"Let the Little Children Come to Me…"
"Let the Little Children Come to Me, and do
not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these" (Luke 18:16). These words said
by Jesus became the motto for this year's Vacation
Bible School that has become a tradition in the Ukrainian
Lutheran Church. During these years this blessed work
has been conducted together with pastors and students
from Lutheran colleges and schools in the USA. With
God's mercy the VBS became possible due to the help
rendred by the Thoughts of Faith Mission Society.
Each year this joint project gets impetus. This year
48 American brothers and sisters arrived in Ukraine
for the VBS in the ULC congregations in Kyiv, Sevastopol,
Ternopil, Kremenets, Mykolaiv, Kamyanets Podilsky,
Radomyshl, and in villages Ivanivka, Hamove, Kubriaky,
Mykolaiv region.
The official opening of the VBS in Kyiv took place
on June 28 in the premises of school # 87 that is
in downtown Kyiv. The hall was full with participants
of the VBS and their parents. Opening devotion was
conducted by pastor Oleh Okruhin. Coordinator of the
VBS Emilia Zinchenko, Bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran
Church V'yacheslav Horpynchuk, executive director
of the Mission Society Thoughts of Faith Kermit Traska,
and head of the American group Harold Schewe greeted
those present. For the third consecutive year pastor
Schewe had brought American students to the Kyiv congregation
of the ULC. We asked pastor to share with us his thoughts
about this project.
- Dear pastor, what is in your view the main task
of the VBS in the Ukrainian Lutheran Church?
- The main task of the VBS is to teach some portion
of the Bible and to make it enjoyable for the students
by adding activities for the children to do and also
to teach them Bible songs. A second very important
purpose of the VBS is to strengthen the fellowship
bonds that exist between the members of our Lutheran
Church and the Ukrainian Lutheran Church. Finally,
as Americans, we feel that it is very important that
our students learn of cultures outside of American.
It is very interesting for us to be here and learn
of Ukraine.
-Please, tell us about the topic the classes? How
do you take into account the difference in age of
the VBS students in various groups?
- The subject of our VBS this summer is The Lord's
Prayer. Each day we study one story from the Bible
that illustrates a portion of the Lord's Prayer. The
classes are taught with the help of translators and
are taught in three different age levels - Youngest,
Middle, and Oldest.
-It is the third time that you've come to Kyiv for
this blessed work. Is there any differences or peculiarities
of your work this year?
- I think that the biggest difference that we are
experiencing this summer is that it is much more relaxed
for everyone. We have all done this and know exactly
what we want to accomplish. The education staff of
the congregation has put in many hours of preparation
before we arrived and that makes everything much easier
for everyone.
- What are your impressions of Ukraine, the Ukrainian
lutheran church? Have you observed any changes during
these three years?
- I see building and restoration going on everywhere.
It is evident in two years that Kyiv is making much
progress in making the city beautiful. It also seems
to me that every summer there and more automobiles
and that the traffic is worse. That is an unending
problem. Our impressions of the Ukrainian Lutheran
Church are all very positive. The people are very
friendly and out-going. We look forward to come and
see our old friends again. It is also wonderful to
see the way that the congregation is excited about
the possibility of building a new church building
and central office. That would be a blessing for everyone.
- Readers of the Banner will be interested to get
to know about your way to the ministry on the God's
field as well as about your family?
- I became a pastor because of the influence of my
father who was a pastor. I no longer serve in a congregation,
but serve in educating young people who are preparing
to become pastors and Lutheran school teachers. Mrs.
Schewe was trained as a teacher of English and music.
We have three children. Our son is also a Lutheran
pastor and our two daughters are married to pastors.
As you can see, the church plays a very important
part in our lives.
We wish you, your wife Jeann, your whole family, and
the participants of the Vacation Bible School generous
God's blessings, good health, inspiration and success
in your work for the Glory of our Jesus Christ!
