First ever Langham Preaching training in Ukraine
By Mark Meynell, Preaching Director (Europe and Caribbean)
Group work at the Langham Preaching seminar in Ukraine.
Ukraine is a truly fascinating country historically and culturally, but it is also a country at war. The Russian annexation of Crimea and its subsequent salami-tactics in the east is taking its toll and a frequent topic of conversation. We have much to learn in the west from what is going on there.
I was so impressed by the calibre of delegates at the three-day Langham Preaching seminar in late November. There was such a seriousness and hunger for what we are doing throughout our time, with some really excellent questions and discussions.
Great optimism
Dr Sergiy Tymchenko and Mark Meynell.
In fact, when I described the weekly preachers’ breakfast that we had throughout our time at All Souls (the two Sunday preachers would have to present a 10 minute outline of their plans for discussion with the rest of the ministry team each Thursday morning), one pastor was amazed – they’ve been doing exactly the same thing in their town just outside Kyiv for the last ten years!
For the 25 or so gathered, it seems that the Langham work is very timely and there is great optimism for what this can lead to in the years to come.
Deepening friendship
Ukraine is a country at war.
Attendees included Langham Scholar Oleksandr Geychenko, who has recently completed his studies at St Andrews University, and contributors to the Slavic Bible Commentary (a Langham Literature project).
I was greatly encouraged by my deepening friendship with Dr Sergiy Tymchenko, a Langham Scholar and founding director of the Realis Institute (an interdisciplinary center that trains Christian leaders and specialists).
He also has some truly breathtaking stories of growing up as a pastor’s son in the Soviet Union. We must pray for him to write his autobiography one day!
Mark Meynell and attendees of the first ever Langham Preaching training event in Ukraine.
