Kiev and Poltava in December

Kiev city centre

On the Friday night we joined in an informal reading group in Kiev with the members who had arrived from from Kakhovka. This little evening gathering was organised by Sister Olga, and was one of the highlights of our trip. It was very warming to see the eight gathered brothers and sisters so interested in scripture, so keen to discuss it passionately amongst themselves, and so willing to keep on going despite it being 11 p.m! As we made our way back across to the other block through a beautiful covering of fresh snow, it did feel very good to be in the Ukraine!

On Saturday morning there were around 50 brothers and sisters present for out studies, and we started the morning by looking at 'The Commandments of Christ'. I tried to make this as interactive as I could by getting rid of the table and bringing them much closer to the front in a semicircle. This approach worked reasonably well. After lunch I spoke on faith and worship, and we finished with the daily readings, which provoked some good long discussion about the Book of Job. Saturday evening saw some good socialising before we all fell into bed.

On Sunday morning we had a few more brothers and sisters for the Breaking of bread. My exhortation was on the peace of God and I tried to connect this with some of the themes we had spoken about on Saturday. We did another interesting chapter from Job after lunch, then looked at James and tied that in with some of the commandments of Christ discussed the day before.

Overall, every one was very pleased to have come to Kiev and the overwhelming feeling was one of good, genuine fellowship. We noticed an ease amongst people and a true commitment to being there for the sake of scripture, not gain of any sort.

In Poltava, we had a class at Veronica's house at which I focused on the thorny question of fighting for the state and voting. This theme carried on from the commandments of Christ session I had done in Kiev. We went through the scriptural logic behind why we don't vote and fight, and I think because it was a question-and-answer type of approach they could really see the reasons upon which these beliefs are based. It left them with a lot to think about.

Overall we had a very good visit and strengthened ties with everyone we met.

Geoffrey Smith
from The Bible Missionary, no. 179, January 2006

Information about Ukraine