This is the most unusual Christmas in my life. There are 50 refugees living in my church. Every day we dig a bomb shelter. 8 million Ukrainian refugees have left the country, including many of my friends. More than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers (young men) have died. My heart is filled with pain. There is no light ahead, and my hope is like a small candle in the darkness. My team is exhausted and tired from constant service. And our resources for buying food are running out. It seems like a sad situation. But that’s not the case. I am happier than ever. Because no one appreciates the light like those who are in the dark. No one appreciates food like those who are hungry. No one appreciates warmth like those who are freezing. Christmas is proof that God is light, warmth, bread, and hope for me. Jesus is a gift that is always with me. He is Emmanuel. He chose to be with me. And friendship with Jesus makes me happy. Merry Christmas. With love from Ukraine! Before the new year, more than 100 rockets were launched at Lviv! About 30 people were injured. Several hundred apartments were damaged by explosions! People in the church are scared and very tired. Pray for us! We really need your support!
At the end of November, 75 drones attacked the capital of Ukraine. We need prayers every day. Your prayers are a shield that protects us. We have also started building a bomb shelter in the church building. It’s a difficult but very necessary task. We also need prayers and support for the implementation of the security project for our shelter. Thank you for being with us! Short news from our ministry. Winter has come. That’s why our shelter is overcrowded with people. It’s chaos again. But we have electricity, heat, food. And most importantly – the opportunity to preach to these people. Please pray that we can convey words of love and truth. We are actively distributing clothes.
We rent a small warehouse near the church building and every day we invite refugees to hand over necessary clothing. My wife is working on this project. I ask you to pray for God to give her strength and wisdom in this ministry. Every week, young people from our church collect food and go to the hospital to help soldiers wounded in the war. These people have lost all hope, they are traumatized by war, their bodies are mutilated. They feel like they are no longer needed by anyone! Pray that we can show them the love of Jesus. Thank you for your prayers! Thank you for your love and help warm us this cold winter!
Air raid sirens again. Each day the shelling becomes more intense. This means that we need to work harder. I am pleased to report that this week we finished renovating two rooms for refugees, and the consultant’s office and the children’s class are ready for service. This is another victory for us. I am very happy that you have become part of this ministry and part of this victory. Thank you for your prayers and your support.
We are starting to insulate two more rooms for accommodating refugees. And again, we need your prayers and your support. This is extremely important because, through this ministry, we see people repenting of their sins and starting to believe in Jesus! This happens every day! And therefore, our ordinary life has become like a fairy tale adventure. Because God is performing many miracles. Thank you for always being with us! I pray for you and pray for our partnership!
Today, our city came under drone attacks. No one could sleep. Drones flew over my daughter’s house, and the explosions were heard very close. People are in fear. We are powerless against drone attacks and cannot protect our children. Our only hope is in God! Your prayers are very much needed!
The war continues, and we continue our ministry. Many new people are coming from the east of Ukraine, where there are fierce battles. Russia is capturing new cities like Avdiivka, and new people come to us for help. I ask you to pray that we can not only provide them with shelter and food but also share the testimony of God with them. Many of them fled, leaving everything behind! They need God first and foremost and people who will show them love!
After consulting with the team, we are preparing to start construction on a bomb shelter. This is a very complex and responsible task. Please pray for this project. Through this work, we will ensure the safety of refugees living in our church building.
We have some joyful news as well. We have completed the renovation of the worship hall. We celebrated Harvest Day, and 175 people attended the gathering! This is a real miracle. We started organizing this church in 2016 with only three families. Now, 175 people come to our ministry. It is a blessing. It is joy! I am very glad that this ministry has your prayers and support. I praise God and thank you!
Please stay with us, pray for us, and support us if possible!
My name is Natalia, and my husband, our daughter, and I came from Volchansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. We left our occupied home into the unknown of western Ukraine, a place we had never been before. Here, we have to start life anew. It’s scary, everything is uncertain, what will happen next? By a twist of fate, we ended up at a shelter associated with the Lviv Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ.
At first, it was difficult to adapt to this new life, a new city, and the fact that we no longer had our own home. We learned that the church was launching a program called “Soul Healing.” It piqued our interest, and my husband and I decided to participate. There were lectures about God, who He is, what the church is, and why there is evil in the world if God is good. This information answered questions that had been deep within me for a long time, but I had never had the time or inclination to delve into them. Thus, I learned about God. And I also got to know God because I decided to believe in Him and follow Him. In the program, we had meetings with a counselor in the “trust room,” which helped me work through my fears, anxieties, problems, understand myself, figure out what to do, and plan for the future.
We also went on excursions around this beautiful city, attended workshops, meetings, musical evenings, and home groups. It was a packed three months that brought color back to my life and showed me the right path. I went through preparation for baptism, and my husband and I fulfilled this commandment. My life changed, and I no longer fear for my future as I did before; I know that God takes care of me.
Thank you to everyone who supports and prays for our ministry in Ukraine!
I am very grateful for your prayers. Every day we witness miracles. We resemble the disciples of Jesus who saw 5000 people and didn’t know how to help them. And then Jesus performed a miracle.
We are a very small church. We have absolutely no resources, but over this year, we have fed and provided shelter for about 5000 people. It gives me goosebumps. It’s a real miracle. And you are part of this miracle. I am thankful to you for your support and participation. $2 a day is the cost to provide for one person, giving them a bed and food. And every donation, no matter how small, has immense significance.
Another great joy is seeing these people learn to pray. They join home groups (we have organized 7 groups). Additionally, half of the attendees in our Sunday services are refugees. We are grateful to God for this unique opportunity to serve! We have an abundance of gratitude and testimonies. I thought that if you are interested, I could send some testimonials and stories so that you can read them in your church and among your friends. So that people can understand and feel how important this ministry is. Blessings to you!
