Freedom in Christ: Lutheran Prison Ministry in Ukraine
by M.L. Smith
“I was in prison and you came to me.” – Matthew 25:36
The Word of God knows no bounds. Behind concrete walls and locked gates, grace is still at work. In Ukraine, pastors of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU), including Bishop Alexander Urchenko, are faithfully bringing the light of Christ into the darkness of prison cells.
Through Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s mission partnership and support, this ministry of presence and proclamation continues to flourish—particularly in the prison near Nikolaev. There, SELCU pastors regularly visit inmates to offer what the world cannot give: forgiveness, hope, and new life through Jesus Christ.
Each visit includes pastoral counsel, the reading and preaching of God’s Word, catechism classes, and Services of the Word. With Scriptural teaching and Lutheran hymnody, the prisoners hear of a God who does not abandon sinners but seeks and saves the lost. Many inmates, some of whom have never opened a Bible before, are receiving formal catechetical instruction in preparation for Baptism and/or First Communion. The Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions are not hidden from them—they are handed to them.
This is not merely social reform. It is Gospel renewal—offered in Christ’s name, through His Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The ministry has not gone unnoticed. Prison administrators have expressed deep appreciation for the spiritual care provided, and government officials have even affirmed the positive moral and emotional impact of the pastors’ ongoing visits. This is not merely social reform. It is Gospel renewal—offered in Christ’s name, through His Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Here, under the preaching of the cross, God is working repentance and faith, breaking chains more powerful than iron—chains of guilt, despair, and death.
Please continue to keep Bishop Urchenko, the SELCU pastors, and all those they serve in your prayers. And consider supporting this vital ministry through Lutheran Church–Canada’s mission work. Christ is at work, even in the most forgotten places.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36
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Rev. M.L. Smith is Director of International Missions for Lutheran Church–Canada.
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