230412 Sga Ukraine War Stories 4 03 4 04 Social Post 2 Wordpress Preview 460x460 V2
Editor’s Note: The videos and images below were provided by an SGA ministry team member in Ukraine.

At a church’s recent food distribution in Ukraine, more than 140 Ukrainian refugees came for help. One of our ministry team members spoke with two of the women—Lilia and Anastasia—who received humanitarian aid for their families.

This congregation has been serving the displaced and the needy for a long time during the ongoing war and never stops or gets tired. Previously, IDPs (internally displaced persons) could come to the church every Saturday, where the Gospel was preached to them and food packages were distributed. But now the church has no food support and can only hold services for IDPs once a month.

Before the IDPs receive help, Leonid speaks to them for an hour as he reads from the Bible and shares God’s plan of salvation. Here are interviews with Lilia and Anastasia along with translations below . . .

Interview #1: Lilia and her daughter

[Translation]

Please tell me what’s your name?

My name is Lilia. We came from Kharkiv. We left there in early April of last year. It was very difficult to leave. We were transported by volunteers because I was with two children, and it was very difficult for me at the train station (crying). We made it to Dnipro, and then our friends brought us here to Kalynivka. 

Did you leave under fire? Did you remain uninjured? How is your property, apartment or a house?

Yes, we were safe, but our apartment is a little bit destroyed. The day before we left, a rocket came and destroyed half of the neighboring building. 

Do you and your children live in Kalynivka now? Have you settled down here, is everything okay?

Yes, we have settled down, the children are studying at school, but we really want to go home!

Is this your first time in this church or have you come before?

Yes, we have come here before. We thank the church for all the help we receive. 

We thank God for all those people, for the sponsors who want to help and help the IDPs through our church, so we can serve you in this way!

Interview #2: Anastasia from Horlivka

[Translation]

What is your name?

Good afternoon. My name is Anastasia. I am 33 years old. I have two children. We came from Horlivka, Donetsk region. We now live in Salnyk, near Kalynivka. 

How long have you been living here?

Almost a year, right after the war started. My son goes to Sunday school in your church. This is our second displacement here. The first time we left was in 2014, when the war in Donbas (eastern Ukraine) began. We lived in Lavra all these years, and from there we moved here, near Kalynivka. We lost almost everything we had at home. We were able to have some things mailed to us here. My family’s entire life is in bags. Everything we could bring in our bags is ours.

Have you settled down a bit here?

Yes, we have settled down a bit, but now we are looking for another place to live. The house where we have been living is about to be sold and we will soon have nowhere to live. I am looking for a small house in Kalynivka where I can live. I want to have a small farm and grow chickens to have their own eggs. Living in a village and not having chickens is not good. 

I have a very limited time to find a place to live, so I’m searching now. I hope that we will find something here for our family. Thank you very much to the church, to all of you for the help you lovingly provide. We are grateful to the sponsors who donate a lot and help us all through the church. Thank you for the children’s room at the church. My daughter is very happy to be there. Thank you so much for everything!

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.

Read More Stories
Be a Part of God’s
Life-Changing Work