In Ukraine, pastors are the key to releasing young people for cross-cultural ministry.  Unfortunately, many of them are a roadblock to missionary service.  So I was enthusiastic when I had the opportunity to address a conference of over 400 pastors near Kiev.

I was invited as a representative of Kiev Theological Seminary, where I head up the World Missions department.  This was my chance! 

I had an urgent message for these pastors.

Here’s the gist of what I said:  “Brothers, I must inform you of something very serious that is happening in your churches.  Your young people are growing more and more interested in becoming missionaries to nations outside of Ukraine.   Yes, I realize the dangers this trend poses.  Many of the countries to the east, especially, have been hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The young person who chooses a missions career may risk everything, including his or her own life, to share the Good News.

I realize also that you may not want them to go.  You may even advise them to stay, to help the Ukrainian church grow and prosper.  But I must warn you:  they will go, anyway.

How do I know this?  Much of my ministry involves travel throughout Ukraine, where I meet and talk with young people.   I teach, as you know, at Kiev Theological Seminary, where enrollment is growing.  My own department there, the World Missions department, is just two years old.  But already there is an increasing interest in courses we offer –world religions, ministry contextualization, and cross-cultural church planting, to name a few.

Some of your young people will go as foreign missionaries.  It is not I who is calling them to make this choice; God is speaking to them, calling them.  I urge you:  please do not let them go unprepared!  They have plenty of courage, but they also need the wisdom that comes from knowing how to fit into a foreign culture. They may know the Scriptures, but they need to contextualize the Gospel message so it will be understood.

In short, they need training.  When a young person from your church comes to you and says, “I feel God wants me to serve Him in another country,” – this is your opportunity to say, “Alright, but you need to study first.  You need to learn how to do missionary work.”

As I sat down that auditorium was silent with pastors deep in thought. I hope they took the message to heart.

Rich Strahm