It’s been almost 1400 days, coming up on four years, since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This winter, the impacts of the war are being felt even more by the civilians in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities across Ukraine. Russian missiles have damaged the electrical grid, making life quite difficult. One of my local pastor friends, Timothy, sent this prayer request to me today.

 “The situation with electricity is very difficult. Lately, we have had it only for 3-5 hours a day, a few hours just after midnight, and a few hours at lunch time. It is hard to live with children in an apartment, especially enduring the many hours of darkness. Shelling has also intensified. We don’t sleep. The children are nervous. Pray that the Lord will stop this evil.”

Yet amid the difficulties, the work of the Church continues. For example, our partners at Kharkiv Bible Church (EFC of Ukraine) have continued with their community outreach efforts. They've been hosting regular bible studies, leading ministry with kids and teens, and a chaplain's ministry at hospitals for soldiers and families of soldiers. The ministry has led many people to come to faith, and recently, a baptism service was organized for several people who had gone through a short discipleship course. At the end of the baptism service, after those who were baptized went to change clothes, suddenly everything went off script.

My friend, a leader in the church recounted the event. 

"A new sister in Christ, Elise*, quietly approached me and asked, “Can I be baptized?”

At that moment everything inside me froze: “You read a 300-page book on baptism in seminary, gave a presentation to doctoral students, wrote a 15-page paper… Can you allow Elise to be baptized right now?”

The worship team had already started the next song, and the elders stepped aside for a brief meeting. We prayed, called Elise over, and heard a story to which no one could remain indifferent.

Elise told us that in 2023, in her hometown Kupiansk, she began attending a local Pentecostal church. She was part of a small group and was preparing for baptism. But when the military situation near Kupiansk deteriorated sharply, she had to evacuate to Kharkiv. Later a missile hit her church building, and Pastor Yurii was killed.

Almost two years passed. In September 2025, volunteers from our church were distributing clothing in the dormitory where Elise lives. They invited her and her children to the teen club. That’s how she started visiting us occasionally. And now she was standing in a white robe before the whole church and testifying about her faith.

Pastor Victor* asked her the confession questions. Elise confidently answered, “I believe in Christ. I renounce Satan and his works. I commit myself to Christ.”

Moments later, she was in the water — and the whole church erupted in applause for her faith. Afterwards came congratulations, gifts, flowers, a festive lunch, and warm fellowship.

Some might ask, “Do you really allow people to be baptized so easily?”  But the answer is simple.

When the front line is just 20 km from Kharkiv, when a missile can hit the church at any moment and cancel all human plans, and when a person stands before you sincerely confessing Christ and asking for baptism — who could forbid them to be baptized?

Pray for Ukrainian pastors and their families enduring the difficulties of a cold, dark winter. Pray for continued strength and perseverance for these leaders to continue to reach out to share Christ’s love with those in need. Pray for Elise and others new in Christ to grow in their faith, and for more to be added to the family of God.

Please consider giving a gift to help with the needs of these pastoral families and to further extend the outreach efforts of their churches.