Ministry in Ukraine sparks new hope

Chet Marshall (left) talks with Bob Skinner about mission service in Ukraine

"When the Soviet Union collapsed," Bob Skinner told Putnam Rotary today, "border control collapsed, too. Drugs came in, and lives were ruined."

As workers for the Nazarene World Mission, Bob and his wife Colleen were assigned to Ukraine three years ago, and designated "field strategy coordinators" for the Confederation of Independent States, the former Soviet Union.

Among other ministries, they oversee thirteen drug rehabilitation centers in the region, eleven for men and two for women.

Each center provides services for about fifteen people on $600 a month for food and utilities.

The native population is industrious and educated, says Skinner. But people were disillusioned by the old socialist system.

Heaven sounds to them like another utopia which they tend to equate with the failed communist plan.

"They don't want promises," says Skinner. "They want something they can see now."

On an early trip by train across the vast steppes southeast of Kiev, Bob saw endless fields of sunflowers.

"It's a shame that that crop will soon go to waste," he remarked to a fellow traveler.

The farming instincts of the traveler were kindled. They applied to a builder of farm equipment and set in place a five-year plan to acquire harvesting machinery.

The sunflower harvest with the donated equipment now provides the means for operation of five of the mission's drug rehabilitation centers.

Kilns to season lumber and a sawmill operation have grown into a cabinet industry.

Other church projects contributing to the economic rebirth of the region include homes built for the elderly and operation of a factory for shoes and footwear.

"If you can, you must," Skinner says in response to his mission call.

Not so long ago, the people of Kiev and Ukraine had little hope for the future. But now that attitude is changing with leadership such as that provided through the work of Bob and Colleen Skinner.