Through a series of miracles at work this spring, our local churches and partners gathered to send over 3000 kilos of aid to Ukrainians in need.
Since then, Ukrainian pastors and leaders have used these gifts as a bridge to share the gospel with some who had never heard, to care for those with whom they were already in Bible study, and help new believers who were struggling.
We’ve heard so many stories from these distributions, and we wanted to share a few with you.
1. A Man of War
Mykola Petrovych had experienced war before. He was deployed to Ethiopia when the Soviet government sent boys to Afghanistan in 1986. Mykola’s leg was wounded in Ethiopia, leaving him permanently disabled. When the war in Ukraine began, he tried to fight at the front but was not well enough to help.
Mykola’s wife later died of illness. When the war in Ukraine began, he welcomed displaced people into his home. He is very grateful for the help from the packages pastors delivered and that someone is now visiting him.
Mykola asks many questions about justice and how to forgive his enemies. Pray with us that we can introduce him to Jesus and that he will receive all the answers in his own time.
2. Aid, Art, and Bible Community
Oksana and Tanya Sumyk studied together at university and kept in touch afterward. At the age of 25, Oksana and her boyfriend got pregnant and didn't know what to do.
Oksana called Tanya to get advice on whether to keep the baby or not. Tanya, as a Christian, told Oksana that God had given her this child, and it was not her right to decide whether or not to keep it. Ultimately, she left the choice up to Oksana. Oksana kept her daughter, who is now 9 years old.
““I have been praying for Oksana for more than 10 years.
Today God began to show His power!””
The women keep in touch, but Oksana has never been interested in reading the Bible. Tanya's prayer had always been for Oksana to find a community to engage her in Khmelnytskyi.
Answered Prayers
When aid arrived to Bible study members in Khmelnytskyi, Tanya asked them to deliver one of the packages to Oksana. Oksana was given a package and invited to an art party with the other Bible study members.
At the party, the women read 1 Corinthians 13 and painted pictures about love. Through drawing, the women learned a bit about God and His love. Each of the women had a good time, shared their experiences, and agreed to meet again.
Through a simple aid packet, Oksana found a community where she can socialize, read the Bible, and learn more about Christ. Sometimes, God sees the hearts and desires of different people and answers them in a surprising way.
3. More Than Just a Business
Mila and Gennadiy are hairdressers from Khmelnytskyi. They are also Christians actively working to expand God’s Kingdom. When the war began, they began employing refugees from the East and South of Ukraine. They also visited military personnel in hospitals and brought aid to displaced people’s homes.
“We have come to know Jesus and now know the value of our lives to Him.
That is why we want others to know this.”
One of these displaced women is named Anya. She is a hairdresser from Bucha who evacuated to Khmelnytsky. God let her to Gennadiy and Mila's salon, and they decided that hiring her was the best way to help her support herself.
Now, Anya is one of the best masters in the salon, and Mila and Hennadii have been able to share aid as well as the message of Jesus Christ.
4. Loving the Lonely
This woman's story is complicated. She was often sick as a child and suffered an eye injury at school, which left her blind in one eye. In 2013, a malignant tumor was found in her large intestine and removed. In 2019, the vision in her remaining eye worsened. By the time she had an operation in 2020, glaucoma had completely damaged her good eye.
“Today, Christians are becoming a family for lonely people.”
As a single woman with little income, most of her money is spent on medicines to maintain the sight she has.
For many years, believers have supported this woman financially, physically, and emotionally. Now they are studying the Bible with the woman. The aid she received was a great blessing, allowing the church to meet the needs of a lonely woman.
These are just a few of the many stories of God’s work through humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Pray for the Ukrainian Church as they seek to show and share the love of God with their neighbors.
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Photo by Simon English on Unsplash
May we take encouragement from Lough Ah Fook’s story. God can use whatever “small” thing you’re doing for the gospel today to make an impact you could never imagine.