Ukraine has a population of 44 million people. It borders seven countries and the Black Sea. It is the second poorest country in Eastern Europe, with an average salary of just over $300 a month. Ukraine has experienced political and economic challenges during the past seven years. There has been a large migration of people within Ukraine and to Europe because of low-paying jobs, lack of employment, and war.
Most of Eastern Europe is culturally tied to the Orthodox church. The evangelical church in this region has fought to survive amid skepticism and persecution. The government views churches in Moldova and Transnistria that are not aligned with the Orthodox faith as a sect. They require churches to get special permissions to hold activities and outreaches in their communities. Many of the evangelical churches lack pastoral leadership because of the high rates of emigration.
Only 4.7% of the Moldovan population, less than 1% in Transnistria, and 3.6% in Ukraine are evangelical believers. As a result, most individuals have not read the Bible or heard the hope of the Gospel. Christians in this part of the world feel the resistance to living out their faith against the tide of tradition and Orthodoxy.
