Ukraine has Union of Mennonite Churches once again

“We, the Evangelical Mennonite Churches in Zaporozhye, Kutuzovka, Kherson and Balkovye, Ukraine, joyfully announce the establishment of the ‘Christian Union of Mennonite Churches.’ ” This statement heads the document of the first organized conference of Anabaptist believers in Ukraine in about 70 years.

DMI group in front of Rueckenau church

Three partnering agencies – MBMS International, the Mennonite Church Canada Witness, and Logos International (based in Germany) – have been working for many years to see their church planting efforts come to this stage of fulfillment. Delegates from these three agencies and four local churches signed the foundational agreement on May 26 in Chortitza, Ukraine. Tim Bergdahl represented MBMS International in the deliberations.

There were no Mennonite churches left in the Ukraine by the end of the Soviet era. Recent evangelistic efforts from Canada, the US and Germany have resulted in four local Evangelical Mennonite Churches being formed.

Two began with strong involvement from North American MBs who worked with Disciple Making International (DMI) teams, now under the direction of James Nikkel. The Balkovye (Rueckenau) Church was begun under the direction of Frank Dyck, a teacher and church planter from Calgary. The Kutuzovka Church was started by George Schroeder, a former missionary and teacher in Nigeria.

The May 26 agreement also represented a giant step of reconciliation. In 1860, the Mennonite Brethren church was born in the Ukraine, but was soon seen as a split from the broader Mennonite Church. This new cluster of Anabaptists eventually spread to over 20 countries around the world. Two years ago they joined together to draft the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) Confession of Faith.

With the formation of this new conference, with its three supporting agencies from three different countries, and the adoption of the ICOMB Confession of Faith, there is now a common umbrella under which all Mennonites can plant churches in the Ukraine.

Although the new union is recognized by the Mennonite Brethren as a new conference of churches, at least three more churches will need to be planted before the new union can be legally registered in Ukraine. James Nikkel stayed in the Ukraine following the meeting to facilitate the planning and planting of these churches. More DMI teams are anticipated for this fall.

Tim Bergdahl, Director of Long-Term Ministries at MBMS International, stated, “This is a kairos moment, when individuals, mission agencies, and local churches have recognized that God has not only been working through each of them individually, but that together they are to take the work to a new level.”

—Joanna Felts, MBMSI Communications