Odessa Christian Business
an American/Ukrainian Joint Venture agrees to |
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ул. Пастера, 62, г.Одесса, 65023, Украина тел: (048) 735-7848, email: erika@te.net.ua
RECENT EVENTS In July 2007, a group of 25 Presbyterian businessmen/women met in Birmingham, Alabama -- almost all of whom had been to visit us in Ukraine. they decided to form the Odessa Christian Business Center and the Odessa Christian Counseling Center. They agreed to work with Erika Shteker of Odessa to organize these, as well as to promote Chrsitian ethics and Business in the Odessa church, providing training not only for businessmen and entrepreneurs, but for laymen and lay women who need financial training and skills for their daily lives.
Those interested
in news of these centers or participation can contact Erika at this address: Their first meeting to provide training for laymen in the Odessa church has been approved by the Session to be held July 21st, 2007. They hope they will soon have the materials to begin Crown Financial training, since retired PCA deacon Don Underwood is a Crown trainer who now lives in Odessa.
HISTORY OF THE CONSORTIUM Over the past several years, we have had a number of very capable teams provide business seminars in our church. Much good came from this. Few, however, had experience in the former Soviet Union which would help them overcome the special barriers faced by small businesses in this context. We needed someone who knew the people and knew the context. The Orange Revolution which raised such interest in Ukraine around the world has not fulfilled many expectations, but there are still many business opportunities here. A large number of Presbyterian businessmen took interest in Ukraine and began offering their help to Clay Quarterman and others who were traveling in the USA. So an email “Consortium” was established to share news and ideas. In order to make something happen, however, a Ukrainian “champion” needed to come forward. This happened in May, 2007, when Erika Shteker felt a burden to help our people overcome their fears and make use of these contacts and the many opportunities before them. In one of our business seminars in 2006, an interesting comment came from one of our church members, a young self-made businessman. He and his wife moved to Odessa from Crimea in the year 2000 with just $50 in his pocket. He was able to start a business wholesaling groceries, and he now owns two delivery vans. He commented that loans could be the worst thing for many people, since many don't have the sense of responsibility that comes from having your own ownership in the business. Although we understand that reasonable loans are necessary for expansion, it is great to hear such comments from a Ukrainian. There have been all too many who have asked for loans without showing any reasonable way to repay them. Perhaps a system of micro-finance and micro-loans would be helpful in training people to this end, but what is most needed is wise counsel. Credit cards and loans are now being promoted in this post-soviet society, without the least bit of training in personal finances. This is a dangerous situation in which we hope we can help, providing biblical and practical training for a broad range of our people. The Odessa Business Center will have 4 areas of primary activity: 1) Offering Christian business education and personal economics 2) Accepting believing apprentices and helping them to start new businesses, 3) Helping believers with counsel and finances to decide on and start new businesses, to expand existing ones, or to take advantage of one-time opportunities that promote solid principles in their lives. 4) Doing Business -- taking advantage of opportunities which arise that fall within our areas of interest and expertise. Apprentices will normally be involved in some form of business education and receive personal financial training along with the hands-on training of establishing their new business, although there may be some exceptions where an emphasis on academic or practical training is more appropriate. The Business Center is not a ministry of the church or under its oversight, but it is made up mostly of members of the Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church of Odessa, Ukraine, and has the support and encouragement of the church. How will the Business Center be supported? 1) By DOING BUSINESS. This will be slow at first, but may grow over time. 2) They will CHARGE for EDUCATION and training. 3) They will CHARGE for CONSULTING SERVICES. 4) SPONSORS will be sought to support the center before it is self-supporting, as well as to help pay for those services rendered to the needy as a ministry. 5) PHILANTHROPISTS or special interest groups (e.g. the Ukrainian diaspora) may also want to help the worthy in the promotion of Free Enterprise or humanitarian development through scholarships or the establishment of awards or special investment funds. 6) INVESTORS may also be sought for special projects of mutual interest when opportunities arise. 7) They will CHARGE foreign and local companies for CONSULTING SERVICES. As their expertise and reputation grow, the Center will become experienced enough in local business to offer these specialized cross-cultural consultative services. Write for more information: erika@te.net.ua
In the USA (a 501(c)(3) organization):
In Ukraine:
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© Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church of Odessa, Ukraine 2007