Thank you for your recent support and prayer for Ukraine at this time. I wanted to update you and let you know I’ve added you to our updates. Some of the content in this email is a summary of earlier emails we’ve sent out this week to catch you up to speed.
Even though last night was a very hard night for Ukrainians, especially in Kyiv, tonight will even be harder as Chechen and Russian forces move into Kyiv on foot under the cover of aerial bombardments. At present, there is a major campaign to take Kyiv, as well as other large cities in Ukraine, but forces that are moving in are facing fierce resistance from the Ukrainian army and armed civilians.
Our pastors and their families like many other Ukrainian ministers and missionaries have chosen not to leave but to stand by their pulpits and their sheep in their cities.
Every day I am on zoom and the phone with our leaders and they are in good spirit and sense your prayer, they are thankful for your support. They have become contact points for many to take refuge spiritually and physically.
One brother in our bible school in Kyiv, named Andriej, - a new believer, was drafted into the Ukrainian Army’s foot battalion last night. He was tasked to bring supplies to troops stationed around Kyiv in anticipation of the blitz to take the city. As his wife was cleaning a wound from an injury on his head on our zoom call - he asked us for prayers and help to get simple necessities to his fellow soldiers as well as New Testaments and Christian literature to them. We were able to do that today because of your support. He’s had the opportunity to share Christ and pray with them, leading some of these young men to Christ.
I am getting reports of our pastors and their teams going out onto the streets and sharing Christ with scared and angry people - comforting them with prayer. This is truly a time for the Body of Christ to shine the Gospel in Ukraine.
During our zoom calls, we’ve had times of prayer and tears with them yet we have not heard one word of hatred or revenge towards the Russian people. Only prayers.
This invasion has already translated into a massive refugee crisis that will only worsen as Ukrainians flee to the western borders of Ukraine and into Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. Several of our church families are still on the road for hours moving towards any place that is safe with very challenging traffic.
We are working with our pastors and friends in Poland and Hungary to help house, dispense material, and give spiritual support to those already arriving from Ukraine.
I spoke with one organization yesterday that works intensively with Ukrainian orphans - and by God’s grace, we are able to help get their orphans out of danger in Ukraine and into Poland.
Greater Grace Church Lviv has become a point of contact with many other churches for humanitarian aid organizations and the L’viv City Council. Your support is helping us field families coming into Lvvi looking for refuge. The 4 story building that we own there housed refugees from the east during the 2014 invasion and will do so again.
Prayer Points:
Wisdom
A word in season and spiritual support for those suffering
Safety for the Ukrainian people caught in the crossfire
A quick international diplomatic resolution
Housing for many of our brothers and sisters on the run displaced by the fighting
Help to reach those in cities such as Maripol cut off by the conflict
My trip there to the region in 3 weeks.
If the Lord moves your heart to give to help with resources you may give here directly to our Aid for Ukraine fund: www.EverGrace.org/give.
Thank you and God bless you.