230505 Sga Ukraine War Stories 04 24 Social Post 1 Wordpress Preview 460x460 V2
May 19, 2023
Ukraine Relief
Editor’s Note: The images below were provided by an SGA-supported church in Ukraine.
Celebrating Easter In Times Of Hardship 13

SGA recently received a report from a church in an area of Ukraine that has experienced shelling. Aid from Poland was delivered to this region and is already bearing fruit as it is distributed by the local churches. Referring to the photo gallery, a minister reports, “You can see in the pictures that everyone is holding a sort of bread. But this is a special sweet bread with raisins that we bake for Easter. That’s why this church was giving out this bread to people.”

Despite ongoing suffering from the war, local churches, congregations, pastors, and more are striving to celebrate the goodness of God through the liturgical calendar. The meaning of Easter has great encouragement and power, especially for those who are suffering intensely right now. As you will read in the report and testimonies below, your support allows Ukrainians in need to experience God’s goodness in so many tangible ways. We are continually grateful to friends like you for making God’s love known and sharing what you have to bless those in greatest need.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Peace be with you!

We sincerely thank SGA and sponsors who donate a lot of money to help people who are affected by the war, who have left their homes and cities, and now are suffering from poverty, temporarily staying in our district. We could not do this on our own, because the money donated by pensioners and those few working brothers from the church is not comparable to the cost of some minimal assistance to support those in need. So, we are sincerely grateful to everyone who was involved in the donation. 

Our church has about 50 members. About half of them had left because of the war. In their place came new people from the frontline regions. Church meetings have about 35-40 new people. There are about 80 people in the church’s influential circles, mainly women. The displaced people are mostly women (sisters and non-church visitors).

We do not hold public events. We mainly work through personal evangelism and help those people in need. We help Internationally Displaced People as much as we can (furniture, household items, clothes, hygiene and medicines). We don’t have a kitchen in the church to cook in, so we provide them with the food packages. You can see in the pictures that everyone is holding a sort of bread. But this is a special sweet bread with raisins that we bake for Easter. That’s why this church was giving out this bread to people.

By helping the displaced people, we see how important it is for them. It also strengthens our hope that God will take care of our sisters in Jesus and their children who left for a new country. The Lord will take care of them, we know that!

The attitude toward us of those who have been displaced is mostly good. Some are evangelical believers. They mostly join the church and attend services. There is also a certain number of non-believers. They are grateful for help in their difficult circumstances. We believe that one day the Lord will touch their hearts as well. There are some semi-religious people. We also have to talk to them about many things. Both about God and salvation. They are in the circle of pastoral care. Here are some testimonies…

Olga is raising three children alone. Her husband divorced her. Because of the war, he was scared to death and repented, and last fall he invited Olga here. Olga left everything behind and moved with him. So, here is where they met us. When the draft to the military became more intense, her husband left Olga again and fled. She stayed with her children. The church is helping her now. She opened her heart to the Lord asking for salvation. Last week she found a job for her, praise the Lord! Now Olga is preparing for baptism.

Maria lives here with her relatives. At home, she attended a Baptist church. Here she found our church. Maria regularly attends the church and is growing closer and closer to the Lord. She survived the shelling, and a mine hit her room also. The Lord miraculously saved her life – the mine didn’t explode in her room! Now her apartment is destroyed. She is thankful to God for the comparative peace she has found here.

Tatiana is a believer for many years. She has survived attacks and a lot of fear while fleeing from the occupation. Now she lives with her daughter here. She found our church and constantly thanks God for the fellowship, care, and shelter from the war.

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-sponsored 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.

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