The group’s prayer meetings have become the platform for dialogue and communication between politicians from opposing political forces.
who currently heads the Foreign Mission Committee of the All-Ukrainian Union of Associations of Evangelical Christians- Baptists. During his seven-year
leadership in the Baptist in the A I N P A
In 2008, for the first time in the history of Ukraine, a prayer group began in the Ukrainian Parliament that was initiated by Christian politicians from the USA and Germany. Each Thursday Members of Parliament who are Christians meet in a room above the session hall to read the Bible, pray and discuss spiritual principles that are the foundation for the success of any country. This prayer group has been meeting for five years now
uniting approximately 15 Members of Parliament from different parties. The group is coordinated by the young and active 33 year old Christian and Member of Parliament Pavel Unguryan,
God Opening Political Doors Continued
Looking back, I see God’s hand in every step I took. Although there were many victories, there were also many challenges.
Baptist Christians represent only
one percent of the population of Moldova, and it is so important to be present and active in the public square. Looking at biblical history, we see God using so many of His men and women in high ranking positions to promote the cause of His people. If He opens the doors today, we as Christians must walk through it, so that God’s Kingdom can keep growing. Valeriu Ghiletchi was bishop of the Union of Christian Evangelical Baptists of Moldova; former president of the European Baptist Federation; member of parliament in Moldova; secretary of the parliament’s Foreign Policy and European Integration Committee; and first vice chairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development of Assembly of the Council of Europe.
the Parliamentary 8 BAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE N I N F
youth ministry of Ukraine, Unguryan has become known for his leadership and management skills of large-scale projects, including youth congresses, nationwide campaigns, missionary projects and international forums. The activity of the parliamentary prayer group spread rapidly and became a powerful movement for the implementation of Christian initiatives at government level and across the country. The members of the prayer group held a campaign to distribute Bibles in the Parliament of Ukraine where some communist symbols haven’t been completely removed. More than 300 parliamentarians have received Bibles. The next step was the establishment of National Prayer Breakfasts that are a long standing tradition for many democratic countries. For four consecutive years this spiritual event is held in the Ukraine under the auspices of the chairman of the Parliament. It brings together Members of Parliament and government officials from different countries, the leadership of Christian churches and the public sector. These National Breakfasts serve as a place for spiritual unity and fellowship of politicians from different political parties. For five consecutive years Ukrainian parliamentarians and
state officials under the leadership of Unguryan have participated in the US National Prayer Breakfast with President Obama. Such Prayer Breakfasts are now taking place in other countries in the European Union, which Ukrainian delegations gladly attend. The prayer group established cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on issues of human rights, the rule of law and the promotion of democracy in Ukraine. The group’s prayer meetings have become the platform for
dialogue and communication between politicians from opposing political forces. Through spiritual values, prayer group members were able not only to establish communication between political opponents, but also to unite them around important public and social issues, including the protection of spiritual and moral values.
The parliamentary prayer group has become the spiritual and ideological core for
the creation of the Inter-Factional
Parliamentary Group “For spirituality, morality and health of Ukraine” that united 67 parliamentarians from all factions of the parliament. Unguryan has been chosen as a chairman of the Inter- Factional Parliamentary Group.
“Nowadays we witness the increase of negative phenomena in Ukrainian society: rapidly growing alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide. Morality, spirituality and Biblical family values are in serious decline,” Unguryan says. “All this causes a great concern for the future of the state and the young generation. The state programs are largely ineffective because they are aimed to
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