We have returned from our trip to Ukraine. It is hard to put into words what we experienced, but I will try my best to share a glimpse into our time with friends and partners in Ukraine. As we visited with people, we asked these basic questions:
- How has the war impacted you?
- How have you seen God working during this time?
- What are the needs you have?
- How can we pray for you?
As we asked these questions, we were surprised at how similar the answers were. Specific details were unique, but the theme of the answers was very consistent. What we heard over and over was: This is hard, BUT GOD…..so that is how we will give an overview of our trip.
People have lost much, BUT GOD is RESTORING
On our trip we visited the sites impacted by the Russian invasion last February and more recent attacks on residential areas by missiles. We saw the buildings and homes that were badly damaged or destroyed. We visited homes that had been taken over by Russian soldiers that were damaged and looted. We heard stories of children that were impacted by the invasion and forced to leave their homes and try to find safety. Even though the damage was extensive, we saw recovery taking place. Homes had been rebuilt. Businesses were re-opened. People were out shopping and trying to recover a sense of normalcy even as the missile strikes continued. We heard optimism and a strength that they would survive this and ultimately be victorious.
People are hurting, BUT GOD is providing HOPE.
We heard stories of how God was evident even in the worst times. At the beginning of the escalation last February, the church was the primary source of mobilization and the churches worked together to help provide aid, comfort, and hope when it felt that all was lost.
Even now, 15 months into the latest escalation of war, the support continues from churches. They continue to send aid into the war zones to provide food, medicine, and essentials. We heard stories about how when they bring aid, people thank them for the assistance, but what they really want is community. They want someone to talk to and hear their struggles and loneliness. In the war zones, churches are filled with people looking for hope and community. But what is lacking is the pastors and church leaders who left when the battles started.
While there is still a need for basic aid, the needs now are greater for jobs and housing for the displaced people. Spaces have moved from feeding stations to training areas. The need is for church leaders to focus on the spiritual needs of people. The need for new pastors and new churches is great!
People are resilient, BUT GOD is WITH THEM
We visited with many church leaders during our visit. We heard optimism for the future! We heard them talk about how their churches are full and that they are working to find ways to add more seats and space for all the people wanting to come to church. Even though they face almost daily air raid sirens, damage from missiles and drones that are shot down, they stay positive and optimistic even as they are tired from a lack of sleep. One example, on our last Sunday in Ukraine, missiles and drones had been shot at Kyiv. All of them had been destroyed, but the shrapnel from the destroyed missiles and drones still hit homes and damaged cars. One of the church leaders at the church we were speaking at, shared how the past night pieces from a destroyed drone hit the roof of his home and started a small fire. He put it out and was there for church despite what he experienced.
One of our friends shared about her brother-in-law. He is in the military and serving on the front lines. She shared that he is a believer and that soldiers all want to be in his unit because they see how God is protecting him and the soldiers that he leads.
We heard stories from soldiers who shared how they had been protected by God from certain death. As churches provide resources to the military, they hear that in war, there are no atheists. All soldiers see evidence of God!
Life in Ukraine is hard, BUT GOD is FAITHFUL
As we asked about how the war has impacted them, we heard stories about how they have changed. One person shared how since the start of the escalation last February, he has shifted from reading the Bible on his phone to reading an actual Bible. He wants his kids to see him reading the Bible and not just looking at his phone. He keeps it on his desk for all to see as he has become much more determined to share the impact that God is making in his life.
One pastor’s wife shared how exhausted she is because of the air raids. When the alert goes off, they get out of bed and go to the shelters. They live on the 8th floor of an apartment building and are surrounded by miliary targets, so she wants to be safe. Even though she is tired, God gives her the strength to minister to others and is now going to seminary to work with other women who are impacted by war as well.
One pastor shared how they have moved their church 3 times during the war because they are out of space. They provide food assistance for displaced people and supplies for the military and each time they move to a larger space their church fills up. They have started a rehab center to help those dealing with drug and alcohol addiction and see that this need will grow because of the war. But God has provided the resources they need to minister to others.
We met with the leader of Children’s Ministries for the Baptist Union. She shared about a training conference she had last fall for the leaders from across the regions of Ukraine. Despite the war, they had leaders from across the country and many of them were new because the previous leader had left due to the war. This conference was a great encouragement to them, and the leaders shared how children’s ministry has grown during the war. People are looking for God especially for their children during theses hard times. She has published a book of stories and pictures created and told by the children impacted by the war. We are having it translated into English and hope to have copies available for purchase this summer.
There are questions about the future, BUT GOD is WORKING
People in Ukraine do not know when the war will end, but they all believe that in the end Ukraine will win. But even in a time of uncertainty we heard over and over the need for the development of new leaders and the creation of new churches. Many leaders have left Ukraine at a time when spiritual need is high. New leaders are needed as pastors, children’s ministry leaders, worship leaders, youth leaders and church leadership in general. We met with leaders of church planting organizations across Ukraine. They all shared that the need for training and development of leaders has never been greater. They asked for help in training leaders and the resources needed to start new churches. Funds for renting space for churches and funds to provide financial assistance needed for the new church planters. We heard over and over thanks for the resources that were provided to help provide aid from the impacts of the war. Resources are still needed, but now they have a need to provide training and develop the leaders who will help lead and rebuild when the war is over.
We heard from many of the pastors we met with that the existing leaders are exhausted from the impacts of the war. They have been working tirelessly to provide for physical needs and spiritual needs of people in their communities and for the war zones. They have a need for rest and restoration to help prepare them for the challenges that they will continue to face in the future as they deal with the impacts of trauma on soldiers and their families and for the displaced people.
It is hard to capture all the things we heard and experienced on this trip, but in summary we heard the following:
- Thanks for all the assistance and prayers that people from across the world have provided.
- Optimism on winning the war and returning to a time of peace.
- A desire for continued partnership and assistance to help them rebuild.
- The large need for leaders and pastors.
From this trip, God has left us with a renewed passion to want to help in Ukraine. He gave us a dream to help plant new churches and provide opportunities for training, rest, and restoration for leaders of ministries in Ukraine. These are big dreams and bigger than we can accomplish on our own. We will have to rely on God to provide partners who want to help with these needs and who want to adopt new churches and the church planters to provide support, encouragement, and resources.
If you would like to learn more about how you can be part of making this dream a reality or to just hear more about what is happening in Ukraine, please reach out to us. We are happy to talk over the phone or even visit your church to share how God is working in Ukraine.
We compiled a list of all the specific prayer requests we received during our trip and will include them in our newsletter. If you would like to receive our newsletter, please send us a message and we will add you.
We plan to return in October to lead a training for church planters and attend the children’s ministry training as well as work with churches to help them in their ability to lead change.
Contact Information:
Website – Potential Endeavors
Email – Rick.Post@Potentialendeavors.com Beth.Post@Potentialendeavors.com
If you would like to donate to support our ministry, you can make a donation https://www.potentialendeavors.com/donation/donate/