Ukraine ministries update
The streets of Kyiv, Ukrine, and busy with people during a much happier time in the capital in 2018. Photo by Dan Breen
UKRAINE—The Luke Society family stands together in longing for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. We know that all three Ukrainian Luke Society ministry directors and their families are safe. They have also expressed a deep gratitude for your prayers.
Here is what we’ve learned through emails sent from our ministry directors:
Rivne, Ukraine (200 miles west of Kiev) — This ministry is near the heart of the current action and the city of Rivne has been bombed. One of the ministry directors and his family have left their home and moved to a safer location not far away. They feel safe and even continue to run their ministry center. As of a few days ago they were planning to take refugees into the ministry center and are doing all they can to assist people. They ask for fervent prayer and say that life is “very, very hard” and a “nightmare.” They report that the Ukrainian people “believe in the victory and are ready to stay till the end.” They also report that the Ukrainian soldiers are fighting “like real, real heroes!”
Munkacs, Ukraine (Far Western) — The Luke Society’s regional coordinator and ministry director continues to see patients and run a busy medical clinic. They have begun seeing refugees from farther East in Ukraine (pregnant mothers and children). People are opening their homes to refugees and the train stations are full of refugees from eastern Ukraine. There are many cars on the streets from different parts of the country. Gasoline and public transportation is limited. Most businesses as well as schools are closed. Churches are helping with food and clothes and there is a general feeling that this is just the beginning.
Lugansk, Ukraine (Far Eastern)—This area has been under Russian control since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. For the past few years the Luke Society doctors have been bravely crossing the border into Russia to work and minister to the Russian people. These past years have been trying for them. Currently, they are experiencing somewhat “normal” life with fighting taking place 20-30 miles away.
Continue to pray for peace and resolution and that lives may be spared. Our regional coordinator summarizes his feelings as follows:
“We are surviving an unbelievable time. The former wars in the past century brought so many tears here. Those wars were our grandparents and parents and life was so hard. Until now my generation has been so thankful to God for a life free from these very difficult everyday things.
However, we see that evil is the same. In the past and also now. We see a real war again. People wounded and killed, cities and communications destroyed, lives and plans completely changed.
Many people are interested in helping and ask what we need. We see in the news how the whole world has mobilized to help. This is a great feeling! But with every hour I feel more and more that the most important need is peace. I believe God can move the hearts of the leaders to find a solution. To find it before we lose millions of lives. Please, pray for this. Also pray for peace in our hearts and to recognize the image of God in each other.”
