Yelyzaveta Kaminska is a Bible teacher creating Christian music in Ukraine to train believers and reach non-believers.
When did you trust Christ?
My parents and I attended a Ukrainian Orthodox church, and although I saw God's hand in our lives, I began to live my own life at 16. I wanted to be a successful photographer, and even though I soon achieved that, I still felt empty. When I was 22, my parents bought a house, and their new neighbour was a Baptist pastor! They went to a Baptist church camp and repented. I went to their church because I was worried about them, since I had never been to a Baptist church. It was only after I repented that I understood the songs I had been singing. My parents and I all got baptised on the same day!
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
Four years after committing my life to Jesus, God gave me a great husband. I have now happily been following Christ for six years. My stories are full of miracles and interesting details. Even though my country is at war, I see unbelievable things, and I know that His hand is on my life.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I hope to learn the steps necessary for church planting, to understand my part in this work. I want to find out how to begin from nothing and continue even when you do not see results. My goal is to fully use my skills, and those of our music band, in this work. Also, I am interested in the way home churches function and how that can be improved upon.
What is your ministry?
I am a leader in our youth music band at our church. I teach the Bible to all ages. As a youth ministry leader, I help my husband create Bible courses. We also have youth clubs for non-believers aged 15 and older, and many other evangelization programmes, using our music to point people to Jesus. I am a student in the church planting program at Kyiv Theological Seminary, and also work there as a photographer, designer, videographer, and animator.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
As a music ministry leader, I choose people who want to be a part of our group, creating a team from our youth and growing them into leaders. Over the past six years, many have gotten baptised, and most of them are now teachers and leaders in other ministries. I have also trained others how to play and sing the music I have created.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
My vision is to share our music and inspire others to create more Ukrainian Christian music, or other art, to glorify God. I want to begin a new Christian music ministry for those 18 years and older.
