The mission team was led by evangelist Don Betts, along with assistants Bill Maupin and Wayne Monroe, and director Randy Pope. Rob Jergins served as accompanist, and the sound crew consisted of Kelce Wilson, Lee and Pam Johnston, Stephen Betts, Jerry Craft, and Scott and Katrina Boyer. There were eighteen additional choir members, several of whom provided solos during choral numbers. We did not need additional medical personnel, since four of our choir members were nurses.
A number of translators assisted us on the mission. Lyuda Moskvich was the chief translator, and was assisted by Mira Karkuch, Julia Korolchuk, Roman Buruzuk, and Slavick Nazarkyevuk. Others at particular crusades were named Sergey, Marina, and Maria. The Ukrainian choir director and both bus drivers there were named Victor. Tanya and Vladimir were our translators in Moscow, and in Rome our tour guides were Mary and Linda.
The Baptists in the Volynian (Luts'k) and Rivne regions were Brothers Chaika and Misha, respectively; we were also frequently accompanied by pastor Benjamin Rubaka. My family's hosts were John and Tonya Shlahoba in Luts'k and Zhana and her family in Rivne.
Top row (L to R): Chuck Reynolds, Rick Ford, Kirk Hughes, Wayne Monroe, Lee Johnston, Rob Jergins, Randy Pope, Scott Boyer, Kelce Wilson, Doug Parks. Middle row: Bev Evans, Nancy Dooley, Becky Parks, Vicky Adkins, Max Miller, Chris Pope, Stephen Betts, Jerry Craft. Bottom row: Don Betts, Christine Watson, Robyn Wilson, Caddy Pope, Sheila Ford, Janet Hughes, Jeanie Mangen, Glenda Morgan, Katrina Boyer, Joy Aycock, Linda Stamps, Pam Johnston.
Top row (L to R): Lyuda, Mira, Julia, and Roman.
Bottom row: Slavick, Marina, Maria, and primary bus driver Victor.
These are conservative estimates of the attendance and visible responses during our time in the Ukraine. As Jonathan Edwards noted during the First Great Awakening, genuine conversion can only be proven by a life of holiness. Nevertheless, I believe the local churches that followed up on these crusades after we left have reported lasting growth not too far out of step with the estimates we made after each meeting.
| Day | Event | Attendance | Professions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 7/4 | rehearsal at Newark airport | 18 listening | yeah, right |
| Saturday 7/6 | Luts'k church service | 500 | 16 |
| Saturday 7/6 | Luts'k park youth crusade | 400 | 14 |
| Sunday 7/7 | Derno baptism | 200 | 7 |
| Sunday 7/7 | Rivne stadium crusade | 4000 | 500 |
| Sunday 7/7 | Rivne park crusade | 4000 | 600 |
| Monday 7/8 | Volodymyr-Volyns'kyy church service | 250 | 7 |
| Monday 7/8 | Nolovolyns'k stadium crusade | 2000 | 350 |
| Tuesday 7/9 | Kovel street evangelism | est. 100 | 21 |
| Tuesday 7/9 | Kovel stadium crusade | 2000 | 400 |
| Wednesday 7/10 | evangelism at sanitorium near Crooked Woods | 120 | 40 |
| Wednesday 7/10 | Kolky football field crusade | 3000 | 500 |
| Thursday 7/11 | Dubno convention center crusade | 2000 | 200 |
| Friday 7/12 | Zdolbuniv courthouse performance | 100 | no invitation |
| Friday 7/12 | Zdolbuniv stadium crusade | 2000 | 1000 |
| Saturday 7/13 | evangelism at Kostopil hospital | 70 | 17 |
| Saturday 7/13 | Kostopil city square crusade | 1200 | 125 |
| Sunday 7/14 | Rivne baptism | 200 | 6 |
| Sunday 7/14 | Rivne church service | 1000 | 7 |
| Sunday 7/14 | Luts'k stadium crusade | 5000 | 550 |
| TOTAL | 28088 | 4360 |
Dayton / Newark / NYC = Eastern Daylight Time
Italy / Poland = EDT + 6 hours
Ukraine = EDT + 7 hours
Moscow = EDT + 8 hours
