Ministry is people, and there is no more important component in that equation than your ministry staff. Our goal as a ministry is to reach, train, equip and deploy nationals to do the work of the Lord in their own countries and to their own people. As a result, we feel a measure of success is, how much of the leadership work is done by nationals. In this regard, God has blessed us with staffs who, for the most part, have come to Christ and who have been discipled through the work of New Life Ministries.

When one considers the small size of our budget, the fact that we have 12 staff working in four countries is a great testimony to the cost effectiveness of the ministry and that funds given do go a long way in supporting nationals on the ground….what is the heart of ministry: people reaching people.

Greg Gulley—Greg has served as Executive Director since 1978. Over the past sixteen years, his focus and energies have centered on work in the countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. This work, which began there in 1990 at the invitation of the Soviet government, and specifically the Latvian State Youth Theater, has grown to include work from Khabarovsk and Kamchatka, Russia, to Ukraine, Yugoslavia and the Baltics.

Greg has a Master of Arts degree in Slavic Languages and Literature from Duke University with certification in Slavic, Eurasian and East European studies. His graduate work at Duke focused on the history of child abandonment, orphans and orphanages in the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. One of his most extensive papers on the subject is entitled “A Comparative Look at Child Abandonment, Orphans and Orphanages in Imperial Russia, the Soviet Union, and Today’s Russia.” His thesis “Lofty Slogans and Harsh Realities: Stalin Era Portrayal of Bezprizornye, Orphans and Orphanages Propagandized in Film and Literature,” is in the field of Soviet history, film, culture, and literature with focus on Soviet propaganda, family law and state-run institutions for abandoned children and orphans.  During his graduate work at Duke, he had been awarded a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship for three consecutive years through Duke’s Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies.

Greg has teamed up with Lenny LeBlanc to write over 80 songs together including music used in the musical theater productions “The Greatest Star of All,” “Never Be the Same,” The Greatest Gift of All,” and “Choices,” as well the ballet musical drama “Man On The Street,” first premiered at the International Ballet Festival in Minsk, Belarus, in April, 1996, by a group of students from the Bolshoi School in Minsk. In addition, Gulley and LeBlanc worship songs have appeared on projects by Maranatha!Music and Integrity Hosanna projects including “No Higher Calling” (also used on CBS’ ‘Touched By An Angel’ television program), “You Are So Faithful,” “You Alone Are Holy,” and “You Are My Refuge.”

Greg’s greatest love is developing teaching material such as the “Building the Disciple’s House” program utilized in the discipleship camps. This comprehensive approach to discipleship in Russian has borne much fruit, to the glory of God! The program seeks to utilize the performing arts – drama, pantomime, music – as teaching tools to maximally impact those being discipled.

Pasha Katsiak—Pasha came to know Christ at a New Life outreach at his school in 1992. It all took place in his hometown of Minsk, Belarus. Ever since that time, he has been a vital part of the ministry, having literally ‘grown up’ in New Life Ministries. In 1994, he was one of the pioneers that attended our first summer discipleship camp, and before that, participated in the Great Exchange discipleship program.

Over the years, Pasha has served on the leadership team, as a staff translator, and for several years as team leader for the Russian outreach team. He has served as camp director for the

summer discipleship camps as well (2003, 2004). Academically, Pasha attended Belarus State Economic University, BA, Economics. Master of Science in Accounting, Wake Forest University, Calloway School of Business and Accountancy. Now he works on staff here in America at our home office in North Carolina. His latest project is the development of a web site in Russian specifically designed for follow-up of new believers.

Galya Kustova—Galya has served as in-country administrator for the ministry since 1995. She received her Associate Degree in IT (1972), Bachelor's Degree in IT(1979), Bachelor's Degree in marketing(1992), Associate Degree in marketing and business (1993) from Kharkov Technical College, Kharkov Technical University, Kharkov University of Engineering and Economics, and Kharkov Institute of Business respectively.

Handling logistics for both the discipleship camps and the Russian evangelism team includes scheduling, arranging housing, meals, and negotiating

Marina Osaulenko—Marina lives in Chernigov, Ukraine, one of the city’s closest to the Chernobyl nuclear site. She is in her fifth year of study at the Nezin State University of N. Gogol pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English and Education. Having come to Christ through a New Life Ministries’ outreach, Marina serves on staff as a translator, particularly for teaching ministry events and for the Russian web site.

But her experience literally spans every area of work we do. Marina has served faithfully on the Russian evangelism team, and God has sued her to lead many to Christ through the team’s outreach opportunities at secular youth camps. Marina has served for the past year and a half on the Ukrainian orphanage ministry team, making the trek from Chernigov by train to Gvardyehskoyeh orphanage one weekend a month. In addition, Marina has worked on the Leadership team, and as a discipleship team leader, helping to train new believers in our discipleship camps.

Vanya Okhlopkov—Vanya received his Associate Degree in social work, St. James College in Kiev, last year, and is now working towards his Bachelor’s degree. Vanya has served as camp co-director for the last two years, as co-leader of the Russian evangelism team, and as technical director for both the discipleship camps and the Russian evangelism team.

Out of Kiev, Ukraine, Vanya coordinates the work of the Ukrainian orphanage ministry team, and supervises the orphanage renovation work sponsored through the ministry. In addition, Vanya handles the critical aspect of through-the-mail follow-up of those making decisions through the Russian evangelism team. Letters and materials are sent to those who pray to receive Christ throughout the year.

Vika Denisenko—To only say that Vika Denisenko graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in foreign languages from the Crimean-American College, is to do an injustice to the true real sign of courage, determination, and fortitude wrapped up in the accomplishment. Vika is physically handicapped, and in the Soviet Union historically there have been few if any allowances, both physically and academically, for the handicapped.

Vika was born with a rare born disease that resulted in her legs not developing. Throughout her life she experienced dozens of operations and suffered through over one hundred born fractures. Vika didn’t get into a wheel chair until she was 12 years old. But in a sanatorium in the Crimea in 1994, Vika attended one of our outreaches, and came to Christ. Overcoming many obstacles along the way, we were able to invite her and include her in our very first summer discipleship camp in 1994. She has been an integral part ever since. Vika remembers, “I have been coming to this camp every summer, and now not only attend and learn and grow, but Greg asks me to help translate as well. In 1995, on August 10th (I'll never forget), I was baptized in the Black Sea. I don't know if you can imagine, but it was a tremendous milestone for me. Without legs, and the ability to walk, I had been terrified of the water....imagine me being carried into the waters of the Black Sea to be baptized....it was truly a miraculous time and event!”

Ruslan Karabadzak—Ruslan lives in Izmail, Ukraine, and has worked as a translator with New Life Ministries since the summer of 1995. Ruslan received his Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Izmael State Pedagogical Institute.

Ruslan has worked with us in both conversational and written translation. He also serves on advance trips, handling translation duties in official meetings. Ruslan has seen the ministry grow over the eleven years he has been involved.

Tanya Kutovaya —- Tanya has been involved with New Life Ministries since coming to Christ through one of our outreaches in her home city of Kharkov, Ukraine in 1991. Since, she has been active in the summer discipleship camps, and the Great Exchange program, in addition to serving on the Russian evangelism team from 1998-2002.

A graduate of both the School of Choreography in Kharkov and the University in Kharkov’s Choreography Department, Tanya has served as artistic director for the Russian evangelism team. In this capacity, Tanya prepared the team, teaching choreography and drama to the team in their rehearsal of the musical The Greatest Star of All.

Marina Galaka– Marina attended our first discipleship camp in the summer of 1994, and has been involved in the ministry ever since. Coming to Christ through one of our outreaches in her school in Kharkov, Ukraine (1991), Marina has also served as a translator during the discipleship camp, and has worked on the leadership team.

Marina is an active part of the Ukrainian orphanage ministry team that works with orphans at the Gvardyehskoyeh orphanage in the Crimea. Marina graduated with honors with a degree in languages from the University in Kiev, and has also received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Kharkov State University.