In a recent report from the Ukraine Bible Society, the remarkable development of the Bible ministry in Ukraine this year was highlighted. 2004 was approved to be the ‘Year of the Bible’ for Ukraine when 397 votes out of 450 were given in favour by the Ukrainian parliament eight months ago.

This has been seen as a great advancement in the evangelistic movement in Ukraine, as historically it has officially been an atheist country. The Ukraine Bible Society has been trying hard to lobby the Parliament for some campaigns to promote the Bible since 2000, however, the Ministry of Religion, the President, the Prime Minister and the Head of Parliament have in the past all refused to agree.

The first success came, however, when the Society suggested giving each member of the parliament a Bible.

“The first party contacting us to have Bibles were the Communists! We also started collecting money in the churches for children’s Bibles for poor children and children living in orphanages. The authorities were made aware of this, because we actively try to reach children no-one else cares about,” the Ukraine Bible Society reported.

Later, Viktor Bondarenko [Chair of the State Committee for Religions] invited the Society to submit a plan for celebrating Bible Day. The case was supported by the Church Council, the body that the President consults on religious matters.

Since the Parliament passed the proposal for the Bible Year in late February, the demand for the Bible from the general public has drastically increased. The inter-denominational nature of the Bible Society has made it even more welcomed by the general public, especially in the schools.

“We see this as a unique opportunity to strengthen the meaning of the Bible within our nation,” said Roman Vovk, General Secretary of the Ukrainian Bible Society. “We notice a greater openness towards our work. We have wanted a shop in Kiev for a long time, and have applied to the authorities for premises without response. Then, just recently, we were asked to send copies of our application to the mayor, so I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a realisation of our dream.”

There now are so many people requesting the Bible, the Society said that a shortage of Bibles is now a possibility.

“Considering the needs presented to us by schools and other institutions, we need approximately two million Bibles, which is completely unrealistic at first sight.” Also, the prison is going to become another place desperately needing the Bible.

The Society noted that a majority of the users of these Bibles will not be able to afford to pay for them, and so some funding will be required to contribute to the budget. Now only 700 Ukrainian Bibles are in stock, yet the Society said it will put the first priority towards providing children with the Bible.