East Europe
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[edit] East Europe
Eastern Europe has one of the largest landmasses of any region in the world. Russia is the largest country in the world, and Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe. The region is resource-rich, having farmland, timber, oil, and rare metals. It is also prone to earthquakes and landslides, and the remoteness and cold make it very difficult to utilize these resources or bring them to markets. Heavy industrialization has led to significant soil, water and air pollution. The whole region was affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, but most notably Ukraine and Belorussia (over 20% of the latter was contaminated).
For its size, the region is one of the least populated. About 315 million people lived here in 2000, but no longer: not a single Eastern European country has a growing population. All are aging and in decline. The region is losing 1.5 million people each year: by 2025, the population will likely fall to 223 million, ahead of the rest of Europe but smaller than most African, Asian or American regions. Two-thirds live in urban areas: there are 599 megacities (but this number, too, could decline). Since fewer children are being born, the number of children is of course falling as well: from 61 million (23%) in 1950 to 55 million (19%) today, and likely to 39 million (14%) by 2025. Eastern Europe has half as many children as North America.
Part of the problem is the economies of the region. All have made the transition from communism to free markets, some better than others. Most of the countries are growing and some are close to becoming players in the global economy, but poverty and unemployment are still widespread and approaching double-digit percentages in most of the countries. Over 75 million people live in poverty, and many more are poor and underemployed. Hunger and homelessness are readily seen on the streets. Moldavia is one of the poorest countries in all Europe.
Government corruption and instability--both so common as to be accepted without question--contribute to the economic problems. Russia’s governments have been typified by strong, autocratic if not dictatorial leadership for centuries. The smaller countries have governments that are barely stable, although many are becoming more so. Crime is rampant. The combination of these many problems frightens would-be investors. The Chechneya war only adds to the darkness of the mix.
AIDS is a silently growing threat, with significant epidemics in Bulgaria, Russia and Ukraine. Far more visible are the cankers of drug addiction and alcoholism.
Tradition says St. Andrew first brought the Gospel to Kiev. Whatever the truth of the tradition, Christianity certainly arrived here in the first century after Christ but didn't become fully established until nearly nine centuries later. In 990 AD, Prince Vladimir I and the whole of Kiev was converted in the East Orthodox tradition. It became known as the “Jerusalem of Russia” and the center of Christianity in Eastern Europe. Even today, Ukraine is a “Bible belt” of Eastern Europe. Despite the winds of politics, the heritage of Orthodox Christianity has remained strong.
The overwhelming majority of the population claim to be Christian of one variety or another. Most belong, if only in name, to the Orthodox church. Religious apathy and inter-tradition rivalries are common, and restrictions on unapproved Christian workers (mainly Protestants and evangelicals) are growing. Few are interested in mission to other nations, although there are some indications this is changing. At the same time, although the numbers of nonreligious have fallen, they are still present, and there are a growing number of Muslim immigrants.
The next generation will be focused primarily on improving and stabilizing the economics and politics of the region. Mission efforts will mostly be the domain of small, independent evangelical agencies. Eastern Europe will still be considered a mission field by the majority of Christians, and the truth is much work should be done here to revive the stagnant church. However, small “underground” works will be used to bring the Good News to unreached peoples on the borders of the region. The winds of politics and persecution, however, should be carefully watched.
