Rev Dr J Gareth V Evans

This report describes a visit to Ukraine and Poland made by the author in October 2023.

Itinery

Cardiff – Luton Airport – Budapest (1/10/2023)

Budapest – Ushgorod (western Ukraine) (2/10/2023)

Ushgorod – Kyiv – Cherkasy (6/10/2023)

Cherkasy – Kyiv- Lutsk (12-13/10/2023)

Lutsk – Ustron (Poland) (12-13/10/2023)

Ustron – Wroclaw (15/10/2023)

Wroclaw – Bristol Airport – Cardiff  (16/10/202)

Ushgorod

I attended a Vineyard conference/retreat at Ushgorod in western Ukraine organised by the Vineyard Churches of the USA and the Family of Christ church in Ukraine.

The aim of the conference was to bless and encourage Christian leaders in Ukraine. It was attended by leaders from Vineyard churches in Ukraine. Also, there were leaders from other churches, notably New Frontiers.

Sessions focussed on worship, teaching, ministry. In the main, the teaching was on Vineyard values. The main speakers were Joel Lowery, Thorsen Colberg, Jim Mumper (American Vineyard pastors).

There were participants from Ushgorod, Kyiv, Lviv, Rivne, Odessa, and several other places. Some of them had been displaced owing to the war which had been going on since 2014. I am reminded of Acts 8:4, where those scattered by persecution sought to continue their Christian witness wherever they went.

During my time there, one leader had to leave as a young man from his church had been killed fighting in the war. I also met a young man who was among the last to leave Mariupol when the Russians took over.

Despite the anxiety many were feeling, there was a deep sense of worship and appreciation for the opportunity for fellowship, worship, and receiving ministry.

Family of Christ, Ushgorod

This is a church which has grown through the influx of refugees fleeing westward. It has developed a remarkable ministry which has provide 700 tons of relief aid to other parts of Ukraine, including the liberated Kherson area. (To date the Red Cross has provided 750 tons of aid with much greater overhead costs.)

I’m told that when Jeremy Cook visited Family of Christ, he released Vineyard UK finances for their work. There is a video of Jeremy, Joel and Rudi in the warehouse.

The church is led by Rudolf (Rudi) Balazhynets. It is currently seeking to join the family of Vineyard churches in Ukraine.

As well as visiting their main warehouse, I attended a mid week meeting and had the opportunity of sharing my testimony in a mid-week meeting. In attendance was a local football team coached by Rudi.

For videos of the work in Ushgorod, visit Supporting Our Vineyard Family in Ukraine – Vineyard USA.

Cherkasy

From Ushgorod, I travelled to Cherkasy (via Kyiv), where I stayed with Anatoliy Lykholai and his wife Oksana. They lead a small church called Springs of Hope, which I attended on a Sunday. I have visited them previously and in 2020 sponsored them on a journey to the UK which included attendance at the Vineyard National Leaders Conference (shortly before the first Covid lockdown).

Anatoliy lost his university job because of his Christian witness. They have fostered a troubled teenager and this hasn’t been easy. Now, there are the challenges of living in a country being ravaged by war. Anatoliy thought of leaving Ukraine when the war started, but decided to stay to help others. Their home has been a refuge for people fleeing from the Russians. They have delivered food and other supplies to cities devastated by the invader.

Analoliy’s current project is to purchase and deliver building materials to people in the liberated Kherson region. When I left him, he was waiting for the delivery of windows so he could help a farmer and his wife rebuild their home. These have now been delivered and installed. He has a deep burden to do what he can and help people rebuild their lives. He may be drafted into the army, but does good while he can.

I spent considerable time with Anatoliy and Oksana and hopefully was an encouragement to them.

I attended Sunday worship and a men’s bible study. There were many one-to-one conversations and it was such a delight to be with my friends again.

Although Cherkasy is not near the front-line, it has been subject to attack by missiles. The picture shows the remains of a beauty salon destroyed a few weeks before my visit.

Lutsk

From Cherkasy, I travelled to Lutsk. There, I visited Territory 2.2, where I participated in an English class, and the Youth with a Mission (YWAM) base.

Territory 2.2 was started by Slava and an awesome team of Christian women in Lutsk. Territory 2.2 runs a number of projects, including a language school, kindergarten, and life skills classes for young people. Also, of particular relevance at this time, there is a project which has actually been going on since 2014 that helps widows and orphans in the war. This work involves material aid counselling, and organizing retreats for women who have lost their husbands in the war. Some of these women do not qualify for a widows’ pension because their husbands died of their injuries, but after they returned home from the front-line.

A particularly formative meeting was with James Hopkins. He’s an American married to a Ukrainian lady and they have two adopted teenage daughters. James and his wife head up YWAM in Lutsk. When the war intensified 20 months ago, James strongly felt that the Lord wanted him to stay in Ukraine. He told me that he is ready to die for Christ. He has taken aid to difficult and dangerous places such as Chernihiv. He told me some horrendous tales of the suffering inflicted by the Russians.

On one occasion he took someone called Keith Wheeler, who carries a cross around the world (just like Arthur Blessit did 50 years ago), to a devastated area. James told me that Keith preached with such anointing that many became Christians. After Keith left James wondered whether Keith had a special ministry or whether God would bless anyone who stepped out in faith and preached Jesus in dangerous and difficult circumstances. He told me that since that time hundreds have come to faith through his ministry.

James is on the left of the picture below.

Ustron

Here I attended the Central Eurasian Partners (CEP) Conference. Participants were from throughout Eastern Europe. They are engaged in a number of creative projects which allow faith sharing, yet also generate a certain degree of income for the participants.

I met an old friend Sergiy and his wife Irena. Sergiy is the director of Realis Evangelical Seminary near Kyiv. Realis has partnered with a Christian ministry called Integra and, in addition to training students for Christian ministry, they are bringing relief to many in the war-torn areas of Ukraine. To date they have delivered 1400 tons of aid, built 27 mobile homes, and reconstructed 41 homes. Giving aid is coupled with sharing Jesus.

Much of the time was spent reflecting on issues arising from the war in Ukraine. Some of the groups were diverting resources and ministry to Ukraine. Also the teaching sessions dealt with the theological issues arising from war and the Christian response at such times.

Continuing Response

Now that I have returned to the UK, I am considering ways in which I can raise awareness of what’s happening with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ukraine, seeking to encourage prayer for them, and raise funding for them and further visits. (The cost of my trip was around £700 which came out of my own personal finances.)

I am looking for opportunities to speak in churches and elsewhere.