As Ukraine approaches the 1,000-day anniversary of the war going on the Ukrainian soil, claiming lives and causing terrible damage, the faculty of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary continue fulfilling their mission of strengthening the Church and transforming society.
In addition to training students from different parts of the world and their incarnational pastoral presence in the war-torn Ukraine, they seek to equip churches with resources which can develop their ministries in different contexts.
One of such comprehensive resources is a new multi-author book “Holistic Mission. The Church’s Response to Contextual Challenges,” which saw the light of the day this year.
This book, which began as a vision to support and inspire Christians in Central Asia to pursue their mission within Muslim contexts, fulfilling the Great Commission, provides a deep exploration of holistic mission—what it is, the theology behind it, and how Holy Scripture speaks to it, with an emphasis on the mission as seen in both the Old and New Testaments.
It focuses on the Great Commission, the connection between God, the Kingdom, and the Church’s mission, and how this mission intersects with contemporary societal contexts, including the Church’s responsibility toward environmental stewardship.
Additionally, this book tackles critical yet often overlooked issues faced by churches in Central Asia. Topics include the cultural and traditional dynamics of Muslim societies, the lack of inclusiveness, challenges faced by people with disabilities, domestic abuse, and the importance of valuing human life and dignity.
The book is grounded in the reality that churches in Central Asia face unique challenges and require encouragement and guidance to continue their vital work. Through practical stories and testimonies from churches in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, readers will discover how these communities overcome challenges and serve as shining lights to those around them.
“The holistic mission presented in this book goes beyond theoretical responses to the challenges faced by the evangelical church, particularly in Central Asia. It offers a practical approach, proposing alternative solutions and inviting readers to take constructive, comprehensive action to address these issues,” – said Fedir Raychynets, UETS Professor and editor-in-chief of the book.
What makes this book unique is the number of contributors, many of whom are either students, or graduates of the UETS satellite program in Central Asia which dates back to 2005.
A heartfelt thanks to everyone who responded to the invitation to contribute to this book. Thanks to the dedication of UETS professors and students, along with the invaluable partnership of faithful friends and collaborators from Moldova and Central Asia, we are grateful to God for the opportunity to create and publish this work.
We deeply appreciate each of you who wrote a chapter, offering your knowledge, unique experiences, and insights into the contextual challenges we face. Thank you for sharing your personal stories and life journeys with us through the pages of this book.
While the book is particularly relevant for Christians in Central Asia on their journey of commitment to the Lord, we believe that it holds something of value for everyone. We are confident that it will have a profound impact on churches within Muslim-majority countries and beyond.