Officers
Leadership of the Baptist Union
The Head of the Union is the main spiritual and procedural leader of the Union, which is responsible for the overall spiritual condition of brotherhood and represents the interests of the Baptist Union Churches on public, religious, national levels in Ukraine and abroad, participates in the spiritual and educational conferences and workshops, helps dealing with challenges and different issues in churches, coordinates the work of the executive Committee and Council of the Union. The Head of the Baptist Union is elected by the Congress delegates for five years and the term maybe is renewable.
The Head and his deputies report their ministry to the Council of the Union and to the next Congress of church representatives from the brotherhood.
To manage a community of believers, we need not vast knowledge, lofty education or amazing organizational skills, but the fruits of a godly life, one who is consecrated and guided by the Holy Spirit, the fruits of humility, a responsive attitude to small and large cases, who displays sacrificial and trusted service for the glory of God.
The main task that the spiritual leader is found in scripture: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts of the Apostles 20:28)
Valery Antoniuk, President The Baptist Union of Ukraine
Date of Birth: June 24th, 1969 Vinnitsa region, Ukraine
Marital Status: Married. Wife name’s Anna. Have two children, Katya and Daniel
Baptism: In 1986 was baptized. Spiritual growth took place in Rahny Baptist Church, Vinnitsa region.
Studies: In 1987 has gotten a professional education in Poltava
Military army was held in 1988-1990, in Moscow
In 1995 has graduated from Irpin’ Biblical Seminary program “Bachelor pastoral ministry.”
Ministry: 1990-1994 leader of the youth ministry in Poltava Baptist Church.
1994 was ordained as a pastor in “Salvation” Church, Poltava
Since April, 2000 was heading the association of Poltava region Baptist Churches.
In 2000-2002 has been studying in Kiev Theological Seminary at the program “Master of the ministry”
In 2006 was elected as an Executive secretary of the Ukrainian Baptist Union.
In the same year was elected to the pastoral ministry in Kiev Baptist church “Transfiguration”
Over the last decade he is teaching in Christian higher education.
The author of a number of seminars and lectures on a spiritual and educational area.
By the election of the 26th Congress on May 28th, 2010 Valery Antoniuk was elected as the Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
On 27th Congress on June 13th, 2014 – was elected as the President of the Baptist Union.
The principle that governs a minister in his spiritual life – “the real ministry begins when we are not seen, but the Lord acts through us. The true God’s results often do not attract people’s attention, but they are accepted by heavens”
Credo: “He must increase, but I must decrease…” (John 3:30)
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Igor Bandura, Senior vice-president The Baptist Union of Ukraine
Date of Birth: November 3d, 1970 Ternopol city, Ukraine
Marital Status: Married. Wife name’s Anna. Have four children, two boys and two girls
Baptism: In 1987 was baptized.
Studies: In 1999 has gotten a professional musical education in Ternopol
In 1997 has graduated from Odessa Theological Seminary.
Ministry: 1997 was ordained as a pastor in “Grace” Baptist Church, Odessa.
By the election of the 26th Congress on May 28th, 2010 Igor Bandura was elected as the Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
On 27th Congress on June 13th, 2014 – was elected as the 1-st-Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
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Volodymyr Shemchyschyn, Vice-president The Baptist Union of Ukraine
Date of Birth: January 2d, 1952 Vinnitsa region, Ukraine
Marital Status: Married. Wife name’s Tayisiya. Have three children, one girl and two boys
Ministry: started as the preacher in Second Baptist Odessa church.
1973-1983 leader of the youth ministry in Second Baptist Odessa church.
1983-1986 – Missionary in Yakutsk, Russia.
1986-2006 – pastor of Illichivsk Baptist Church
1994-2000 was heading the association of Odessa region Baptist Churches.
1999-2014 – President of Odessa Theological Seminary
By the election of the 26th Congress on May 28th, 2010 Volodymyr Shemchyschyn was elected as the First Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
On 27th Congress on June 13th, 2014 – was elected as the Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
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Serhiy Moroz, Vice-president The Baptist Union of Ukraine
Date of Birth: May 07th, 1957 Lugansk region, Ukraine
Marital Status: Married. Wife name’s Lubov. Have four children.
Baptism: In 1971 accapted Jesus Christ into his heart and was baptized.
Studies: In 1975 has gotten a professional education and in 2004 – Master’s degree at Theological Seminary
Ministry:
1991 was ordained as a deacon and one year later as a pastor in Lysychansk Baptist Church.
In 1995 fully devoted himself to the ministry of planting new churches.
Since April, 2008 was heading the association of Lugansk region Baptist Churches.
By the election of the 27th Congress on June 13th, 2014 Serhiy Moroz was elected as the Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
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Vyacheslav Nesteruk, Vice-president The Baptist Union of Ukraine
Date of Birth: January 25th, 1953 Rivne region, Ukraine
Marital Status: Married. Wife name’s Lubov. Have three children.
Baptism: In 1974 was baptized.
Studies: 1996 – has got Theological Doctor’s Degree
Ministry:
1990 was ordained as a pastor in the First Baptist Chruch, Rivne.
1996 was heading the association of Rivne region Baptist Churches.
In 2002 he was elected as the Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
2006-2014 – the President of the Baptist Union.
2014 – till today – the Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
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Vasiliy Oliinyk, Vice-president The Baptist Union of Ukraine
Date of Birth: January 10th, 1955 Cherkassy region, Ukraine
Marital Status: Married. Has 9 children (three of them are adopted).
Baptism: In 1972 was baptized.
Studies: Has Theological Doctor’s Degree
Ministry:
1989 was ordained as a deacon in Buzivka Baptist Church and later as a pastor in Bezpechne Baptist Church, Cherkassy region.
2000 was heading the association of Cherkassy region Baptist Churches.
In 2010 he was elected as the Regional Vice-President of the Baptist Union.
On 27th Congress on June 13th, 2014 – was elected as the Vice-President of the Baptist Union.
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Ivan Romanyuk, Vice-president The Baptist Union of Ukraine
Date of Birth: December 7th, 1949 Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine
Marital Status: Married. His wife’s name is Nina. Have 4 children
Baptism: In 1972 was baptized.
Studies: In 1976 has gotten a professional education in Moskow.
And in 1996 – 1998 – Theological Doctor’s Degree.
Ministry:
1990 was ordained as a pastor in Striy Baptist Church, Lviv region.
1994 was heading the association of Lviv region Baptist Churches.
2002 – President of Borislav Theological Seminary
In 2010 he was elected as the Regional Vice-president of the Baptist Union.
On 27th Congress on June 13th, 2014 – was elected as the Vice-President of the Baptist Union.
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Gregoriy Komendant, Vice-president The Baptist Union of Ukraine
Date of Birth: January 8th, 1946 Khmelnitskiy region, Ukraine
Marital Status: Married. Wife name’s Nadia. Have two children, Angela and Myroslav.
Baptism: In 1965 was baptized.
Studies: Baptist Theological Seminary in Hamburg, Master of Theology Degree
Ministry:
1973 was ordained as a pastor in Dunaevtsy Baptist Church, Khmelnitskiy region
1977- pastor of Irpin Baptist Church
1979-1981 – senior pastor of Ukraine
1994-2006 – President of the Baptist Union of Ukraine
1995- 2000 – Vice-President of Baptist World Alliance
2001-2003 – President of the European Baptist Federation
2007 – President of the Ukrainian Bible Society
2006 – President of the Spiritual Council of Baptist Union of Ukraine
