Here are two more testimonies from Ukrainian families who have received ministry through SGA-supported churches in Ukraine. Both Alyona and Elena have heartbreaking stories to tell. They have suffered horribly, but in this suffering God was leading them to Himself. Please pray for these displaced families as you consider the hardship they have endured for nearly two years.

My name is Alyona. In April 2022, I left the occupied territory of the Kherson region. I have three beautiful children. My village has been occupied since the first day of the full-scale invasion. For the safety of my children, I was forced to leave my home and move to a safe place. Currently, my village is still under occupation and daily shelling. I am currently working at a school. My children are in grades 4 and 2, and my little daughter is going to kindergarten. I am grateful to the church for their help and for the food parcels. They are very helpful now. Thanks to the church, I found my way to God. Thank you for your support in this difficult time for us.

My name is Elena. My husband’s name is Eugene. We have four children. Two are at school. Our life changed when the war started. We lived in Krasny Luch, Luhansk region. When the war began in our neighborhood, we were at the summer house. There was our vegetable garden. That’s where we found this horror. [The invaders] were shooting from “grads,” mortars, and cannons. We hid in the basement and prayed that no rocket or shell would come to us. We came out only to cook food. Our village was not far from the border, so the [invaders] were firing from their territory. When the shelling with “grads” began, everything around us was burning. People were killed, houses and trees were burning, cows and horses were running through the streets wounded and scared out of control. There was nothing we could do to help them. The [invaders] occupied our town. That’s when it got even scarier. The [invaders] went door to door looking for those who supported Ukraine. My husband was arrested and wanted to be shot, but by a miracle it didn’t happen and he was sent to dismantle the ruins of bombed houses. But many people were not lucky, I know that many people were shot and tortured. People just disappeared and nobody looked for them. It was very scary. Then we had a chance to escape and we did it. Brothers from the Baptist church helped us to leave. We left shortly, and a few days later we found out that they wanted to arrest us for extremism, for our pro-Ukrainian position, but we were already far away. We probably would not have been alive, but the Lord saved us.

So, our life fitted into eight bags, as many things as we could take with us. We were traveling blindly and did not know where to go, just to get away from the “[invaders’]world”. We were sheltered by a good family in the Rivne region. We spent the winter there in a small house with two rooms. We had nothing, neither dishes nor blankets. But people from the village helped us and carried what they could. And we didn’t complain. We were happy that we just stayed alive. And in the spring in the neighboring region . . . we bought a small house. My husband worked hard to save money for this purchase and we managed to do it and now we live here. 

We keep a small farm, cultivate a vegetable garden. My husband Zhenya went to defend Ukraine. He fought a little. Now he is an invalid. He was wounded in the battles near Bakhmut, liberated Kherson region, and fought near Zaporizhzhia. I constantly prayed for him, day and night. He stayed alive. His wounds constantly remind of themselves. But he is grateful to God that he is alive and can see his children. It’s such a blessing! I have told only a small part of what we have experienced. But now we are happy that we are together and alive. We are grateful to the Lord and all the people who help us all this time. It is very hard to start your life from scratch. Thank you, friends, for your support! 

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.