Kiev, Ukraine

  Mike and Myra Watkins

Even before Mike and Myra Watkins met, they both had the Russian-speaking world in their hearts. In the late ‘80’s, Mike focused on learning the language while Myra had her attention on the culture and history.

Both were involved in reaching internationals and Russian-speaking immigrants in Raleigh, North Carolina. After marrying in 1991, they were part of short-term missions trips to Ukraine and Russia, so eventually heading for Ukraine as long-term missionaries made perfect sense. From 1993 to 2004, they helped plant a church in Lviv and ministered to Every Nation churches in the western part of the country. After a decade in Ukraine, the Watkins relocated to New York for a year and a half to work with our Russian-speaking church in Brooklyn, Beth Shalom, helping them in the area of leadership development.

Kiev, Ukraine

Mike and Myra also lived in Manila, Philippines and they served the Every Nation Ministries in missions, teaching, writing and preparing for church-planting efforts in the Russian-speaking world. Called to the mission field of Europe, Asia is only a temporary stop. In 2007, they moved back to Ukraine to plant a church in the capital of Kiev. Adjusting to the culture and language was easy for them. Mike freely speaks Russian and has a working understanding of Ukrainian and Myra has a working comprehension of Russian. Daughters, Abigail and Rebecca, have studied Russian, which is similar to Ukrainian.

Misha and Oksanna Dupak with their
children

Reaching the lost and seeing lives transformed has been the driving force behind Mike and Myra’s love for missions. Mike relates, “When I met Misha and Oksanna Dupak several years ago they had not heard the gospel, they were impoverished and their family was at war. Their daughter also had a serious birth defect that required several risky surgeries. We stood with them as they grew in their faith.” Misha now has a successful job and is an emerging leader in the church. He and Oksanna have reached many of their family and friends with the gospel. “Their daughter’s surgeries were successful,” Mike smiles.

Kiev has a population over 3 million and more stories like Misha and Oksanna’s are waiting to happen. Kiev may just not only be the new permanent home of the Watkin's, but a training ground for others who will reach the rest of the Russian-speaking world.