Background & how it all got started....

February 9, 1996

Since 1991 I have come in contact with a group of religious refugees from the former Soviet Union who emigrated to Port St. Lucie Florida and subsequently resettled in Raleigh, North

Carolina. There were 15 in all. These people had become Sabbatarians shortly after World War II and had been severely persecuted for their religious convictions under the Communist regime. According to the Helsinki Human Rights accord they were granted favored emigration status from the USSR. The aging leader of the Sabbatarians, Michael Palchey and his wife were part of this group. His wife died shortly after they arrived in the United States.

I found very much in common with these immigrants when visiting them with my wife Beverly during a Florida trip in June 1991. As Christians I found that we had similar beliefs regarding the Sabbath, the law of God in general, the Passover, the nature of God, life after death, heaven, hell and many other doctrines. A close friendship with these people has led to my traveling four times to where they had come from in the Trans-Carpathian province of Ukraine.

I have been able to visit many of the brethren in Ukraine and meet and stay with their leadership. The name of their Sabbatarian organization is Christians of the Sabbath Day. I have stayed with their leader Vasyl Mondich each time I visited Trans-Carpathia.

Our relationship led to an establishment of a summer project with their youth which involved students of Ambassador University. Nine students spent the summer of 1994 teaching English to the Sabbatarians and community. This experience so far has been the high water mark in our relationship.

We have translated two booklets into Russian and Ukrainian. The first booklet was GOD’S HOLY DAYS and the second was WHY WERE YOU BORN? The first one was translated into both Ukrainian and Russian. The second one was translated into Russian only.

On trips to Ukraine we had taken over booklets and articles previously translated into Russian. They were especially grateful for articles about faith and the Sabbath. We hope to do more translation of spiritually-based materials as soon as we can.

The Sabbatarians are heavily involved in evangelism. Two of the booklets we gave them were republished in Siberia and were helpful in forming a new congregation.

In one of our conversations, the Ukrainians told us that they wanted to learn from us, however, they also hoped that those coming in contact with them would want to learn from them. I personally have. I have witnessed example after exampole of faith, conviction, sacrifice and devotion to God unlike any other people that I have come in contact with. Yes, I have learned plenty from these people that has greatly enriched my life.

Since the inception of the United Church of God in May of 1995 our contact has languished, however, we have been in touch by telephone and through mutual friends. The Sabbatarian leadership is aware of the difficulties that we have gone through this past year. I have told them that God-willing, I would return and visit with them to build on the relationship we have held so dear with them. My plans are to visit them this spring.

This has been an especially difficult winter in Ukraine. Brethren from the United Church of God from Boston, Massachusetts have given financial assistance to these people helping them with food and fuel. The money is sent to a minister in Switzerland who gives it to relatives of the Sabbatarians in southern Germany who in turn take it personally to the Sabbatarians on regularly scheduled trips.

This is only the briefest summary of our dealings with the Sabbatarians which I would like to update and expand. If you have any questions, please click on COMMENTS below.


Comments?

Other Personal Accounts of Dealing with Ukrainian Sabbatarians

Hit Counter