A Mother’s Unexpected Blessing

The saying that people turn to God in times of hardship rings true in Posad-Pokrovske, a village near Kherson in south Ukraine. Before the war, church attendance was sparse, with only about a dozen people attending worship services. Now, more than 80 people attend each Sunday.

All these people have been united by a shared grief – war. Their village suffered extensive damage during the conflict. Still, this community has not only come together in prayer for victory but has also actively supported the Ukrainian army to the best of its abilities. 

Pastor Andriy and his wife, Anna, are at the heart of this spiritual resurgence. They have played a crucial role in uniting and inspiring the villagers to serve.

The Dnipro River in the Kherson Region serves as a natural boundary, dividing the region into two distinct zones. The liberated territories lie on the western, or right bank, while the eastern, or left bank, remains under Russian occupation. Along this critical frontier, Ukrainian soldiers stand as a living bulwark, defending the reclaimed lands with determination and at significant personal risk.

These are not merely soldiers or abstract defenders but fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers who have been profoundly transformed by almost three years of unrelenting warfare. Their reality is marked by prolonged separation from loved ones and fading memories of simple comforts like sleeping in their own beds or enjoying home-cooked meals.

Consequently, women from Pastor Andriy’s church prepare homemade food for the military, including borscht (beet soup), holodets (jellied meat), holubtsi (cabbage rolls), and varenyky (perogies), to bring them a bit of joy. They also knit socks, sweaters, and other garments for the soldiers.

Pastor Andriy personally delivers these thoughtful gifts to the troops to avoid risking other people’s lives.

While with the troops, Andriy records gratitude videos when it’s safe to do so. These courageous servicemen express heartfelt appreciation for those who support and care for them and are often moved to tears of gratitude. The church women themselves cannot hold back tears when viewing these recordings.

One day, a miracle unfolded when Andriy delivered another round of homemade meals to the troops. Upon his return, he set up his laptop to show the volunteers the video messages from the defenders.

The women gathered in a circle, watching the video happily, knowing their efforts were meaningful and appreciated. Suddenly, one woman exclaimed, “Oh, my God! Look, everyone, that’s my son!” As it turned out, this mother had not seen her son since the war began.

Her son, a Special Forces soldier, operates under strict communication restrictions and cannot disclose his location. So, while they had occasional phone conversations, the mother was unaware of how close he was.

This unexpected glimpse of her son brought immense comfort and joy. She repeatedly watched the video, her eyes fixed on his face, smiling through her tears of gratitude. Her heart overflowed with thankfulness to God that her son was not only alive but appeared unharmed.

Pastor Andriy told us that after this remarkable event, his volunteers were even more inspired and committed to their mission. Please pray for pastor Andriy, his volunteer team, and his growing church.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season

we will reap if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9