In 2011, World Reach missionaries Andrew and Luba Bulyhin had a bold vision for a church plant with a unique call to the students of local universities in Sumy, Ukraine. These local universities, including Sumy State University are globally respected and acclaimed, bringing more than 1,000 international students from more than 40 countries including Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Turkey, Tanzania and even as far as India, China and Australia, to study. Many of these students have never had access to the Gospel, and many of these countries restrict Christian missionary activity. Andrew and Luba established this church plant to reach, minister to, and disciple these students, so that some of them may hear and receive the Gospel, and be called to share the Gospel at their school and when they return to their home countries.
Since its founding in 2011, this church plant, Sumy International Fellowship has been meeting on Saturday afternoons in a public hall. Earlier in 2019, the congregation, consisting of 35 to 40 university students, came to Andrew and Luba with the idea of expanding to include a second worship service, targeted towards students who would be comforted by a more subdued worship experience.
Thanks to the gracious provision of a place to worship by the local Sumy Baptist Church, on December 29, 2019, the Sumy International Christian Fellowship began holding its second service from 1 to 3 PM on Sundays. 15 students who were new to the church plant attended Sumy International Fellowship’s first ever Sunday service, along with several that also attend the Saturday service. We at World Reach are so excited for this milestone and the opportunity it provides to minister to and share the Gospel to a new demographic of students at the universities around Sumy. We ask your prayer for their continued growth and for God to use this ministry to allow more of these students to hear the Gospel, be moved by God’s grace and love, and to bring their testimony and witness home so that more can receive the salvation that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
