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In Ukraine's Capital, Mayoral Campaigns Offer Hugs and Sermons

Looking for votes among Kyiv's skeptical evangelicals.

Susan Wunderink in Kyiv, Ukraine | posted 5/23/2008 08:35AM

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The elections come as Ukraine's evangelicals, even those in churches that are more than 150 years old, are trying to fight off accusations that they are American-backed "totalitarian zombies" and that evangelicalism is cultish. Churches in Ukraine haven't traditionally been active in electoral politics. After all, open affiliation with such churches hasn't been possible for very long. But if Protestants do vote according to religious affinity this election, it could be the beginning of a trend in campaigns their American counterparts are quite familiar with.

Related elsewhere:

Last winter, Catherine Wanner spoke with CT about Ukrainian evangelicals.

The Kyiv Post has English-language news from Ukraine.

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May (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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rjr.fan

Posted: May 23, 2008 3:31 PM


I spent two unforgettable weeks in Ukraine June 1992, and pray that God may allow me to go back there someday with my family, and at a profit.

Bob Tolliver, Kiev, Ukraine

Posted: May 23, 2008 2:34 PM

Ukraine emerged in 1992 from hundreds of years of Tsarist rule followed by over 70 years of Communism, both which by nature fostered dishonesty, lying, and bribery. It should be no surprise that even evangelical Christians in Ukraine are skeptical that anything will significantly change. The fine line between faith and fatalism is emormously blurred. As missionaries in Kiev, we urge Ukrainians, especially the younger ones, to get actively involved in persistently changing things by voting at every opportunity, campaigning for what they believe, and even running for office. People forget that it took some 100 years for the United States to truly mature into a republic operating under the principles of democracy. We shouldn't give up in praying that Ukraine will one day become truly democratic, and that God will put in office believers who really practice what they profess. Too many professing Christians in Ukraine have been disappointed by promises made by supposed believers.

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