In 1991 the first American missionaries came to the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. They taught the Bible, trained preachers, and brought humanitarian aid for schools and hospitals.

 

In 1992 the first of 4 Christians were baptized in Toretsk, Donetsk region, in eastern Ukraine.  Two years later and 25 new Church of Christ congregations had been established in the Donetsk region.

 

From 2000 to 2013, members of the Church of Christ taught Bible in a summer camp in a Toretsk public school.

 

However, in 2013 Russian separatists began a war in the eastern part of Ukraine. In 2014 Donetsk became a headquarters for the separatist movement, supported by Russia, resulting in persecution, church buildings either destroyed or overtaken, and only a few groups meeting in members' homes.

 

Through the urging of the US State Department and others, 2015 brought the mission team to the city of Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine to work with the local church and conduct 2 Bible camps in public schools. Since then they have been working with high school and university students. 

 

However, the work in eastern Ukraine continues. Because of unemployment and poverty in the war zone the Government of Ukraine started feeding all elementary school children in public schools. Today, American Christians provide lunches @ $1 each for 158 especially needy middle and high school children in schools 10, 13 and 16 in Toretsk, in eastern Ukraine. 

 

A Bible Retreat is also being offered in the Carpathian Mountains for Christians and visitors of the Church.  Another two camps will be offered in Ivano-Frankivsk and Sumy, located in northeastern Ukraine.