Dear Office,The question I’m most frequently asked regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine is, “What do you think will happen next?”
My knee-jerk reaction is to focus on the positives and imagine what I would like the outcome to be. But, ultimately, I just shrug my shoulders. War is inherently unpredictable, and since I have never been inclined to include the word “prophet” in my resume, any speculation on my part is pretty much just guesswork.
We just don’t know where this is all going. We don’t know if Putin will face an internal uprising, potentially leading to a more benevolent or more ruthless leader taking his place. We don’t know if Putin might, in a final act of a desperate ego, unleash his nuclear arsenal if Ukraine dramatically changes the course of the war in its favor.
Therefore, the uncertainty of Ukraine’s future should just compel us to pray, place our trust in God, cling to hope for what’s to come, and, importantly, maintain our support for Ukraine.
But here is what we do know. Millions of Ukrainians have had their lives completely shattered. They have witnessed the destruction of their cities and towns, the sacrifice of thousands of young soldiers, families ripped apart, churches reduced to rubble, jobs vanished, and loved ones gone forever.
We also know that amid this turmoil, the Church of Jesus Christ continues to save, comfort, sustain, and provide. Its response to this conflict and suffering is nothing short of remarkable. Our fellow Christians are tirelessly and selflessly putting themselves in harm’s way to care for and demonstrate God’s love to their fellow Ukrainians in need.
We should also know that the call to support Ukraine and the Evangelical churches is both a responsibility (1 John 3:17) and an opportunity. Those of us in the Western world have the power to bring light to the darkest places of this war and hope to the most desperate hearts through our actions.
May our response to this call to action be a living testimony of Christ’s love and compassion in a broken world. Let’s give generously and pray earnestly, knowing that in doing so, we are spreading the transformative message of the Gospel during this war and beyond.
On behalf of all your partner Churches and their pastors in Ukraine, our sincere thanks for your prayers and generosity. Thank you for choosing to work with HART – as we change the world – one heart at a time!
Lloyd Cenaiko
President/Founder
VIDEO Clips
Stories of how your support is impacting lives through partner ministries
A can of Coke – an answer to prayer!
An elderly man who lives in a dilapidated house approached me and timidly asked, “Do you have a blanket for me?” To our great regret, I had to explain to the gentleman that we had no more blankets left.
They had all been given out.
“But at least you must have something for me,” the old man said anxiously, “because I prayed to God so much today that He would not forget me.”
We looked all over the van and found nothing. We had given away everything we brought with us. However, I saw this can of Coke in the van. “Would it be appropriate,” I reasoned with myself, “if I gave this to him? It’s such a small thing.”
I decided to offer the man the can of Coke and prayed for him in the name of Jesus Christ. As he took the gift, we saw in front of us a delighted pensioner.
“The Lord has not forgotten me! He always remembers me! Your prayers and this can of Coke remind me that God loves me.”
It’s very easy to preach the gospel here on the frontlines. People need the Word of God. People need God. Even the smallest blessing, like a can of Coke, can be evidence that God is mindful of His children. And we can be an instrument in His hands and an answer to someone’s prayers.
Pastor Gennady (Pastor, Chaplain & HART Partner)
Gennady travels to the front lines several times each month, bringing food, clothing, and the message of God’s love.
Rehabilitation Center for Soldiers
Your support is helping HART supply a Rehabilitation Center for handicapped soldiers with a variety of food products, hygiene supplies, diapers, bed sheets, and coverings.
Soldier’s tears
Ingredients: “love, prayers & concern”
HART has been partnered with Pastor Rostislav and his church FOOD FACTORY in Western Ukraine since the early stages of the war. YOUR SUPPORT has allowed us to assist in the production of thousands of cans and packages of food.
Volunteers deliver the food to de-occupied frontline areas, to people living in basements, to the families of Ukrainian soldiers who send them to the front lines in parcels, and to disaster areas.
Last Sunday, some volunteers who had just returned from the front lines addressed the Food Factory church. They shared that soldiers were crying when they read the ‘ingredients’ on these cans of food. Not only were the physical ingredients listed, but they also included the words… “LOVE, PRAYERS & CONCERN.”
Thank you so much, HART! You have made an enormous contribution to this cause!
Pastor Rostislav
Baptist Church Ministry to Amputees
Our hospital ministry is bearing fruit. A team from our church has been faithfully visiting wounded soldiers in a local hospital. It is challenging work because of the physical, emotional, and psychological problems amputees face because of their handicaps and their war experience. Most do not want to talk to anyone. Many will fall into addictive behavior of substance abuse and alcoholism.
So, it was a great joy that, finally, we were blessed with a wonderful meeting with these amputees. One person on our team came up with the idea of making military-style Ukrainian embroidered shirts for them as gifts. They were happy to receive them. Even this small gesture helped many of them to open up to our team members. Give praise to the Lord and keep praying for them and our ministry team. Pastor Slavic, Lviv, Ukraine.
Courier Service at the front lines
This isn’t exactly “Skip the Dishes,” – but it’s a loving, compassionate service to elderly people who are confined to their own homes near the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
The local bakery – that YOUR funds support – is hand-delivering fresh bread to them via the bakery’s own courier service!
The Tragedy of War
Here are specific prayer points that can help guide our prayers for the situation in Ukraine. Please share these with your friends and family:
- Pray for the physical protection and provision for Ukrainian children in harm’s way. Supernaturally and otherwise, minimize the suffering and loss of life. Pray for children who see things no child’s eye should ever see. Jesus, you are a great King and healer. By whatever means you choose — loving parents, a direct work of the Holy Spirit, fellow believers… protect children’s hearts, minds, and imagination.
- Pray for and ask to see God’s glory amid this great struggle. Pray that He would be glorified through the Christians in Ukraine who are being his hands and feet during this tragedy.
- Pray for God’s peace to strengthen and encourage the thousands of Ukrainian workers/volunteers serving refugees and the poor in their communities, who need to hear of God’s love for them through these Christian workers.
- Pray for God’s protection for soldiers and civilians caught up in this conflict.
- Pray for the residents of cities and towns who are under heavy shelling and have lost their heat, lights, and water.
- Pray for the civilian and military prisoners of war who are subject to torture and death at the hands of their captors.
- Ask God to comfort the many families that have lost mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters during this Russian invasion.
The pain and heartache are overwhelming for most families. - Pray for the frustration of all evil plans of the enemy.
- Ask God to intervene. Pray for wisdom for world leaders. Pray God would move in their hearts and guide their steps and plans to end this war.
- Pray for the President (Zelensky) and the leaders of Ukraine to know God’s truth and peace and be transformed by his Holy Spirit so that they would seek to lead their country in the way of peace.
- Ask that this conflict would open doors of opportunities for the gospel. Pray that He would make his name known across Ukraine, Russia, and all the European countries refugees are fleeing to due to this conflict.
