Artur and Mary

Church planting among an expat community in southeastern Europe

The war in Ukraine and its ripple effects, has led to 50,000 Russian-speaking people (from over 10 nations) leaving their homelands to settle in the country where we now live.

When the war started many had to flee from both Ukraine and Russia. Others fled from countries (eg Moldova, Belarus and Kazakhstan) that became associated with the war. People left because of the anti-war positions held in their countries, and other war-related risks, but above all people fled to find peace of mind. Their new home and neighbours proved to be an important social support, and the community of loving believers provided relief, hope and a fresh view of faith.

We moved to this country too, just before the war started, as part of a sabbatical and family holiday. Then when refugees started arriving, we found that our living room was full of strangers, and on Sunday mornings we sang hymns and listened to sermons together. Suddenly, our laid-back and cosy beach-style life became a busy church-planting, pastoring life.

We aim to establish an evangelical church, that is welcoming a variety of denominations. We want to develop a gospel-culture among Christians in the expat-community and then we can grow together in the hope we have in Christ and share him with the world around us.

I trained at the European Missionary Fellowship’s School of Biblical Studies and served in youth ministry for 10 years. Since 2010, I’ve been on a number of short-term mission assignments to subpolar indigenous nations. Now my family and I are on another adventure with God. The Lord, and our home-church, have been very encouraging in our new ministry among Russian-speakers in this port city.