Spotlight on our Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church in Kyiv
July 31, 2026
Thirty-two years ago, Holy Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church began holding worship services in the heart of Kyiv, first on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard and later on Independence Square (Maidan). For many years, our church was a place where people gathered around God’s Word to worship together, study the Scriptures, pray, care for one another, and serve our city.
Today our church is still serving, but no longer in downtown Kyiv. After Russia’s full-scale invasion began, the building we rented for worship was taken over by the military as part of the city’s defense, and we had to relocate to the Evangelical Reformed Seminary of Ukraine (ERSU). That move marked the beginning of a new chapter in the life of our church.
Before the full scale invasion . . .
in February 2022, our church had about 120 members, and around 100 people attended worship each Sunday.
The life of our congregation revolved around the preaching of God’s Word, Bible teaching, pastoral care, ministries for children and youth, support for families, and outreach to our community.
Our services were held in both Ukrainian and Russian. Most sermons were preached in Russian because our pastor (Ivan Bespalov) is a native Russian speaker. In bilingual Kyiv, this simply reflected the reality of everyday life.
The full-scale invasion changed everything.
About sixty members of our church were forced to leave their homes. Some fled abroad, while others moved to safer regions within Ukraine. Nearly half of our congregation was scattered, including three of our elders and one deacon. Many of our men volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Yet the Lord did not abandon His church. As some members left, new people began arriving. Internally displaced families, refugees from occupied territories, and Kyiv residents searching for a church home found their way to us. Many came looking not only for safety, but also for hope.
Another significant change followed. Our church made the decision to worship entirely in Ukrainian. This decision was driven not by politics, but rather by love for the people we serve. Many in our congregation had lost loved ones or had personally endured Russian attacks and occupation. For them, hearing Russian had become a painful reminder of everything they had suffered. We did not want language to become an obstacle that kept anyone from worshiping God or hearing the gospel. Since then, all of our worship services have been conducted in Ukrainian.
Today about seventy people gather for Sunday worship.
Sadly, many of our elderly members are no longer able to attend regularly because of poor health, transportation difficulties, and the ongoing danger of missile and drone attacks.
At the same time, around one hundred people join us online each week. Many are members who were forced to leave Ukraine but continue to remain connected to our church family from abroad.
The preaching of God’s Word remains at the center of our ministry. In recent years we have preached through 1 Peter, learning about hope in the midst of suffering; Revelation, which points us to Christ’s ultimate victory; and Proverbs, with its wisdom for everyday life. We are currently preaching through the book of Daniel, which continually reminds us that God is sovereign over history, nations, and kingdoms.
The need for pastoral care has grown tremendously.
Many people struggle with anxiety, sleeplessness, emotional exhaustion, grief, panic attacks, and symptoms of PTSD. We hold seminars on spiritual care for our members as well as evangelism training, and we have been encouraged to see that people today are far more open to the gospel than they were before the war.
Our men’s, women’s, and children’s ministries are gradually being rebuilt. Many church members are actively involved in volunteer work, helping internally displaced families, supporting soldiers, and caring for people whose lives have been devastated by the war. We appreciate the financial help we receive from MTW for mercy ministry.
Prayer has taken on an especially important place in the life of our church. Our weekly prayer meetings have become one of the most valued and well-attended parts of church life, alongside our Sunday worship services. During the first weeks of the invasion, when Kyiv was nearly surrounded by Russian forces, we gathered every day to pray together and read God’s Word.
We also stay closely connected with members of our church serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and with those whom the war has scattered across many different countries.
War leaves wounds not only on the body but also on the soul.
One of the hardest things to see is how easily people begin to excuse sinful attitudes because of the war, as though suffering somehow releases us from our Christian calling and responsibility. Families remain divided, with wives and children living abroad while husbands stay in Ukraine. Many people wrestle with anger, bitterness, and hatred, and those emotions often spill over onto the people closest to them.
On top of that, corruption, injustice, and constant social tensions continue to wear people down after years of living under relentless stress.
Despite everything, we have many reasons to thank God.
People are more open to the gospel than we have ever seen before. New visitors come to church regularly. Some have repented, trusted in Christ, and become part of our church family.
Members who were once passive have stepped forward to serve and gladly take on new responsibilities. Facing a common danger has drawn our church closer together, and the faith of many believers has grown deeper and stronger.
During large-scale missile attacks, church members call one another, pray together, and encourage those who are frightened or without electricity and communication. We also regularly receive testimonies from our brothers and sisters serving on the front lines about God’s remarkable protection in moments when death seemed very near.
And even in the middle of war, life continues. Since the full-scale invasion began, our church has celebrated three weddings and is preparing for a fourth. Two babies have also been born into our church family. These are precious reminders that even in the darkest days, Christ continues to build His church.
Thank you for remembering us in your prayers!
With love in Christ,
Pastor Ivan Bespalov
Holy Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Kyiv
