Ukrainian Culture Research
All of the following documents have been written by Mike Manna, Director, National Center for Youth Ministry, Kiev Theological Seminary
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Information for Americans Coming To Ukraine
(Word file, updated April 2009) |
If you have not visited Ukraine, here are some suggestions for you to consider. This will be especially helpful for the leader of a ministry group coming to Ukraine. |
| Insights into Idioms of the Russian Language (Word file, Winter 2007) | This paper gives an introduction into the difficulties found in translating idioms from Russian to English and vice versa. Through interviews and examples from Ukraine, Mike shows that a greater depth of understanding can be achieved if we take the time to study idioms in a foreign culture. |
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Kiev Youth Survey Results (101K, Excel file, September 2005) Kiev Youth Survey Questionnaire (22K, Word file, September 2005) |
This questionnaire was conducted on the streets of Kiev to 124 youth between the ages of 12 and 25 years old. The questionnaire and the results are posted here. |
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Using Ukrainian Folk Tales To
Teach Biblical Truths (124K, PDF file, Winter 2007) |
This paper includes 3 lesson plans using a Ukrainian folk talk, a religious story, and a 1000 year old epic to teach Biblical truths. |
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The Value
of A Child: Understanding the Cultural Differences Between How Americans and
Ukrainians View Children (95K, Word file) |
This paper evaluates in laymen terms some cultural issues that relate to differing values given to children by Americans and Ukrainians. This is not a psychological study. This work looks at four dimensions of the value of children: 1) Psychological-emotional value of children, 2) Economic-utilitarian value of children, 3) Social-normative value of children, and 4) God-given value of children. (Spring 2006) |
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Analyzing How Baptist Churches in Ukraine are Contextualized (Using the C1 to C6
Muslim Spectrum) (69K, Word file, Spring 2006) |
Several years ago John Travis (a pseudonym), a long-term missionary among Muslims in Asia, formulated “a simple categorization for stages of contextualization within Islamic outreach. He defines his six Cs as ‘Cross-Cultural Church-Planting Spectrums.'" Another name for his system of categorization is called the C1 to C6 spectrum. These same six stages or categories of churches can become the template for looking at other cultures as well. Specifically, I used this format to evaluate the current level of contextualization of the Baptist Churches in Ukraine. |
| Evaluating Higher Education in Ukraine for Cross-Cultural Teachers (87K, Word file) | This paper was an attempt to evaluate one university education degree in Ukraine by comparing it to Gardner's "Multiple Intelligences" theory. A portion of the study also looks at the hidden curriculum in the educational system. This may be helpful as preparation to those who are planning to teach part-time at a college or seminary in Ukraine. (Fall 2005) |
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The Demonic Prince of
Ukraine (231K, Word file) |
A limited study of the Pre-Slavic gods of Ukraine, how this has been incorporated into Russian Orthodoxy, and the rise of a nationalistic neo-paganism. Based on God's word (especially Daniel 10), we know that demonic activity is organized. This 16-page paper includes information from a private tour of the National Historical Museum of Ukraine with the museum's Head Archaeologist. (Summer 2005) |
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Spiritual Formation in Ukraine (72K, Word file) |
This is a limited study of the youth ministry students at our seminary and their spiritual formation. This paper includes interview answers and an evaluation of the factors that contribute to the students' spiritual shaping. This 16 page paper was in partial fulfillment for a BIOLA University masters course. (Spring 2005) |
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Ukrainian Youth Culture Study
(62K, Word file) |
A general research paper update in June 2008 about Ukrainian youth culture. |