The church in Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky began as a medical mission that provided compassionate, Christian medical care to residents in the post-soviet era. The love shown by the doctors and staff starkly contrasted with the brusque, dehumanizing manner that people were used to, and this, combined with the Good News of Christ’s salvation, turned into a gathering of believers.
Today, the church continues its mission of healing by serving the many who are affected by war. They are open daily for prayer, as well as distributing humanitarian aid and providing a warm location for people to charge their phones and other small electronic devices. Thanks to the installation of solar panels, they have more ready electrical energy, despite the russian attacks that have caused country-wide blackouts.
Our region, including Odesa, has suffered greatly, and 2025 has been especially hard for our small town. Just before Christmas, a massive night drone attack destroyed an electrical substation and nearby homes. Our region depends on a single remaining bridge to connect us with Odesa and central Ukraine. Over the past two months, it has been repeatedly targeted, yet each time it is quickly repaired so traffic can continue.
Although our days are no easier than our nights, it is somehow easier to endure the attacks during daylight than in the darkness. War is exhausting and cruel. Our enemy deliberately strikes the places that hurt the most. This is the season when farmers in southern Ukraine are harvesting their crops, yet the enemy continues to destroy our fields, farming equipment, and agricultural infrastructure. They also relentlessly attack our ports, trying to destroy the ships that carry grain to countries around the world. There are days when the air raid sirens sound as many as fifteen times. Most of the attacks now come from missiles that reach us within minutes, leaving almost no time to react or predict where they will strike.
At night, when the air raid alarms wake me, I often read Scripture. Today, a passage from Isaiah deeply resonated with me: “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night…” (Isaiah 21:11–12) The people ask the watchman how long the night will last, and he answers that the morning is coming, but the night must continue for a while. What a comforting reminder that the morning is indeed coming. We are not alone in the darkness. Our ultimate Watchman never leaves us . . ..
We are planning to start a new therapy group for people who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks. We also want to expand our support for our counselor, Olena, who works with the wives of servicemen. Among those she serves, the women whose husbands are listed as missing in action face some of the deepest emotional pain. They live in a state of painful uncertainty, not knowing whether their husbands are alive or dead. This prolonged uncertainty leaves them feeling trapped in an emotional vacuum. Many find it difficult to care for their homes and children because their minds are consumed with searching for answers and holding on to every small glimmer of hope.. . . .
This week, Sergey traveled to Kyiv again with Sasha and his wife. He drove Sasha to the hospital, where he periodically undergoes treatment for his spinal cord injury. We prayed for their safety during the trip, and we are grateful that they traveled safely. The treatment has brought some small signs of improvement. Sasha has begun to feel light touches on his legs, but there have been no significant changes. This is very discouraging for him. . . .. Sadly, there are many veterans like Sasha today. This is one of the reasons we are so eager to open our Veterans Center. We pray that it will become a place where men and women with similar experiences can find understanding, build friendships, encourage one another, and remind each other that they are not alone on this difficult journey. . . . .
Thank you for standing with us through your prayers, encouragement, and faithful support. Your partnership enables us to continue caring for people who are struggling with trauma, anxiety, grief, and loss, and to share the hope of God’s Word with them. Please continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, for protection over our people, for wisdom and strength for our counselors, for Sasha and other wounded veterans, for Dr. Anya and her medical unit, and for the wives of those who are missing in action. . . . .
In Christ,
Lyuda
In Christ,
Lyuda
For more than four years, war has shaped the rhythm of our daily lives. Some routines have become so familiar that it is hard to imagine life without them. One of those routines is constantly checking the sky through online monitoring channels. . . . We know that when missiles are approaching, there is not always enough time to reach safety. Sometimes events unfold within seconds.
Modern warfare has become a war of drones and missiles. Having failed to achieve its goals on the battlefield, Russia continues to wage a campaign of destruction against civilian communities across Ukraine. Instead of military victories, cities, churches, hospitals, schools, and homes have become targets. Our small town is a painful example of this reality. An ambulance station has been damaged. A school and a maternity hospital have been struck. An electrical substation that supplied power to the community has been destroyed. Countless private homes have been damaged or reduced to rubble. Behind every damaged building is a human story—a family that has lost its sense of security, parents trying to protect their children, and elderly people who have seen their lives turned upside down. . . . .
Yet even amid this destruction, our community continues to endure. We grieve those we have lost, support those who have suffered, and trust God to sustain us as we move forward one day at a time. It is very important that our little church has become a center of peace, warmth, love, and reassurance for many people. After every Sunday worship, we organize a lunch and people stay in the church to socialize. Then we hold catechism classes or discuss some topics that are close to everyone: supporting the military, helping ourselves and others in difficult times, etc. This brings people together in the church and makes people from outside want to come and become part of our community.
We are also grateful for opportunities to celebrate joyful milestones in the life of our church. . . .
In Christ,
Lyuda
In Christ,
Lyuda
