about

I’m Joel Swanson, and I’ve been called by Mission to the World (MTW) to work in Ukraine with the MTW Kiev team in music ministry, evangelism, and discipleship.

So who am I and why am I heading to Kiev, Ukraine? I’m a follower of Jesus, gripped by the goodness and beauty of grace and longing to more fully enjoy and embody truth. I’m fascinated by languages, cross-cultural experiences, how ideas shape culture, and how Christ can transform people and their cultures. In 2007, while teaching English in Ukraine, my cousin and her Ukrainian husband challenged me to consider the need for workers to strengthen the church in Ukraine. With the encouragement of friends, I pursued a calling in missions, visiting Ukraine twice more over the next two years. In October 2009 the MTW Kiev team called me to serve in music ministry, evangelism, and discipleship.

I grew up in a Christian home in New Jersey, trusting Christ in kindergarten. In high school I played piano for church, served as a camp counselor and camp music director, and learned guitar for a MTW missions trip to Northern Ireland. I began praying for Ukraine in the mid-1990s when a cousin went there as a missionary. A college semester in China reminded me of God’s unchanging faithfulness when surrounded by an unfamiliar culture; a later semester in Scotland opened my eyes to Europe’s spiritual darkness.

I graduated in 2003 from Covenant College and Georgia Tech with degrees in natural science and civil engineering, and work in transportation engineering. I hope to use my science and professional engineering background to network with civil engineers and to build up believers who work in these fields by helping them see connections between their faith and work.  The MTW Kiev team is involved in running a seminary to train pastors from all over Ukraine, and I may have opportunity to interact with some of those students on science and faith issues.  I may also use my technical project management experience to track the team finances and coordinate with visitors the team hosts who pass through the capital city on their way to other MTW teams in Ukraine.

Living in Chattanooga, I serve in music ministry within my local church, have taught Sunday school, enjoy befriending artists, and facilitate a classic literature book club at a local independent bookstore. I also meet weekly with a small group of guys to pray together and encourage one another in our walk with Christ. Many of the ways I’m ministering here are ways I hope to serve in Kiev, where there are far fewer believers than in Chattanooga.

I long to see a vibrant Church in Ukraine. Please consider partnering with me by praying and giving to build the church in Kiev, so that Jesus’ gospel would transform and renew the people and culture of Ukraine.