Our Sovereign God and His matchless grace are at work through His children and those to whom they minister in Ukraine! Praise God that we can serve these churches, like SGA-supported Pastor Pavel’s, as they reach out with the love of God and the Gospel. As God leads, some turn their hearts to Him. So we declare to all our only message of hope!

Read from Pavel’s report below and see how God is in the details of believers’ outreach with humanitarian aid. His timing is perfect, and we see that most clearly in the testimonies of Valentyna, Eugenia and her husband Alexander, and Larissa.

Dear friends, peace be with you!

We are sincerely grateful to SGA and all the supporters for the food aid that our church has received and is providing to people who really need it. For many people, this is a manifestation of care at the proper time. Such care shows God’s mercy and brings them closer to Him. I rejoice that our church, together with your help, can be a part of God’s grace for people at the right time and in the right place.

Since the beginning of the war, our city has been under heavy shelling and sustained great damages. All shops were closed, pharmacies were not open, transport did not run in the city, heating did not work, and later the electricity and water supply was cut off. We, as a church, saw a great need to serve people in these difficult times. We began to evacuate people to safer places, and our church was one of the places where people were evacuated. We also organized all the church rooms into a food warehouse, a warehouse for clothes, and hygiene supplies, and every day we distributed aid to everyone who came to the church to get it. Every day, about 300 to 400 people would gather near our church to get help. 

During the war, our church distributed about 17,000 food packages. We invited people inside to stay warm and drink hot tea. People also would come to shelter from the shelling or to charge their smartphones. During the war, 40 to 50 new people came to the church on a regular basis, attending worship services and groups to study the Word of God. Some of these people repented of their sins. Seven people were baptized last July.

Blessings to you!
Pavel

Testimonies

Valentyna

At the beginning of war in [our city], Valentina’s apartment was burnt to the ground by enemy shelling. Currently, she lives with her son and her husband, who is bedridden, in a temporary dorm room provided by the local government. She has no money to rebuild her home. She asked the church for help.

She is very grateful for the food aid and for the help in repairing her house. She says that she did not expect to meet such care and attention among complete strangers. During our conversations with her, it was discovered that her late deceased relative was also a believer, but she had not accepted her testimony before. She had already been to a worship service and a small group for Bible study. God finds a way to every heart, even through such difficult circumstances.

Eugenia and her husband Alexander

Eugenia is 34 years old. Both she and her husband are disabled. Their daughter is 1 ½  years old. Since the beginning of the invasion, they stayed at their house for almost a month. Due to the increasing hostilities, they were forced to move to their parents in Bakhmach. When [the invaders] pulled back from [our city], they returned home. Now Eugenia is on childcare break, and her husband works as a security guard in a supermarket.

One day she was walking near our church with her husband and daughter when the pastor of the church was leaving the church building. He stopped and talked to them and invited them to the church. They accepted the invitation and began coming to Sunday services. They are so happy to come to the meetings for family couples, and Eugenia attends a group for women. Talking with them, you can always see their interest and gratitude for the help and support. They are amazed by how God has miraculously brought them to the church. They would often pass by the church before, because they live nearby, but never dared to come in. 

They asked us to pray for a job for her husband so that he would have enough income to live on.

Larysa

Ms. Larissa, 72 years old. Originally from Chernihiv. Before the war, she lived in Kherson. She survived the occupation of the city by the invaders. As soon as the [invaders] pulled back from the city, she, her children and grandchildren were forced to leave the city as Kherson still suffers from regular enemy attacks. Now she lives with a close friend of her young age.

One day Larissa met a young lady on the street who attends our church. This sister invited her to a service. Later, she told her story and got food aid. Since then, almost a month now, she has been attending Sunday services. Every time she comes to the church, she says how grateful to God she is for bringing her to a church. Larissa really likes it and she understands now how much He cares for her. At the last service she shared a poem about God. Prayer requests: for peace in Ukraine; to find a place to live, as it is difficult for her friend to live with Larissa, because this friend is used to living alone.

In a time of great uncertainty, God is bringing help, healing, and hope to the people of Ukraine through SGA-supported pastors, churches, a seminary, and SGA-supported Compassion Ministry. Be a part of God’s incredible work with your generosity and prayer support.  

Your gift of compassion helps struggling people with emergency aid that generally includes Scripture materials, food, medicine, warm clothing, and shoes.