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Vasyl Mykhailovych, the Banner's readers would like
to know how the Kremenets congregation developed?
What is its history?
The congregation of the Lord's Cross in Kremenetz
was founded on July 23, 1996. On that day the founders
had a meeting. But worship services had started already
in March 1995 in a private home. The first was conducted
by deacon Serhiy Zuyev who is now pastor of the Lutheran
congregation in Zaporizhzhia. Also present at that
first service is the many who is now our bishop, Pastor
V'yacheslav Horpynchuk. At first there were 15 people
in attendance, but the congregation grew. The Lord
brought me to the Ukrainian Lutheran Church through
the Medical Clinics on Wheels in July 1993 in Ternopil.
From that time until March 1995, my wife Nina and
I used to come twice per month to the Ternopil congregation
for Bible class and worship. Pastor Kovaciny served
in the Ternopil congregation at that time. From April
1995 until March 2000 the Kremenets congregation rented
space at the Kremenets autopark for its Bible classes
and worship services. Since March 2000 our congregation
has had its own premises where we hold services, conduct
Bible classes, have Sunday school, and carry on other
church events.
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Brother Vasyl, for years you have carried out the
duties of the President of the Kremenets congregation.
What does it mean for you to be the President of
this ULC congregation?
- I was elected as a President of the congregation
at the time it was organized and have served in that
office ever since. Actually, I was active in the life
of the congregation since July 1996. I was confirmed
on Easter 1995. As the president of the congregation
I try conscientiously to fulfill my duties. They include
working closely with the local pastor, the ULC episcopate,
the local state authorities, and the church council
of the congregation. I also visit members of the congregation
together with the pastor of the congregation. I do
my best so that members of the congregation can feel
that someone cares about them.
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What kind of Bible classes do you have in your congregation?
- We hold services on Sundays and religious holidays
according to the calendar. About 65 to 80 people come
to these worship services. There are Bible classes
for adults and children. We have a Sunday School that
is attended by 55 kids of various age groups. Our
Sunday School teachers, Svitlana Levchuk and Tetyana
Mostytska, teach children the basics of the Christian
faith. The teachers prepare by having formal meetings
with Pastor Andriy Honcharuk. Natalya Bondarenko is
a director of the choir. She is constantly working
to expand the musical repertoire of both the adult
and the children's choirs. The Children's Choir and
Sunday School kids present various programs and concerts
on holidays. The members of the congregation and our
guests like such concerts very much. Vacation Bible
School classes have also become a fine tradition in
our congregation. Students from the USA conduct Bibles
classes for two weeks in the summer.. Last year (2003)
there were 157 kids at the VBS. In the two previous
years about 140 children participated.
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Tell us about the charitable activities of the congregation,
please.
- The congregation has engaged in charitable activity
from the time it was founded. We render help to the
local boarding school. We provide the psycho-neurological
sanatorium with clothes, medications, vitamins, and
other household materials.
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The church building of the congregation is a real
attraction in Kremenets. What do the people of Kremenets
think of it?
- People who live in Kremenets are glad that the
congregation purchased the building that had not been
used for a couple of years and was actually falling
apart. Presently, this church building is one of the
most beautiful in the downtown area. Local people
and guests often stop near our church and take pictures
to remember. We are so happy to see the results of
our reconstruction work . I think that our work can
serve as an encouragement for other congregations
of the ULC. We all believe that God will make it possible
for the rest of our congregations to construct their
own church buildings.
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Are members of the congregation participating in
reconstruction of the church building?
- Almost every member of the congregation has been
working on the reconstruction of the church. People
helped with whatever they could do on the site. This
reconstruction is a joint (common) project of the
whole congregation. I would like to also mention that
we have received the constant support of the ULC Episcopate
- personally by Bishop V'yacheslav Horpynchuk - as
well as support from the mission society, Thoughts
of Faith.
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What is your typical working day like?
- As a rule my working day starts at 8.30 a.m. I
begin each day with prayer. Then I make plans for
the day. They include various things - meetings with
people working on the site, delivery of construction
materials, control over the quality of the work done,
and participation in meetings conducted by the local
state authorities. Quite often my working day ends
at 9 p.m. But, with God's help, I work and, with His
help, I will continue working for the glory of Lord.
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What impression do the members of your church have
of the Banner?
- Each Sunday and on every holiday we come to the
church to see our brothers and sisters in order to
pray together and to praise our Lord. At the same
time, the faithful of the congregation are interested
in the life of the other congregations of our church.
So, members of the congregation and people of Kremenets
like reading the Banner. They like to read the printed
sermons of our ULC pastors, to get information about
other congregations, and to read articles on theological
topics.
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What thoughts would you like to share with readers
of the Banner on the 10th anniversary of revival
of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church?
- I wish all the readers of the Banner and the faithful
of the ULC good health, a generous measure of God's
blessings, and pray that we together keep the commandments
of our Lord Jesus Christ. May love, peace, and harmony
be always among you. Where the Word of God is properly
preached and Sacraments are administered rightly,
there God builds His church. May God bless each of
you through His Holy Gospel!
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Dear brother Vasyl, the Banner wishes you good health,
prosperity, and further fruitful work for the glory
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
