As you watch the videos below, notice the common note of the love and care that those in need encountered at an SGA-supported church. Each person has come for various reasons, but each also expresses how the actions and love of the church put them at ease.
We are reminded that the Christian faith is not merely another human philosophy or just head knowledge. It is transformation and heart knowledge. Those who encounter the faithful both see and hear the Gospel. They see that God’s Word is lived out before them in practice and hear that they might be saved and grow themselves.
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:10-11).
We arrived as a family from Kharkiv in March last year. We stopped in this area by accident. We were driving late at night, saw this church, stopped, and people took us in for the night. They helped us to settle here. God must have brought us here because we noticed this church. We have been living here for one year now, we are getting a lot of help here, the church’s help is really great, both with food and things, and the people themselves are very friendly. We are grateful to the pastor of the church, to all the brothers and sisters who care. Here we feel safe, whenever we go, we always feel welcomed and warm. With our grief and experiences, we have become closer to God and He is leading us. We are grateful to all of you!
The people here are very kind, they will provide everything you need and help you. Why am I here? I know that it was God who brought me here! It is so nice to feel love everywhere, to be respected, to be taken care of. It is God! Love is sincere to unbelievers, to IDPs, and they can see it all . . . (continues in English).
I used to live in Kyiv, near Irpen, Bucha, and Hostomel. I experienced and saw a lot of bombing, people dying. It’s terrible! Many people were fleeing from Kyiv, from Irpen, and I didn’t know what to do. Then I was picked up by strangers and brought to Vinnitsa, where I was sheltered in a church, and then I came here to Yaltushkiv.
Exactly one year ago on April 24, we arrived in Yaltushkiv for the first time. We had believing neighbors who now live in the Vinnitsa region, they helped us, told us where to go. So we already knew where we were going. I came with two children. We are grateful that we have a place to live, because we lived in a cellar in Chornobaivka for two months. Now we have our own house here, we have a place to sleep, it’s warm here, not like it was in Chornobaivka, where we slept on sacks with potatoes in the cellar in February, it was very cold.
Now we have enough to eat, the church helps us a lot. It is sad that there is a war, but because of the war, I have become closer to God and I am very happy with my relationship with Him. I have children who have also started to think about this. My daughter goes to church, she sees how God is changing her life. Now my son has also begun to think about his life and started attending church services.
I am grateful that the church gave me a job, and I can help refugees like us. I find peace in this.
At the beginning of the war, I was very scared. But when we came to the church, all that fear disappeared, and the sisters and brothers from the church surrounded us with their care, saying a good word, hugging us. This attitude has been very important to us.
The pastor says: “Valentina lost her husband during the war, and it is sad. Her husband was also in our church. He helped a lot. Her husband was a military pilot and was occupied for a long time in Chornobaivka. God is giving His peace in Valentina’s life.”
Speaking in English . . . Pastor says at the end of the video:“Thank you so much for your help, dear friends. This is a huge help to our friends here!”
We have just visited a family who came to us from Kyiv (but are originally from Tajikistan). When Kyiv was under bombing, they came here to us. They have a big family, the kids are attending Sunday school, we help them with food, witness and pray that God will bless and protect them.
Dear brothers and sisters! Our church “Jesus is the Bread of Life” from Chornobaivka, Kherson region, greets you and expresses our sincere gratitude for your help and for the food you have provided us. It is a wonderful support for us here. Thank you for not forgetting and not leaving us! May God bless you all!
We thank the Lord that we have a lot of flour now and have baked a lot of bread. Our sister is preparing the dough for the bread, the dough is ready . . . and here we have ready-made bread that will be distributed to people in need.
Our church from the village of Yaltushkiv sends greetings to the SGA family, our brothers and sisters in America, and sincerely thanks them for the food packages they send us. Also, our IDPs, who came to us from the Donetsk and Kherson regions, sincerely thank you all. The people of our community and our church members also thank you for your help and care, and they are grateful for the products! Thank you!
Our church, with your help, dear friends, has again prepared many food packages for our IDPs living in our village. We will distribute all these packages at the Sunday service. Please pray for our ministry, because there is a great need in your prayers.
Our friends who come to our services and receive fresh baked bread are also always grateful to our sisters for their hard work. Glory be to God! Many thanks to God and to you for being able to bring God’s Word to people, to our community, and may He bless you with good deeds and wise thoughts. The Lord will protect us, He will show His mercy, He hears our prayers!
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.