An update from Steve Smeltzer, ReachGlobal Crisis Response staff with the Ukrainian Refugee Response:

ReachGlobal Crisis Response and our ministry partners led a chaplain training class in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, several months after the Russian invasion in 2022. Uzhhorod is in western Ukraine and is a relatively safe area compared to the rest of the country. It was at this training session that I met Ivan* and several other Ukrainian pastors. These men have come to mean a lot to me.

Their stories are those of spiritual giants. 

Though they could be mistaken for ordinary men, they are ministering to the Church at a time of incredible difficulty, even if it costs them their lives. In addition, there are many women who risk their lives daily to serve those in need. They are “sold out” for God’s kingdom. I wish you could meet them all. To give you a glimpse at what God is doing in Ukraine, I’ll introduce you to one pastor and his ministry in the warzone. 

Meet Ivan

Ivan lives in a city in the eastern part of Ukraine, very near the front lines. His city is attacked daily with bombs, rockets and mortars. Prior to the Russian invasion, Ivan’s church had about 150 to 175 people attending on a regular basis, and he was thinking of starting another church. Ministry was going well, and his congregation was growing and serving in the community.

This area of Ukraine was susceptible to a health and wealth gospel: false teaching that says, “Follow Christ and get wealthy.” When the Russians began advancing, tens of thousands of people fled the city, including the prosperity gospel pastors.  

Ivan sent his wife and two sons to safety, but he could not leave his church, so he stayed behind. Many in his church also fled, but before long, other Ukrainians began coming—drawn by the absence of their prosperity gospel pastors. In addition, people who had never been active in church started coming. These people needed to hear the truth of the gospel, and many came to faith in Christ. The church building was overflowing, and Ivan began holding services in multiple locations. New believers, as well as existing Christians, were fed physically and spiritually. Now more than 1,200 attend their services. While the population in the city shrank, the church continued to grow and minister.  

When I met Ivan at our chaplain training session, almost a year had passed since he had seen his family. In addition to our training, we also provided respite care (a time for the pastor to rest). We brought his wife and children back to Ukraine to be with him for a week. It has been 24 months since that session, and the war around Ivan's city has intensified. I regularly text him so he knows that I am praying for him. Several in our ministry know him well, and we try to encourage him as best we can.  

The war has destroyed many evangelical churches. In some occupied areas of Ukraine, there are no evangelical churches left. Many pastors have been arrested, and a number have been killed. According to our friends in Ukraine and widely-circulated reports, when Russia occupies areas, they arrest the intellectuals, businesspeople, local government leaders, teachers, pastors and priests—anyone who could inspire or lead people. Occupied Ukraine is a challenging and dark place. The war is not just for land, there is very much a spiritual war in Ukraine.  

Ministry in an active war zone is beyond challenging, and there are new trials every passing day. Yet Ivan and his church continue to preach the truth of the gospel. Many lives are being transformed, but soon this city may fall. Pray for God to strengthen the believers and pray that the darkness of war and spiritual brokenness would not continue to spread across Ukraine. Pray that God would bring His peace that surpasses understanding.

The battle against darkness

For churches around Ukraine, the opportunities to share the gospel are great, but so are the challenges. As the war continues, most men wonder if, or when, they will be called to serve in the military. Many pastors have been called into the army and there is ongoing concern about who will lead their churches. 

An overwhelming darkness has settled over occupied Ukraine, and there is a growing fear that the spiritual brokenness will spread. Let's pray that God’s great light will shine in the midst of this darkness. Pray for pastors and churches in Ukraine as they continue to spread the message of Christ and the hope and promise of true peace through our Savior.

Will you hear the call?

Christ calls us all to serve in some way. We are all called to be witnesses of our faith to those around us. Crisis Response also needs people willing to serve. The needs we are facing now are enormous. Whether you have a week, a month, several months or a year which you could give to serve Christ, we need you.  

In John 4, Christ tells us, “Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” The fields are ready, and the time for workers is now.

If God is calling you to serve or if you would like more information about serving internationally with ReachGlobal Crisis Response, email crisisresponse@efca.org. We would love to discuss how you or your church can serve. Additionally, if you want to give to sustain our response in Ukraine you can do that here.

*Name changed for security.