About Us

Even before Mike and Myra Watkins met, they both had the Russian-speaking world in their hearts. In the late ‘80’s, Mike focused on learning the language while Myra had her attention on the culture and history.

Both were involved in reaching internationals and Russian-speaking immigrants in Raleigh, North Carolina. After marrying in 1991, they were part of short-term missions trips to Ukraine and Russia, so eventually heading for Ukraine as long-term missionaries made perfect sense. From 1993 to 2004, they helped plant a church in Lviv and ministered to Every Nation churches in the western part of the country. After a decade in Ukraine, the Watkins relocated to New York for a year and a half to work with our Russian-speaking church in Brooklyn, Beth Shalom, helping them in the area of leadership development.

Today, they live in Manila, Philippines where Mike and Myra have been serving Every Nation Ministries in missions, teaching, writing and preparing for church-planting efforts in the Russian-speaking world. Called to the mission field of Europe, Asia is only a temporary stop. 2007 will find them moving back to Ukraine to plant a church in the capital of Kiev. Having lived in the country before, the culture will not be a major adjustment. Neither will the language. Mike freely speaks Russian and has a working understanding of Ukrainian and Myra has a working comprehension of Russian. Daughters Abigail, 14, and Rebecca, 11, have studied Russian, which is similar to Ukrainian.

“We want to move as a family to Kiev by August 1st, and after getting settled we will start outreach in the fall,” Mike shares.

In preparation for their move, Mike plans to make several trips to Ukraine and also Russia and neighboring nations for other church plant efforts. “Our ministry materials are also being translated into Russian and Ukrainian,” he adds.

Reaching the lost and seeing lives transformed has been the driving force behind Mike and Myra’s love for missions. Mike relates, “When I met Misha and Oksanna Dupak several years ago they had not heard the gospel, they were impoverished and their family was at war. Their daughter also had a serious birth defect that required several risky surgeries. We stood with them as they grew in their faith.” Misha now has a successful job and is an emerging leader in the church. He and Oksanna have reached many of their family and friends with the gospel. “Their daughter’s surgeries were successful,” Mike smiles.

Kiev has a population over 3 million and stories like Misha and Oksanna’s are waiting to happen. Mike elaborates, “We will officially start the church as soon as we lead enough core groups of Ukrainians through the foundations of the faith and they are then able to reach others. This could be by Christmas 2007.”

At this point, one other family is confirmed to join the Watkins. Victor and Gisella Araneta are set to focus on campus ministry. Families from the Philippines and Ukraine will possibly be part of the team that will help long-term. Some members of Every Nation Latvian churches are planning to join short-term outreach trips to Kiev.

For now, the Watkins are transitioning out of Manila with their next stop being the Ukrainian capital. Kiev may just not only be their new permanent home, but their training ground for others who will reach the rest of the Russian-speaking world.Prayer Points for Kiev, Ukraine:

• Pray for all financial and visa needs of the team members to be met.
• Pray for the completion of the team members specifically in the areas of worship leading and youth ministry.
• Pray for more Ukrainians and Russians to be part of the initial outreach team and for unity among all the team members.
• Pray for grace to be upon each family moving to Kiev as they transition into their new home.