The Ark shopping mall

Business Project To Be “Donkey” for Christian Ministry

The Christian Evangelic Church of the Living God in the Ukrainian town of Uzhgorod plans to build a large Christian-themed shopping mall in the town center. The center has been a high-priority project for the Christian business community in Ukraine since its inception 15 years ago, Christian Telegraph reports.

The Church of the Living God originally came up with the idea of building the shopping center, to be called “The Ark,” right in the heart of the town. It was conceived as a modern, multistoried business center constructed of glass and concrete. The structure will feature a transparent elevator, children’s café, movie theater, winter garden, fountain and other amenities designed to place The Ark on the cutting edge of retail business in Ukraine. The many small shops and boutiques will differ from those in typical malls in that they will not sell alcohol or cigarettes, will not be open on Sunday mornings. The goal and vision of the project will be to honor the Lord while making money for Christian ministry.

Pastor Vasyl Didychyn

Vasyl Didychyn, the minister of the church and a prosperous businessman himself, told Christian Telegraph about his inspiration for the project.

REPORTER: Brother Vasyl, how did all of this begin?

PASTOR DIDYCHYN: It started when the church in which I serve God took the bold step of buying an office right in the town center. That was many years ago. Now it would be impossible, considering the prices for real estate properties in the center of this frontier town. But we did it. Having bought our own building, we became friends with our neighbors. In time we became well-known and finally we started to preach the Gospel throughout the business sector of the town. I am an attorney as well as the pastor of our church, so we also founded the Christian Rights Center.

Using my business skills to enhance the ministry of the church, I bought an apartment right over the church office, built two more stores, created an office center and sold it at a profit. Through some further business transactions we acquired the land near the church office. And then we got the idea to build…what else could we build in the center of the town? A business shopping center. A great center which would make money for the Gospel.

REPORTER:Did you have any previous experience?

PASTOR DIDYCHYN: Experience of preaching the Gospel? A lot of it! The question is how to best utilize time and finances. You see, preaching the Gospel is not an inexpensive pastime! Nevertheless, our church has successfully created a number of social projects. One of the last is “Family,” an adoptive center for teenagers abandoned by their parents. Almost 15 teenagers live there, in a supportive Christian atmosphere, and are being prepared to go out into the “wide world.” Another project is the construction of an orphanage, and it is also on its way to becoming a reality. And The Ark.

REPORTER: At what stage is the project now?

PASTOR DIDYCHYN: Now we can start the construction. We have got all the licenses, the project has been drawn and approved, technical requirements have been met, the land is ready… but we still need a good partner.

REPORTER:What kind of partner?

PASTOR DIDYCHYN: A financial partner. A believer. Someone who believes in God, in the Gospel, who believes that business is not just a means to make money but is a “donkey for the ministry.” Because the main task of The Ark will be the financing of different Christian projects – social, charitable, educational, media projects. Of course, the part of money will go to investors to cover the expenses for the construction, but our condition is that each investor is to be a believer who has a personal goal of serving God, and who understands that by working with us he is investing in eternity.

REPORTER: What will The Ark look like?

PASTOR DIDYCHYN: It will be a passageway joining two central streets of the town. Four stories constructed of glass and steel. The architecture of the project will be modern, I would say, up-to-the-minute! It will have the shape of the biblical ark. On the upper “deck” there will be a winter garden with a fountain and a place to sit and relax. On the lower level there will be a movie theater, an administrative building, a library, clubs for children and youth (fun and safe places with Christian values where they can hang out). The lower level will also have shopping venues, which will “feed” the ministry.

We believe that we will find our partner and that The Ark will be constructed inside a year-and-a-half. We cannot delay it. We live during the end times and should be accomplishing many things. We should reach as many people for God as possible and serve them. That’s why we started all this.

REPORTER: Aren’t you afraid?

PASTOR DIDYCHYN: I was afraid to begin – to procure, to “pray out” the land, the documents, the entire project. We can now say that all this has been obtained miraculously and in only a year. Only one year has passed since the moment when we received our vision! Now everything is ready. We have only to build it.

If you would like to become an investor in The Ark project, the initiative group of the project is ready to start negotiating with you on financial partnership. Please email projectarc@mail.ru or call Vasyl Didychyn: telephone number in Ukraine - +38 050 570 27 38.

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[02/24/2008]

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