Odesa - Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church of Odesa

About

As early as the mid-19th century, a Reformed congregation stood in Odesa. However, with WWI and the Russian revolution, many pastors and priests were executed and the congregation fled; and their building became a Soviet Puppet Theater before falling into disrepair.

In 1996, American MTW missionaries organized a Presbyterian congregation and succeeded in having the ownership of the building returned to the church. I moved with my family from Western Ukraine to Odesa in 2001 and I served the church as an associate pastor until 2014 when I became the senior pastor. We have three children, Lyudmila, Valeria, a son Ostap, son-in-law Valentine, and a grandson Luka. Valentine serves in the Armed Forces. With the start of the full-scale invasion, many church members fled. Currently, our church has many elderly members and internally displaced persons from Kherson and other regions who have joined the church. There are also local people who have come to God during the war.

Updated October 23rd for November 2026

Pray for

The continued safety of our church families – especially families with small children, those who are displaced and those who have family members serving at the front.
Our members who are serving at the front. May God protect them from harm, strengthen their faith, and allow their faith to be an encouragement and a rock to those with whom they serve. Pray especially for Oleg, who was due to come off rotation, but has not been released.
Our members who work at the Port and for the Railroad – both of these are very dangerous places that are now frequently under attack. Pray especially for the health of our Deacon Sergeii, who works for the Railroad.
The Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of those who come to us for humanitarian help. Pray that their ears and hearts will be open to the life-saving message of the Gospel.
The hearts of our church members to continue to grow in love and faith even as we are under constant attack and trials.
The president and those in leadership, that their hearts will also bend to the will of God and that they will make wise and right decisions.
The health of our member Lyudmila, she she had one operation, but the complications are such that they were not able to do everything that was necessary. Pray that the medical team would have wisdom.

Praise for

The protection of the congregation and church during the frequent missile strikes
The ability to continue our humanitarian packet distribution and the work of Maria Kaliminkova in making this possible.
New people visiting the church – new residents, displaced people, pensioners, and disabled.
For the faithful financial giving of our congregation and outside donors, which enables us to fulfill our ministry obligations – especially in this time of rising prices.
An independent Ukraine.