June 20, 2014
Dear Christian friend,
Ukraine is undergoing extremely difficult times. Russia has annexed the Crimean peninsula. Two out of twenty-two Ukrainian Lutheran Church (ULC) congregations are in the occupied territories and a third is threatened. One of the pastors and his family had to leave Crimea for continental Ukraine. As a result, the preaching of the gospel in Ukraine is endangered.
This situation has caused serious economic problems. The Ukrainian national currency, the hryvnia, has fallen by almost 50 percent. Prices have gone up while salaries in many cases remain stagnant. Therefore, ULC congregations are struggling to become self-supporting. We are developing a ULC self-support program, but we need time and membership growth to implement it.
As we begin a closer relationship with WELS, we thank you for your fellowship and ask for your assistance. Whatever is lovingly and generously provided will be used to further share the gospel of Jesus Christ in Ukraine.
Please pray for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and consider helping us with your financial support. We pray that the Lord uses our brothers and sister in WELS to help answer our prayers!
Rev. Dr. Vyacheslav Horpynchuk
Bishop, Ukrainian Lutheran Church
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