This summer the UEC made a substantial donation of several hundred items to the library of the Bila Tserkva Church of Christ. Kostya Kysilenko, the minister of the church, told us that the church is trying to expand the library, already has a person who has agreed to work as a librarian, and wants to use the library as an outreach to many students that study foreign languages in a local university or are interested in Christianity.

Multiple copies in the UEC's library were withdrawn this summer and we gladly shared them with the library in Bila Tserkva. As the picture on the right shows, the library is still small, but dontating items that would attract English and Bible students will make sure that the library will be busy with visitors.

By expanding, or giving a part of our library away, we intend to broaden our activities--to take them outside of Kyiv. We hope we will serve as a midpoint between the donors that are willing to give items to the UEC and libraries in other Ukrainian cities that need either English-language or Christian materials. When the UEC gets three or more copies of the same book or CD, we will always be able to use the materials wisely--give them to libraries in other cities. As funds become available, we also hope to provide Russian and Ukrainian-language Christian resources to other libraries.

We want to thank every library donor that has given items to the Center. By helping our library grow, you help other libraries in Ukraine to grow. Library outreach is an important step in spreading the Gospel in Ukraine. We see that many visitors gladly use our library here at the UEC and we hope that many people would become library members in Bila Tserkva as well.

Kostya Kysilenko and Bila Tserkva Church of Christ are sponsored by Highland Street Church of Christ (Memphis, TN). UEC Board President David Ralston regularly visits the Bila Tserkva church.

By Sergiy Lyakh

Posted November 22, 2005