Rev. Dr. V'yacheslav Horpynchuk, representing the Ukrainian Lutheran Church, was a special guest at the convention this year. He shared gifts with WELS President Mark Schroeder and gave delegates insight into the work in Ukraine. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod started the work in Ukraine, and the work has had its ups and downs.

Horpynchuk began his journey to the Lutheran church when he was given Luther's Small Catechism while he was a university professor. His first steps in the catechism led to additional steps in the study of the gospel of John in Greek and seminary training. He became a deacon and was the radio preacher in Ukraine from 1995 to 1998. The radio program had five thousand responses to the message of Jesus.

Currently he serves Resurrection Lutheran Church in Kiev. The congregation started with 86 people and now numbers 160 souls, but the numbers might be a little deceiving. Resurrection serves as a hub for other smaller congregations in Kiev. The congregation sent its members into the other districts of the city to form those smaller groups. Horpynchuk compared it with Antioch, the congregation in Acts that sent Paul and Barnabas out on their first missionary journey (Acts 13). However, at this time the groups in Kiev are small and face significant challenges.

Horpynchuk does the work because "I love the Lord and I want to share the good news." He also has the goal of making Ukraine a Lutheran country and believes that the Lutheran Reformation can continue to turn the hearts of fellow Ukrainians to Christ.

His passion is to "free the people from the yoke of the law." Russian Orthodoxy has left the people bound by the law and the fear of judgment. He explained, "When people in Ukraine pray, 'Come, Lord Jesus,' they are afraid of Jesus.  They think of him as a holy judge bringing a horrible judgment. They do not think of Jesus as the Savior." Their vision is similar to the vision Luther had before he came to see the grace of God in Jesus as the foundation for Christian faith. Only the gospel can bring freedom from such a yoke, so Horpynchuk preaches the gospel he has come to treasure as a confessional Lutheran.

The task has not been easy. There have been terrible days of persecution, slander, and personal attacks. But he finds strength to continue in the promises of Scripture and the sacraments and relies on the promise of the Lord to provide the courage and strength needed.

Coming to the convention also provides "refreshment." "It's amazing to be here," he says. "I am among brothers who love the Lord and the Lutheran Confessions. I feel at home. You are the living church body today that is a confessional Lutheran church."