Our Lord has commanded us to go and take his gospel of salvation to all nations of the earth. This includes the East European country of Ukraine. During the time of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was the third largest Soviet state, but on August 24, 1991 Ukraine declared itself an independent country. Ukraine is about the size of Texas and is Motherland to 52 million people and the second largest country in Europe. Agriculture makes up one-fourth of Ukrainian GNP, and industry contributes two-fifths. Ukraine exports meat, milk, grain, corn and other vegetables as well as iron, coal, and oil. For centuries Ukraine has been the bread basket of the region. Odessa, with a population of about one million people, is the third largest city in Ukraine. It is located on the northern shore of the Black Sea and is the largest commercial and passenger port on the Black Sea. Although the city is an international city the predominant language is Russian. Ukraine inherited the world's third largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, including the famous Black Sea fleet, and is currently a large recipient of United States foreign aid.
How did the Tranthams become interested in Missions in Ukraine? Ray and Pam Trantham both grew up in Christian families in Mississippi. Pam first attended Dallas Christian College and later Mid-South Christian College where she graduated with a degree in Christian Education. Ray and Pam met at Mid-South Christian College where Ray graduated with a degree in missions. Upon graduation in 1985, Ray served eleven years as the minister of Guys Christian Church and Itawamba Christian Church in Mississippi. During this time he continued his education with masters’ degrees in Ministry and Church Growth from Cincinnati Bible Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. During this time of maturing and furthering of education, the Tranthams continued to maintain an interest in the mission field. In 1992, Max Goins moved to Moscow to start a Bible department in a secular college. Because of Ray's educational background and interest in missions, he went with Max for the first two months. This was a very fruitful and productive time. After seeing the potential for the spread of the gospel in the former Soviet Union, Ray and Pam visited Ukraine in 1993 and considered choosing Ukraine for full-time mission service. 
As we look across the ocean we see that God has been at work opening the former Soviet Union and providing the Church with the greatest opportunity for evangelism in our lifetime. We thank God for his calling of our family to work in Ukraine. 
We would love to have your church or youth group ship something to us in Ukraine. It is always nice to get something from the States.
