Ivan and Lucya Ovcharenko
We are a family from Ukraine who have dedicated our lives to serving Christ since we were married in 2003. We thank God for two wonderful sons who also follow Jesus and help us in our ministry. Since 2005 we have been part of KONTAKTMISSION and live on support. Our goal is to expand God's kingdom through church planting, discipleship, and equipping new ministers at Kremenchuk Evangelical Seminary (link) in Ukraine.
We had the great joy of planting a church in a village in central Ukraine in 2005. Since 2011, we have been involved in evangelism and many missionary projects in the city of Kremenchuk. In 2018, together with their family, Jonathan and Jennifer Gainer planted Compass Church in the city of Kremenchuk. In 2014, Ivan became the director of Kremenchuk Evangelical Seminary, where he taught and headed the music program after his marriage.
Currently, Ivan is one of the pastors of the Kremenchuk Baptist Church "Spring of Life" and is engaged in the development and training of new ministers and church leaders serving both in Ukraine and in other countries.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army, we have been evacuating people, accepting refugees from the frontline areas into the seminary, and providing food and other assistance to the victims. Thanks to the generous support of our foreign partners, our seminary also regularly sends a food truck to the de-occupied cities and the frontline area. Thanks to this ministry, tens of thousands of people have already received help and had the opportunity to hear the Gospel and receive a New Testament or Bible. Our team conducts spiritual, psychological, and food aid meetings in our city, as well as organizes children's, teenage, and youth camps.
Support the Ovcharenkos!
Ukraine: Struck down, but not destroyed
In February 2022, Russian troops and war machines streamed across the borders of Ukraine. Rockets streaked across the skies as Ukrainians fled their homes for shelter. Despite the horrors of war and death, the church sees in this tragedy an opportunity to serve and to spread the good news of the gospel. While the world faces death with trembling, we rejoice in the hope we find in Jesus. The church of Christ all over the world has been such a blessing to those who face certain destruction. Because of you, Kremenchuk Evangelical Seminary and her students have been working tirelessly to provide food, shelter, and medicines. Many of our students have even gone to the front as chaplains for the soldiers bringing relief and evacuation to those in occupied or recently liberated towns and cities. But, more importantly, God has blessed us to present what all mankind really needs: the Gospel. Our churches have seen an evangelism explosion like never before. Thousands have surrendered their lives to Christ.
How amazing it is to know the God of the universe has entrusted us with this ministry of reconciliation. We desire that you, our prayer partners and supporters, would share in our joy as we see the lost become found. Yes, the war has been terrible and we pray that this senseless destruction of life will cease. But until that time, we are honored to be Christ's humble servants. We rejoice in what God is doing among the people of Ukraine. We therefore can echo the words of the Apostle Paul, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Support our ministry
It is no secret that from the very beginning of the church Christians have taken an active role in being missionaries and sending missionaries. Yet not all are called to be missionaries. (We are all called to make disciples)
Being a missionary is a calling, but have you ever considered that sending missionaries is also a calling? So what is your calling? Are you the missionary or a missionary sender?
All Kontaktmission staff live on support, meaning we believe that God will provide for his mission, through his church. We would ask for support for our student center. We have rent, electricity, and then general supplies in running the space and serving coffee. We are fully supported missionaries and can only live and serve here as long as we have support to sustain us.
Please consider joining our sending team by partnering with us in prayer and partnering with us financially.
Prayer Needs
- Pray for peace and the removal of the Russian army from the Ukrainian Territory.
- Pray for open hearts to hear and receive the message of Jesus despite the difficulties of war.
- Pray that a generation of young people would rise up to make a change in Ukraine.
- Pray for our family and marriage as we raise up our children.
- Prayer for wisdom as we lead our churches and seminary.
Sign up to get our newsletter
Your partnership through committed giving meets a tremendous need.
GIVE MONTHLY
ONE TIME GIFT
Find us on social media
ADDRESS
PO Box 825
Humboldt, TN 38343-0825
Email: office@gokmusa.org
Contact us
