People in Chernobyl region thirsty
for God’s Word

Maria Avramenko was delighted to receive a large-print copy of the Psalms from staff of the Bible Society of the Republic of Belarus who visited the Chernobyl region in summer 2002. Chernobyl, Belarus. Photo: BS Rep. Belarus (BYE03DJ-2.JPG)

MINSK, Belarus — One of the largest projects being undertaken by the Bible Society of the Republic of Belarus is bringing God’s Word to the people of the Chernobyl region whose lives continue to be blighted by the after-effects of the 1986 disaster.

Last summer, staff from the Bible Society made a visit to the region, beginning in Komarin, a town of 3,000 people located just 31kms (20 miles) from the site of the reactor. Here, the beautiful scenery disguises the fact that radiation has severely damaged both people and the environment.

Restless

The team met Yuri Unitsky, a Pentecostal priest who grew up under the communist regime and whose father was against his attending church. He later married, but remained unhappy and restless until he came to know Christ and became a pastor. His wife now assists in his ministry and their son attends Sunday School. He warmly welcomed the Bibles brought by the Bible Society, as local people cannot afford to buy Bibles for themselves.

The team also visited Komarin’s hospital, where they found many children suffering from disorders of the endocrine system caused by reduced immunity. Vladimir Maksimovich, the head doctor, explained that the hospital has no paediatrician, as many people are unwilling to live in the area. He was grateful for the Bible Society’s Scriptures, but emphasised that there was an ongoing need, saying, “We would like to get such literature renewed, because many people when leaving hospital want to take Bibles home.”

Driving through the Braguin district, Bible Society staff stopped in a village where only six of the 34 homes were still inhabited. They presented one resident, Maria Avramenko, with a large-print copy of the Psalms. “I have poor eyes,” she said, “so this book is a great present to me. There is no-one to speak to, and there is no church nearby. Reading the Psalms will help me.”

Moved away

At an old people’s home in the village of Shubino, the team presented biblical material for use by the 300 residents, many of whom no longer have relatives nearby because their children moved away from the Chernobyl region following the disaster.

Throughout the visit to the region, the Bible Society found that people “are thirsting to hear God’s Word.” (WR 377/1 - 6.03)