22 February 2023

Ukraine

In 1992, the Church of the Nazarene officially opened its work in Ukraine. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the reforms that led to the collapse of the former Soviet Union opened many doors for this country, once the largest and most powerful state in Europe during the 10th and 11th centuries. Ukraine has been fought over and incorporated into other empires, including the former Soviet Union (USSR) following the Bolshevik Communist Revolution in 1917. With the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Ukraine achieved its independence with a clear trajectory toward democracy, which it hoped would lead to prosperity and long-term peace. With the “Revolution of Dignity” in 2014, Ukrainians felt a new sense of national pride, increased freedoms of speech, and open political mechanisms. In certain areas, the division of opinion for a deeper connection with the West on the one hand and a return to Russian allegiance on the other has contributed to the chaos and devastation of the current conflict over the annexation of Ukrainian territories by Russia. This war has now been raging for one year, and many Ukrainians have been displaced over neighboring borders. The Church of the Nazarene has been on the front lines of relief and compassion, extending the holy touch of Christ’s grace, hope, and peace.

11 Fully Organized Churches; 3 Not Yet Organized Churches

2 District Licensed and 6 Ordained Ministers on 1 District

PRAYER

Pray that God would continue to strengthen our Ukrainian church leadership. They are carrying the weight of not only their own trauma but the care of entire communities of people.
Pray that the trauma training seminars help Ukrainian counsellors provide hope and healing for many who are in our churches or come through our churches for assistance.
Pray for our missionaries and leaders in Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Kirgizstan, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Armenia who are feeling the strong, negative effects of this war.

PRAISE

We praise God that many are coming to Christ through our Nazarene churches in Ukraine. God is taking what was intended for evil and turning it for His glory.
We praise God for the many prayers and the international support of the global Nazarene family, which our Ukrainian pastors and church leaders feel in the daily struggles of this conflict.

(Preparing for a border crossing.)

(Checking in to a safe space.)

As the world watches anxiously while the now-year-long war in Ukraine is debated and discussed in the media, the people on the ground continue to suffer the tragedy of this conflict. Yet, there are many good things happening through Nazarene efforts to mitigate the suffering and continue the work of church and community development in Jesus’ name. The following is an overview of Nazarene assistance throughout this year. To all who have contributed through faithful giving and extraordinary efforts to come alongside our Ukrainian churches, thank you!

March 2022 – Pastoral support is distributed for the first time and continues to this day, totaling nearly $24,000.
Our churches continue to meet, some in bomb shelters, some over Zoom. Several churches have become bomb shelters and safe houses.
April 2022 – The first truck of 20 tons of food leaves Poland to head into Ukraine. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) has sent a truck every 4-6 weeks, which has made it possible to feed 1,000 families a month. To date, Nazarenes through NCM have sent in 140 tons of food & hygiene products to be distributed by our Nazarene churches.
April 2022 – NCM also began sending funds on a monthly basis for each church to use for fuel, medicine, and other needs for their congregation and communities.
2 vans are donated by the Netherlands District to transport people to the border and help distribute goods. Also, a Nazarene church in Washington donated a van for our Vapnyarka church.
May 2022 – Several of our churches have almost doubled in size as people flood to the churches, considered centers of support and hope. In Odessa, our pastor baptized 12 people and started having multiple services.
August 2022 – The Germany District sends a truck of humanitarian aid along with Crisis Care Kits, and 8 generators were purchased by NCM for our churches.
December 2022 – The first of four containers is sent from Lima Community Church in Ohio with winter clothes and Crisis Care Kits; and NCM Canada sends a container of soup mixes for Ukraine.
With the congregations spread out across Europe, many new small groups and Bible studies have started in places like Estonia, France, Spain, and Latvia.
All of our churches are finding new ways to connect with their communities!
January 29 – February 3, 2023 – The first trauma training for local Ukrainian leaders took place through NCM.

Could You Serve?

Is God calling you to use your gifts in communication to support the work across the Eurasia Region? For more information, click here.

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove®
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

17001 Prairie Star Pkwy
Lenexa, KS | 66220 US

This email was sent to trinitycn@gmail.com.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.