During my recent trip to Ukraine, I was struck by the remarkable spirit of the National Pastors and leaders I encountered. Despite the weariness evident in their eyes, their spirits shone with joy, enthusiasm, and resilience. Let me summarize what I witnessed: Evil has not and will not crush the spirit of the Church!
However, the journey also included sobering moments, such as the sound of air raid sirens, which meant destruction and death were quickly approaching. Another sobering experience was visiting a military cemetery, which was a further reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the Ukrainian people.
As my wife Ulyana and I walked into the cemetery, we were overwhelmed by the ‘sea’ of graves for fallen soldiers. However, as we respectfully wandered through the rows, taking time to examine the photos on each grave, these young men became far more personal to us. They transformed from nameless soldiers into real individuals—fathers, sons, and brothers. Each one had a life, a family, and a future that was tragically cut short by this brutal and needless war – shattered dreams.
It’s hard not to reflect on the children whose lives have been irrevocably changed, who will grow up without a father’s love and guidance, or his presence at school events, graduations, and other life milestones. Having a daughter myself, the image of a young bride walking down the aisle without her father by her side was especially heartbreaking.
However, with your support, our network of churches and ministries throughout Ukraine will care for widows and their children, providing essential relief, medical aid, and shelter. Our Child Sponsor program will also give hope and comfort to many of these families. Thanks to your support, these children will experience summer camps as they grow up, along with youth programs and activities in local churches. And our Education Scholarship fund will assist them in getting a higher education that would make their fathers proud.
By standing in solidarity with Ukraine during this struggle, HART’s community honors the memory of these fallen soldiers and ensures their sacrifices were not made in vain.
Through our church partnerships, we demonstrate Christ’s love and compassion during this time of grief and sorrow. We invite you to pray for Ukraine and support the Church’s Kingdom-building efforts during this war.
Together, we are changing the world – one heart at a time
SUMMER CAMPS
From Camper to Camp Counselor
Despite her outward smile, Maria’s early years were marked by a difficult childhood with little joy and no parental love. She grew up in a troubled household, with her mother eventually abandoning the family to pursue an unstable lifestyle while her father grappled with alcoholism. Given these circumstances, social services enrolled Maria in an awful government-run boarding school at a young age. But God had another plan for her life… READ MORE
THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED CAMP PROGRAMS THIS PAST SUMMER!!
BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORTBECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT
Letter of Thanks to HART
“Greetings, our HART partners! We thank you for your prayerful and financial support of our family and the ministry of Reconciliation Bible Church in Ternopil.
We live in a time of difficult challenges. The number of those suffering from war in our country is increasing. We are grateful that you are with us and will not leave us. Realizing that we have a great team that works for the Kingdom of God during this conflict is a great encouragement.
It is similar to when the disciples were with Jesus in a boat during a storm; they were scared and did not know what to do, but there was great encouragement—it is Christ who did not leave the boat; He was with the disciples in the storm.
He did not leave them, and He did not abandon them in the middle of a storm. Christ did not leave Ukraine, and He did not leave His church. Thank you for being an answer to prayer and for not abandoning the Church of Jesus Christ in this storm.” Pastor Maksymov
CHILD SPONSOR PROGRAM
A Missionary to One Child
Through HART, you can serve children, support the local church in spreading the gospel, and help those in desperate need in Eastern Europe.
God has given HART a unique place in helping the Church in North America and in Ukraine respond to the Great Commission and the needs of the poor and those suffering because of the ongoing war with Russia. The Bible clearly states that Christ established the church as His number one strategy for reaching the world with the good news of the gospel.
The backbone of HART programs is the local church. It’s how we bring the life-giving message of the gospel, followed by practical love in action. All of our programs and projects emanate from the local church, helping them grow and transform their communities.
This model is unique. Through our Child Sponsor Program, Christians in Canada and the USA can become a missionary to one child.
JOURNAL ENTRY
Why did God not save them?
Note: Brother Andriy’s journal entries offer raw and unfiltered comments about the war and its impact on him and his faith. Andriy and his team are continuously on the move, venturing into front-line communities to deliver essential supplies like food and water and assisting in evacuating residents from areas of imminent danger.
“A special week. It’s a difficult one. Every day, there is news about the deaths of people I know personally. From Donbas. Victims of the war. Two women were killed under fire in Toretsk. And in New York (Ukraine), a man’s life was tragically cut short. I met him recently.
Another direct impact of the war. Crying and despair in many families. You cannot pretend that you do not hear it. You cannot close your ears. You can’t close up, hide in your cozy hole. You can’t run away from the questions. Why? For what? How much longer? A great disaster is happening on our land.
By the way, all the dead were believers. One of the women was baptized two months ago. Why did God not save them? There is no answer. Faith is weakening. The week has just begun.
“How long, Lord, will You ignore us? How long will You turn Your face away from us?“ Brother Andriy.
NUCLEAR POWER
Ukraine braces for winter freeze amid potential Russian strikes targeting nuclear power
Ukraine is set to face its toughest winter since the start of the full-scale invasion. Russia plans to cut off Ukraine’s three other nuclear power plants after already bombing out capacity from half of its electricity generation sector. READ MORE
Help us support local churches with heating and electrical devices: generators for electricity, power (charging) stations, and gas heating elements for cooking.
VIDEO: Russia’s Impending Economic Implosion
Kremlin propaganda suggests Russia is weathering massive Western sanctions remarkably well. But, could Russia be forced out of Ukraine, not due to a military victory but due to the collapse of the Russian economy? There are increasing signs in Moscow that Russia’s war may soon run out of money. WATCH
NEW BOOK BY PASTOR GENNADY PRYSIANKO
A LIGHT IN DARKNESS…
The following text presents CHAPTER TWO of a captivating series that chronicles the extraordinary journey and the spiritual insights Pastor/Chaplain Gennady has gleaned from ten years of serving soldiers and those living near the front lines of Ukraine’s war with Russia, which began in 2014.
This journal is both fascinating and inspiring. If there is sufficient interest in reading more chapters of this diary, please let us know, and we will gladly include them in future E-Blogs. READ CHAPTER TWO
Pray for Ukraine, Pray for Peace
Here are specific prayer points that can help guide our prayers for the situation in Ukraine. Please share these with your friends and family.
