In the depressed economy of present-day Ukraine, native church workers called "home missionaries" can supporl their families on this small sum. N. C. Baptist churches, Sunday School classes, men's groups, Woman's Missionary Union Circles and individuals have sponsored "home missionaries" during the five years of the North Carolina/Ukraine Partnership.

Vasily Ognivchuk, seen here with his wife and their eight children, is one of 30 "home missionaries" in Ukraine who need sponsors.

These workers have been able to devote themselves full-time to exciting ministries in which they are starting new churches and reaching many people with the gospel message.

As N. C. Baptists enter the final year of the Ukraine Partnership, they can point to great accomplishments in this country that was once a part of the Soviet Union. Mission trips have introduced 579 N. C. Baptists to the country. Some volunteers have made as many as 14 trips at their own expense.

Through the Partnership Missions budget of the Baptist State Convention (BSC), N. C. Baptists have invested approximately $1 million in God's work in Ukraine. An office building for the Baptist Union of Ukraine has been built, as has a seminary for training church workers. An English-speaking church has been started. Medical and dental teams have ministered to both the physical and spiritual needs of people in Ukraine.

Children in the Chernobyl area have been given special care. Many churches have been built or remodeled by work teams from N. C. Baptist Men. A Ukrainian Baptist Hymnal has been published through the effort of the church music department of the BSC. And, during each year of the partnership, 100 Ukrainian "home missionaries" have been sponsored.

At this time there is a need in 1998 for sponsors for 30 of these workers. A volunteer committee is working with the Baptist Men's office to enlist sponsors and establish communication channels between "missionaries" and sponsors. Sponsors will be sent two translated reports during the year from their "home missionary" and be given the opportunity to correspond. Commitments are for 1998 only, however, funds will continue to be passed on in future years by those who wish to continue their sponsorship.

If you would like to sponsor one of the "home missionaries" pictured on these pages, please contact the Partnership Missions office of the BSC, or Frances Corbin at 4508 Lead Mine Rd.,Raleigh, N.C. 27612. You can call her at (919)787-5081.

Send your check, made payable to Baptist State Convention, P.O. Box 1107, Cary, N.C. 27512. Designate you check to the Ukraine Home Missionary Project.

Everyone is encouraged to lift up these church workers in prayer.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Boswell is pastor of Mt. Carmel Church in Chapel Hill, N.C.)