Bucha, Kyiv hosted the All-Ukrainian youth event "I Am in Jesus" from June 11–14, 2026. Despite challenging circumstances throughout the country and the outflow of young people abroad, the event exceeded the organizers' expectations.
Ivan Romaniuk, leader of Adventist Youth Ministries in Ukraine, highlighted the remarkable attendance compared to the previous year.
“While last year's 'Voice' congress gathered about 400 participants, this summer there were nearly 500, and on Sabbath worship services the number of people reached over 600. This became a testimony that Ukrainian youth crave God's presence and spiritual fellowship,” Romaniuk shared.
The core theme of the event was unity with Christ, based on John 15. Spiritual messages were delivered by church leaders. A special appeal to return to paper Bibles was made. Each participant received a gift pouch inscribed with "Disconnect to hear God," and speakers encouraged attendees to put away their mobile devices and open the printed Word of God. To encourage independent reading, Bible texts were intentionally kept off the main screens, resulting in the powerful sight of hundreds of young people studying paper Bibles during sermons.
Like previous events, practical mission remained a central focus. Workshops led by Semen Bykov, Kostiantyn Kampen, Artem Kozyr, Oleh Korol, and the president of the Ukrainian Union Conference, Roman Prodaniuk, focused on effectively reaching non-church friends. On Sabbath (Saturday) afternoon, more than 100 young people hit the streets of Bucha, Irpin, and central locations in Kyiv–including Khreshchatyk, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, and Podil–to share biblical messages through mobile missionary locations.
The day concluded with a baptismal ceremony where eight young people gave their lives to Christ. Welcoming them, Nazarii Prodaniuk reminded the youth that while a personal relationship with God is a priority, the Lord also unites His children into the church.
Intercessory prayer was another major highlight of the weekend. Vlad Mikula shared a powerful testimony about an online group that prayed for a Ukrainian soldier in Russian captivity, who was subsequently released, and attended the congress to share his experience. Additionally, Nazarii Yarovyi asked the youth to pray for his father's evacuation from the frontlines; the very next day, he announced the successful evacuation, reminding participants of the power of corporate prayer.
The event also served as a launchpad for several new projects. These included "One Year of Mission," the global "OneVoice27" initiative for university outreach, focus groups for sports and social ministries, and the "Five" initiative – a personal commitment to pray for five unbelievers. The congress also featured a Pathfinder march, QR-code registration, and a high-quality interactive online broadcast.
Reflecting on God's protection, Romaniuk noted that despite unfavorable weather forecasts, the participants enjoyed perfect conditions, and the weekend in the Kyiv region passed peacefully. As the event concluded, the inspired youth summarized their primary call with the phrase: "God had a Son, and He made Him a missionary."
This article was provided by the Ukrainian Union Conference.
