The Church of God in Donetsk, the second Church of God planted in Ukraine after the fall of Communism, is in urgent need of repairs
The great, black Coal Mountains of Donetsk, Ukraine, can be seen rising above the city from a distance. The whole area is blanketed in grey, and heavy-laden trucks roll from the mines — some of which are located right in the middle of residential areas.
In the midst of this industrial city of nearly 1.5 million people, there is a Church of God. Its pastor, Vladimir Kovenyev, is a fifth-generation believer — quite remarkable considering Ukraine’s decades of religious oppression. Vladimir and his wife, Natasha, are gifted and loyal leaders, committed to reaching their city with the gospel.
The Church of God in Donetsk was the second Church of God planted in Ukraine after the fall of Communism. For the past few years, the congregation has been meeting in a former house of culture that was graciously given to them by the city. It truly is a blessing from God that the church could own such an impressive building. Besides church activities, the building houses Donetsk’s largest Christian bookstore and is probably the only Church of God with its own plum-crowned parrot stationed by the front entrance, greeting those who come through the doors!
Unfortunately, the building came in terrible condition, and the renovation has gone slowly due to lack of funds for building materials. The members give faithfully, but this only covers the basic utilities and running costs of the building. The economic situation in Ukraine is devastating, and churches feel the burden in a heavy way.
Donations have enabled the church to undergo some much-needed repairs. The sanctuary has been renovated, the roof completely renewed, new drains placed along the building, and new toilets installed. The kitchen and dining area also have been renovated, but the large fellowship hall still needs to be expanded. The front of the building still needs a lot of work, too.
Since Donetsk is such a central location in relation to the dozens of Churches of God now thriving in Ukraine, this building serves as a place for regional pastors meetings and other leadership seminars. It is also a site for extension courses from the Eurasian Theological Seminary in Moscow. The church also runs a feeding program for the city’s street children, serving almost 400 meals each month.
We want to help equip this church to carry out its various ministries. We are urgently seeking sponsors who can help us raise $30,000 so the church in Donetsk can continue this good work that has been started!
Project #131-9183
