Editor’s Note: The images below were provided by an SGA-supported church in Ukraine.

It is with gratitude for your ongoing support that we share this next report from Alexander, an SGA-supported missionary pastor. Though each story tells of great tragedies resulting from the war, there are also reasons to rejoice, such as when someone receives aid, help, and hope. In such a time of intense darkness for the people of Ukraine, the light of Christ is possible because of your support. From humanitarian aid, to providing Bibles, to supporting pastors in their evangelistic efforts—there’s so many reasons to be grateful to friends like you. Our donors hear Jesus’ calling to care for people of all nations in his precious and mighty name…

Greetings

The warmest greetings to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who gives our hearts the desire to serve Him through Compassion Ministry, and to help the people with food packages! Every family we support is special and has their own story. We are grateful to share with you the stories from different families who’ve been impacted by you. We are grateful to you for the support and blessings we have received through you!

Vlad and Julianna

We have a house we are sharing with our parents. When the war started, we didn’t leave right away, but stayed there for a week or so. Shooting and explosions happened daily. The city was empty. For most of the day, it was not possible to leave home because of the curfew. It was difficult both psychologically and physically to be in such conditions because we often woke up to the sounds of explosions.

We prayed God, if He was willing, would help us leave. The problem was the lack of fuel and a sufficient number of seats in the car. Besides our family, several other people lived with us, and who were left alone. We prayed and read the Bible together a lot. It was an incredible blessing that gave us strength.

When it became very difficult, God sent us transport and the opportunity to evacuate. The route was organized by volunteers from church. It was scary, but we safely left to a safe place. We rode for almost seven hours the way that could be covered in two hours.

We returned to our home a few months later. Both windows and doors were broken. There was a huge hole in the roof and the outbuildings in the yard were destroyed and robbed. Our home can be restored, and we are grateful to God for that. It was a special miracle that the bomb that went through our roof did not explode, but stuck next to the open Bible.

We are grateful to God for He is always with us, never leaves us but protects. And with every trial he shows His faithfulness!

Thank you for the food aid, which is also the evidence of God’s care!

We pray that God will bless those who donate.

Natasha and daughter, age 10
Natasha is 35 years old. She believed in Jesus Christ in her youth. After she graduated from school, she got married and soon had a baby girl, who is now 10 years old. Five years later after their marriage, Natasha’s husband left the family. Since then, Natasha has been supporting herself and her daughter alone. She earned her living working as a nanny. In February, Natasha and her daughter left their hometown when the war began to move to a safer place. They now receive support from an SGA-sponsored church and sincerely want to thank you all for your help.

Natasha
Though Natasha’s village was destroyed, her house survived. Her parents lived 13 km from Natasha. She says that terrible crimes were committed there. Despite the tragedy, Natasha and her family have found a church to look to for help and are grateful for the aid. They say that the war has left a big psychological mark and it is difficult to deal with it. Therefore, they sincerely thank Christians for the support and encouragement!

Tatyana and son
Tatyana and her son lived in a small house. From the first days of the war, they had no electricity, heating, and phone communication. Food was prepared in the yard on a fire. They lived in constant fear hearing explosions. They left the city on March 24. They travelled alone by their car. There were no other cars with them. It was too dangerous and scary. They saw dead bodies on the way. Fragments of a projectile hit their car, the glass broke, and the car was damaged. They passed roadblocks with checkpoints. Praise God they passed! Tatyana says that the city was bombed and shelled without stopping, there were people who left the city on foot. While telling her story Tatyana was crying all the time. She admits that God Himself brought them out according to their prayers. She thanked God for saving them in such a difficult situation.  

Nataliya, Marina, and Yulia

Natliya, Marina, and Yulia are three women from Ukraine who’ve recently become refugees. The women said that the main reason for their move was because the mayor of the city asked everyone to leave, as there was a real danger of hostilities in the near future. All the stores in the city were closed. As the ATMs did not work, it was impossible to withdraw money and buy anything.

Now the women and their children live in the dormitory of the city vocational school. The women say they are sincerely grateful for the help and encouragement from the Word of God. This is exactly what is needed in such a difficult time.

Yevgenia and family

Yevgenia’s family consists of five people. Yevgenia, the mother, says that they had hidden in the basement of their five-story building for three weeks. All the residents of their building who did not have time to leave the city in the first days of the war stayed in the basement with them.

It was too humid in the basement, and it was especially difficult for her 85-year-old mother, who had heart problems. They thank God that there was a well in their yard from which, despite the real danger, they drew water. In their apartment there was a stove, which they used to prepare food when they had an opportunity. They repeatedly tried to leave the city, but each time they returned home, until the fifth time they managed to pass through. Only documents, telephones, and a box of medicines for the elder mother were among their belongings. Since becoming refugees, they live with friends and are grateful for being well received and helped.     

The family sincerely thanked SGA, not only for material help, but also for moral and spiritual help. Words of support are very important at a time like this. We always tell people that God is our hope and salvation. Only He alone can give us peace and comfort!

Valentina and her two daughters

Valentina, the mother, is a widow and is raising two daughters: Anna, who is in the 5th grade, and Maria, who is in the 1st grade.

Valentina used to have a part-time job, but now she works as a postwoman. The church bought firewood for the family in winter. Valentina’s husband died from a severe disease when the girls were very young. They live in a small house, which she has to manage by herself. Valentina sincerely thanks for the care shown to her family from the church at this difficult time.

Closing

In closing, please join us in praying for the spiritual birth of the people we deal with and support with humanitarian aid every single day. May the Lord use such opportunities to build His Church! May God richly bless you in His mighty ways! 

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.