Vitaliy
Vitaliy is a graduate of Irpin Theological Seminary, where he studied church ministry and conducting. He has a master's degree in vocal performance and choral conducting through the University of Culture and Arts in Kyiv and is currently pursuing his doctorate of arts at the Tchaikovsky Academy of Music (Kyiv) in addition to Biblical training through the Theological Institute (Austria). Vitaliy is known as a quiet, skilled leader with a deep passion for serving God and using the beauty of music to reach his country. He is supported in ministry by his lovely wife, Lyudmila and their young son, Julian, who loves to sing and play the piano! They live in the village of Zazimye, near Kyiv,.
MIWC: Eurasian Music Mission
Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vitaliy coordinated events and activities that ranged from training conferences for adults and teens to musical outreach camps for children to evangelistic concerts and worship celebrations.
When the attack began, his ministry team immediately pivoted from its music and worship training focus, to serving the suffering people of Ukraine. The team brought humanitarian aid into invaded cities and transported refugees out of the same cities on their return trips.
As weeks and months passed, the team joined with other church volunteers and created a hub in Western Ukraine to mobilize and address needs as they became apparent – creating an industrial kitchen to produce food, building a shelter for refugees and staffing a medical clinic for sick and injured Ukrainians.
While delivering supplies and tending to those wounded in body and spirit, the MIWC Ukraine team brings the hope of the Lord in the news of Jesus Christ – through song, through prayer and through service.
Music Ministry in Eastern Europe
The music ministry in Ukraine began in 1997 with the practical goals of improving musicians' skills and creating opportunities for church outreach. Today the ministry in Ukraine, Georgia and the surrounding region consists of a variety of ministry activities:
- Youth summer music camps
- Humanitarian aid and relocation assistance
- Annual worship conferences
- Music and worship leader training
TESTIMONY OF FAITH
Greetings, brothers and sisters beloved by God!
I have but one goal — to praise Christ!
I was born in the Odessa Rgion of Bolgrad in 1980 to a Christan family that was very musical. My father was the church choir director and my mother sang in the choir.
During my youth, I not only attended comprehensive school but also a music school, graduating from both in 1997. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was 17 and felt God's call into ministry. Following my baptism, I entered the Irpin Theological Seminary and Music Academy.
In 2004, I was already deeply involved in musical ministry leadership in Ukraine and, by 2007, God was calling me to teach and help prepare others for musical outreach, worship leadership, and missionary work into neighboring countries.
In 2010, I assumed the role of director for MIWC’s Eurasian Music Mission, eventually establishing a musical movement distinctly Ukrainian, called Ministry-Creativity-Mission. This movement focuses on equipping and supporting Believers to use music and the Arts for worship within the church and for evangelistic outreach.
I am grateful and humbled by God's calling and blessing on my life, and for the privilege of using the beauty of music and creativity to further His Kingdom and glorify His name.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Greetings to you, brothers and sisters in Christ!
Thank you for serving Christ and for your prayers for Music Ministry and Outreach in Eastern Europe!
Updated May 2023
- Rest & Encouragement: the team leading and working in humanitarian aid and ministry are stretched to their limit. And many of them remain separated from their families. Discouragement & exhaustion are overwhelming at times.
- Wartime: Those close to the frontline are surviving only thanks to aid. They cannot work in their fields because they are mined. We want to minister to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Trauma is real! We are praying for God to continue providing for this ministry.
- Ministry during War: Provision for assistants for musical ministry in Kyiv. Believers are scattered all over the country and world and so trained leaders are few.
- Camps: Pray for enough leaders and music & Bible teachers for the summer children's outreach camps. Also pray for financial provision as the work in Ukraine continues to be taxed due to the humanitarian and medical needs. The camps will focus on ministering to refugee children & families.
- Safety: Please pray for the teams traveling to these areas most impacted by the war (Kherson, Bakhmut, Dnipro, etc). The recent trip to the Kherson region brought much needed medical supplies and food to the people and the team shared the gospel and provided music and crafts for the children to help them process their feelings.
