at the Baptist World Alliance

Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Neville Callam visited the country of Ukraine, March 25-31.

Callam preached at three churches, including the Central Baptist Church in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital; brought greetings and addresses at several meetings, including a youth celebration event; and met with leaders of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists (AUCECB).

Callam was impressed with the commitment of Ukrainian Baptists to evangelism and social ministry, such as a ministry to drug addicts, and by the structure of the AUCECB. Callam described the structure of the Union, its Associations, and churches as “well coordinated.” He noted that “the Association structure replicates the national structure” and that “each church is structured the same.”

For example, each congregation, and each of the 25 regional Associations, has a director of evangelism. When meetings are held, evangelism directors from the different churches meet at the Associational level. Nationally, the directors of evangelism from each Association meet together to make and execute evangelism plans. In this way, the evangelism work in the country is well organized and coordinated as there is a “clearly defined focus of work.”

Callam observed that there was “high church attendance and professionalization of the music ministry” at the worship services and the AUCECB events in which he participated.

Ukraine has one of the largest Baptist memberships in Europe. The AUCECB has more than 2,800 churches and church plants and more than 135,000 members. The Brotherhood of Independent Baptist Churches and Ministries of Ukraine has approximately 130 churches and more than 11,000 baptized believers.