When IMB missionary Mick Stockwell spoke with the president of the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary (UBTS) about globalization and missions, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine had yet to puncture the health and safety of the world. Both men desired to send Ukrainian missionaries to the nations, and they brainstormed ways to make this a reality.
Their conversation marked the beginning of the journey to send a Ukrainian couple as missionaries that was the joint effort of eight entities from three countries.
Vitalii and Iryna Arshulik pose for a photo with their children, Evelina, Ustym and Lucas. IMB Photo Provided
A Ukrainian friend of Stockwell’s who lives in Brazil is passionate about reaching his people with the gospel, and this seemed to be a perfect mission field.
Four major European people groups immigrated to Brazil: Poles, Italians, Germans and Ukrainians. The country is home to around 600,000 Ukrainian Brazilians. Most Ukrainians in Brazil immigrated prior to or during World War I. Many of the original immigrants were poor farmers who moved to Brazil with the promise of land.
The Brazilian Baptist Home Mission Board sent missionaries to serve among Brazilian Ukrainians but were not effective. Even though Ukrainians in Brazil have lived there for several generations, they’ve maintained their language and culture.
UBTS and the Ukrainian Baptist Union told Stockwell they knew a couple interested in going to Brazil to serve. Vitalii and Iryna Arshulik felt the Lord leading them to serve as missionaries.
At the time, they were still developing the sending capability of the Baptist Union. Ukrainians had already gone to serve other places, but they were not exclusively supported.
The sending of a Ukrainian family as missionaries to Brazil was a joint effort of multiple Baptist entities. IMB Graphic
Stockwell invited Broadmoor Baptist Church from Jackson, Mississippi, to a meeting with the seminary and Baptist Union. Broadmoor had been involved in ministry in Ukraine for years and wanted to continue partnering in different ways. Also attending the meeting were Ukrainians who went to seminary in Brazil, returned to Ukraine and now represent Brazilian Baptists.
UBTS, the Ukrainian Baptist Union, Broadmoor Baptist Church, the Brazilian Baptist Union and Stockwell all contributed for plane tickets for the Arshuliks.
The Brazilian Home Mission Board received the couple, helped them find housing and gave them financial help for two years. A Baptist church in Curitiba, Brazil, continued the family’s support. The church had Ukrainians in their congregations and saw the need for Ukrainian missionaries.
Stockwell works closely with the Pacific Coast Slavic Baptist Association in the U.S. The association’s president is Ukrainian and is a church planter with the North American Mission Board. Stockwell also has connections with a Ukrainian association in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both groups began supporting Vitalii and Iryna. Stockwell hopes a Ukrainian from one of these associations will one day serve with the IMB.
Reaching Ukrainian Brazilians
In 2019, before COVID-19, the Arshuliks moved to the city of Prudentópolis, a hub for Ukrainian Brazilians. Around 75% of the town’s inhabitants are Ukrainian.
Prudentópolis is strongly influenced by the Catholic Church, with 97% of the population attending services.
Vitalii, Iryna and their children arrived with a burning challenge in their hearts: establish a Baptist church in Prudentópolis. After a few days, they discovered that this would be the third attempt to plant a Baptist church. The previous attempts were led by Brazilian pastors. The hope in sending them was that, with a Ukrainian family, people would identify and connect better and create deeper bonds.
They started from square one. They were strangers to everyone, and although there were Ukrainians, they still needed to navigate life in the Brazilian language and culture. The simplest aspects like buying and ordering food and daily routines proved challenging. They persevered, finding solace in the belief that God was guiding them and preparing them for big things.
Vitalii Arshulik speaks to a group of men and women who are waiting to be baptized. IMB Photo
Six months after establishing contacts with both Ukrainians and Brazilians, they met Josafat, a Brazilian familiar with both Ukrainian and Portuguese. This was a turning point. Despite being Catholic, Josafat translated for the couple during Bible studies.
They channeled all their efforts into building relationships. Inviting people to their home to enjoy Ukrainian cuisine became instrumental in forging strong connections. Once a bond was established, they would share what God had placed on their hearts.
The first fruits of their labor began to appear. Two of Josafat’s sons embraced the gospel. Their home became a gathering place, and soon, there were more new believers than they had space for, making it necessary to seek out another location to meet.
Securing a larger venue felt like a dream becoming reality, Vitalii said, and it affirmed their belief that God was orchestrating every aspect.
Nearly 100 people attend their services regularly.
Believers pray during a service in the church Vitalii and Iryna Arshulik started. IMB Photo
Vitalii said many families living in the Santa Mariana neighborhood struggle to make ends meet, especially when it comes to putting food on the table. Every Saturday, Vitalii and Iryna gather volunteers to spend time with children in the community. The group grew to 30 children.
On Easter, they purchased 60 chocolate eggs for an outreach. They planned for a maximum of 40 children, but within five minutes, they already had 60 children, and shortly after, the number increased to 90. This posed a challenge as they didn’t have enough chocolate eggs for everyone. In their moment of uncertainty, a man in a white car approached Vitalii and handed him a box, saying, “I have a box for you to give to the children.”
Vitalii found 40 more chocolates, perfectly filling the 90 gifts needed. He said it was a powerful reminder of God’s grace and provision.
God continues to perform great things, Vitalii said. They continually encounter people who initially declare, “I will never convert to the gospel,” only to later acknowledge, “Yes, I know Christ is alive, and I want to serve Him.”