remove the effects of the problems and not its cause. But the root of all these problems is the spiritual impoverishment of society and the loss of Christian standards taught and proclaimed by Jesus Christ.”


From the time of its formation the Inter-Factional


Parliamentary Group identified two major foci for its activities. First, to set up a clear legislative block against all kinds of evil that penetrate Ukraine from outside. This includes placing a ban on all immorality on the web and on TV; counteracting children alcoholism, drug abuse and smoking; addressing high suicide rates among young people; and reducing the unbelievable number of abortions, particularly among young women. Second, the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group strives to work closely on bills that promote moral, spiritual, and physical health of people, especially the younger generation and contribute to the normal and harmonious wellbeing of the Ukrainian people. Within the framework of the Inter-Factional Parliamentary


Group a number of resonant bills have been adopted that seek to increase the excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products and ban the advertisement of these products. Laws have been adopted against the dissemination of child pornography, limitation on the activities of fortunetellers, laws on social protection, young families support, etc. To protect Biblical


family values, the


group of Christian politicians under the leadership of Unguryan organized the Family Forum in the capital of Ukraine. The forum was held in October 2012 and brought together more than 150 Christian, public and scientific organizations around the issues of the protection of family values and development of a pro-family movement in Ukraine.


Thanks to its active position, Baptists in Ukraine support Christians in countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus that suffer persecution. In 2011 Unguryan joined representatives from the Baptist World Alliance®


(Raimundo Barreto) and European


Baptist Federation (Christer Daelander) on a human rights visit to Uzbekistan where religious freedom violations have occurred. Significant change is taking place in the government of Ukraine thanks to Christians who seek to improve Ukrainian legislation and unite Ukrainians around God, especially in matters of spirituality and morality.


Baptists in Ukraine support Christians in countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus that suffer persecution.


Facing Page: Pavel Unguryan holding a copy of the Bible. Unguryan led a campaign to distribute Bibles in the Parliament of Ukraine.


Right: Pavel Unguryan and a


colleague


parliamentarian examine a copy of the Bible in Parliament.


JULY/SEPTEMBER 2013


9

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