War! Violence! Destruction! Death! These are the dominant ideas which enter our minds when we think of Ukraine today. It seems impossible that Gospel work could survive, never mind flourish, in these tragic circumstances. Yet, reports from even the most dangerous conflict areas tell of believers witnessing and living out their Christian hope in a sea of hopelessness. The seed is falling into good soil. A recent report from an SGA sponsored missionary in Boryspil near Kyiv, Oleg Gerasichen, tells of a new church there.
When it gets too dark, the stars become even brighter. The same is true for us today: even though we live in the dark times of the war and there is a lot of suffering and grief around, God’s love and blessings have become even more visible… Many new people are coming to our new church… many have already accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. We have 20 to 30 people coming for the Bible studies! All glory to God!
Oleg confesses that things are difficult, even to the point where it is sometimes ‘hard to overcome the desire to give everything up and to run away abroad to a peaceful country.’ But by God’s grace Oleg and his team persist, and God is touching and changing lives.Â
People come to us with their tiredness and needs, and they learn to communicate and pray. We share with them where and how they can find strength and peace, and we read the Bible together and meditate on God’s Word.