One of Cherkassy's own, has recently been appointed as the first National Director for Evangelism Explosion. (From Heart to Heart)
Born into a Christian family in 1970, during the Communist era, Valerii Bilyaev, one of six children, has two other brothers who serve churches as pastors. Educated at the Buzivka Bible Institute, he was ordained as the pastor of the newly formed Baptist Church in the village of Svidivok, and also helped with the planting of another church at Malyi Buzukiv.
Valerii has since become very active in organizing various public outreaches to many cities throughout the Cherkassy Oblast and in 1998 was appointed as head of Evangelism for the Regionaired, CHRIST, OUR HOPE MISSION.
Undoubtedly, with Vic Jackopson's earlier experience of setting up Evangelism Explosion in the UK and Europe, there will be many opportunities for Vic to answer any calls for help. Already EE is established in 9 of the 24 Ukrainian Oblasts. Valerii says, “Because of the experience in public services, I observed that counseling and personal evangelism suffers the most and EE ministry can change the situation. From February the work will be started to prepare workers to share the ministry in prisons.”
Church life is alive and well in many of the villages around
Cherkassy. Having spent 5 days visiting several villages, progress
was evident in many of them.
On July 5, Rev. Vic Jackopson went to the village of Makiyivka to
present Alexander Vishymeersky, (father of Misha, Hope Now's Ukrainian
director) with an award.
