Rev. William (Bill) Lovlace Our Missionary to Kiev, Ukraine

The Rev. Bill Lovelace is a United Methodist missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries who is serving as a pastor and district superintendent in Kiev, Ukraine. The focus of his assignment is evangelism and church development which will include the establishment of a new United Methodist congregation in the capital city.

Bill has served in the former Soviet Union since 1992, first as a pastor in St. Petersburg, Russia and later in Kerch, Ukraine as district superintendent of the “Southern” region which includes the Ukraine, southern Russia and the north part of the Caucuses region of Russia. He also served as pastor of the Kerch United Methodist Church.

Bill is married to Helen Byholt Lovelace, who also serves in Kiev as a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries. The former General Secretary for the Board of Church and Society in the United Methodist Church in Norway, Helen’s responsibilities are focused on social outreach and include ministries with families affected by drug and alcohol abuse.

Bill was born in Orlando, FL, and raised in Knoxville, TN. He entered the ministry after spending almost eight years in computer science, once working primarily in the defense industry. His participation in the secular work environment helped him perceive some needs of people outside the influence of the church, and he eventually joined First UMC, Carrollton, TX, and became active in teaching Sunday School, evangelism programs, and home Bible studies.

Since leaving the computer science field in 1987, Bill has been a volunteer worker with Cambodian refugees in San Diego, CA; a summer intern at First UMC, Carroilton; and a summer chaplain at the Veterans Hospital of Lexington, KY. He has also tutored Japanese business professionals in English.

Bill has studied languages (Latin, French, Russian, Arabic, Biblical Greek and Hebrew) and has a B.A. degree in computer science from the University of TN, Knoxville. He also has master of divinity and master of theology degrees from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY.

Missionary code: 11872Z

E-Mail: whlovelace@aol.com

Blog: umcumc.blogspot.com

Last update: 05/99