The Ukrainian Baptist Church in North Port, Florida, ordained two members as deacons during the Sunday morning worship service on September 29, 2019.
A presbytery had gathered the previous day, September 28, and included the participation of Rev. Roman Kapran, president of the Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Convention in the U.S., and Rev. Leonid Bliznyuk, treasurer of the UEBC. The presbytery examined the two candidates – Brother Sergey Pustovit and Brother Viktor Krashchenko — and deemed them worthy of ordination to the deacon’s ministry.
On Sunday, the church choir and guests participated in a blessed program in a filled auditorium. At the end of the worship service, kneeling before the congregation were Brother Pustovit and his wife, Ludmila, along with Brother Krashchenko and his wife, Raisa. Participants in the laying on of hands and prayers were Pastor Avdiy Chripczuk, Rev. Stepan Zinchuk, Rev. Walter Sauchuk, Rev. Michael Jakubovich, Rev. Kapran and Rev. Bliznyuk.
Then the newly ordained deacons were presented with certificates, Bible commentaries and other gifts. Their wives were given bouquets of flowers. Afterward, all attendees were invited to a luncheon celebration.
PHOTO: (front row from left) Ludmila Pustovit (Людмила Пустовіт) [visible partially], Sergey Pustovit (Сергій Пустовіт), Viktor Krashchenko (Віктор Кращенко), Raisa Krashchenko (Раїса Кращенко). (Second row from left) Rev. Stepan Zinchuk (Степан Зінчук), Pastor Avdiy Chripczuk (Овдій Хрипчук), Rev. Leonid Bliznyuk (Леонід Близнюк), Rev. Walter Sauchuk (Володимир Савчук), Rev. Roman Kapran (Роман Капран), Rev. Michael Jakubovich (Михайло Якубович).
