Provided by Danylo B.
SGA-Supported Missionary Pastor in Ukraine

My name is Lyubov. I am 67 years old. I was born and have lived my entire life in Ukraine. I spent my best years here, worked here, got married, raised my daughter, and built up our little home. My life wasn’t fancy, but it was full of work, caring, and simple human joys. I always believed that doing the right thing, being patient, and loving your family would help you get through hard times.

Mykola, my husband, was my rock and support for many years. We went through joys and trials together, shared everyday life and all kinds of holidays. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer, our life changed dramatically. In 2020, my husband passed away.

After the funeral, my house felt empty, and the silence was unbearable. I came back from the cemetery and didn’t know how to go on living. It seemed like everything I had lived for was now in the past. Loneliness became my daily reality. I have a daughter and two grandchildren whom I love very much. But life has turned out in such a way that they are now abroad. We talk on the phone, I hear their voices, I can see photos, but my heart cries out for a warm living embrace, for the sound of children’s laughter in the house.

The outbreak of the war was another heavy trial. Fear, anxiety, news, explosions, sirens—all of this had a deep impact on my soul and my health. I often didn’t know where to find comfort and caught myself thinking that I was alone with my pain.

It was during this difficult time in 2023 that the Lord led me to the First Baptist Church in our town. I remember well the day I first crossed the threshold of the church. My heart was heavy, but the people welcomed me with warmth and sincere kindness.

There, for the first time in a long time, I felt that I was not alone, that my life had value.

In the church, I found peace of mind, support, and lively communication. I made new friendships and later found true friends who now constantly care about me, pray with me, and support me in difficult moments. I began to read the Gospel regularly. The words of Scripture became a source of hope and strength for me. I began to sing Christian songs, and through them my heart was filled with peace. I sincerely believed in Jesus Christ and began to see His work in my life in human kindness, in unexpected help, in inner peace that replaced constant anxiety.

My life is still not easy. I am 67 years old, and my health is not what it used to be. The weather conditions are very difficult: slippery roads, cold, short daylight hours. In addition to this, there are prolonged power outages, with no electricity for more than 18 hours a day.

On such days, it is difficult both physically and emotionally. But I still try to come to church every Sunday because I know that this is where I find support and warmth. My pension is very small. It is barely enough to pay for utilities. I often have to worry about medicine, food, and other necessities. The help I receive at church is not just material support for me; it is a true manifestation of God’s love. It helps me survive and feel that I am not abandoned. Looking back on my life, I realize that through loss, loneliness, and pain, the Lord has brought me to Himself.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I know that today I am not alone. My heart is filled with faith and hope. I thank God for every day I have lived, for the people He has sent into my life, and for the Church, which has become my spiritual family. Even at my age, I believe that life has meaning when Christ is in it.