Came today:

Here is an update from our brothers in Ivano Frankivsk. Be encouraged by their resolve to worship and serve the Lord Jesus amidst quite trying times. God is good.





"Glory to our Lord and King Jesus Christ!



Brothers and sisters, thank you for your support, which you already shown to Ukraine especially, during this hard times! We appreciate it very much! So, here are our current news from Ivano Frankivsk.



Christ is reigning and it is the best news since He ascended to the heavenly throne. But since it is not the fulness of the Kingdom yet, we also have some bad news. The bad news - russia invaded Ukraine. Good news - our nation fight furiously and occupants are panicking. Praise the Lord, that all Ukrainian nation unites against dishonest enemies. Bad news - russian are not warriors, but terrorists. They are committing war crimes: killing civil citizens, attacking objects of civil infrastructure, using women and children as living shields. Good news - even civil people resist russian terrorists and sometimes succeded. Bad news - russia trying to involve Belarussia in the war. Good news - all the civilized world supports Ukraine.



For now we had 3rd wave of mobilization. This means that all military forces are drafted. Additionally to that fact, our government organized local defense forces in many cities, which people can join as volunteers. For my knowledge, in most of cities (Kyiv, Ivano Frankivsk, Lviv, Odessa, Rivne etc.) there are no vacant places in the local defense forces. People are standing in line to join it.



In Ivano Frankivsk everything is calm, especially compared to the frontline. Me and pastor Ihor aren’t professional soldiers and there aren't any vacant places in local defense forces (we still need to check it and establish connection with them anyway). We are not going to join army yet, because there are other needs connected with war and there are other places, where we could be more useful for now. BUT we are ready to join it and to defend our land whenever it would be necessary.
So, the logical question could arise - what are we doing now?

1. We conduct Covenant Renewal Worship Service as usual. Also we continue our church youth meetings on Saturdays. We continue our ministry to our parishioners and children from Nazaret. We are ready to supply them with food, because probably very soon it would be necessary for many families. Nazareth House does not work according to the usual schedule.
2. We’ve made some rearrangements in the Nazareth House. There are 5 beds (10 sleeping places) on the first floor and we have 2 additional mattresses. We’ve done it in order to receive refugees, who are coming to us from the East of Ukraine. Currently we received 10 people from Presbyterian congregation from Kharkiv, who stayed for one night and after the Sunday Worship Service continue their trip to Lviv. We are waiting for 10 more refugees from lutheran congregation from Kharkiv. We prepare food for refugees and give them a place to sleep. Youth from our Church are actively and willingly participating in this ministry. We praise the Lord for this honor to serve our brothers and sisters. We expect more refugees to come. We stay in Ihor’s flat in order to receive refugees in my rented apartment. We are also in the process to find more places to stay.
3. We are helping people who want to send their children, women and older relatives to our European neighbors, who graciously open their borders for our refugees. I and pastor Ihor already were on the border 2 times.
4. We are trying to organize a traffic of humanitarian aid together with German Evangelical Church of Ukraine (GELCU). We already found place for the two warehouse for humanitarian aid. Pastors from GELCU are in the process of negotiation with our government that they will simplify all paperwork for receiving humanitarian aid.

What are current needs?



1. Pray for:

• our victory and for destruction of the russian terrorists;
• for protection of our people, both warriors and civil
• express gratitude for international support and ask that Lord will give wisdom to the rulers of the nations, that they will continue to punish russian terrorists as severe as possible until they stop and surrend
• our ministry to the needy people in this time;
• wisdom from the Lord to us, that Gospel of Jesus Christ will shine brightly through our ministry during these times.

2. For financial support you may visit: https://www.jeeproject.net/