Ukraine marks 1,000 days of war with Russia.
This week sees the one-thousandth day of the war launched by Vladimir Putin in February 2022. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is the largest European conflict since World War II, and one of the first major wars to be covered in real-time on social media.
People around the world have watched in disbelief as the Russian army has advanced into Ukraine, reducing entire cities to rubble and displacing millions of people. For almost three years, this unfolding tragedy has been the world’s leading news story. Read more

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt 16:18
Through the eyes of our church partners across Ukraine, we are witnessing huge needs – and a huge need for God’s light to be poured out on people who have lost loved ones, their homes, those who have been injured, and who are suffering from the traumatic experiences they’ve endured.
Even though I have written about this before, being in Ukraine a couple of months ago reinforced my conviction that in the midst of this tragedy, God is showing His love and bringing comfort and healing to those who are hurting – through the local church – who WILL NOT STOP…
…SERVING their country’s suffering people.
…CARING for, comforting, feeding, clothing, providing medical aid, and sheltering refugees.
…EVACUATING families from conflict zones to safety.
…PROVIDING relief aid for large families, orphans, widows, the elderly, and the disabled in the Church’s community.
…SENDING volunteer chaplains to the front lines, standing in solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers throughout the horrors of war, sharing in their difficulties and risks, providing solace, and offering a message of hope during their darkest moments.
…MINISTERING to women who’ve lost their husbands in the war and face a daunting future raising their children alone.
…VISITING hospitals to provide comfort and encouragement to soldiers recuperating from horrific wounds, with food packages, hygiene supplies, and sharing God’s love.
And most assuredly, HART’s Community will not stop supporting these local churches throughout Ukraine. It is incumbent upon all of us to continue to provide the churches with the “tools” and resources they need to fulfill their mission of bringing honor and glory to God during this time of war.

Thank you for supporting us so generously during the past 1,000 days. Please take advantage of the Matching Gift opportunities until December 31, 2024!
MATCHING GIFT OPPORTUNITIES!!

We are pleased to announce that HART has 3 MATCHING GIFT opportunities for November & December 2024. These have been provided by generous donors who are passionate about HART’s ministry.
Your gifts will empower local churches to meet the needs of their communities’ most vulnerable, hurting people: the young, the old, the orphans, and the widows.
Despite the war, HART’s existing programs and projects still continue to impact thousands of lives. Supporting MATCH 1 allows you to designate funds for any of these programs.


CHILD SPONSOR PROGRAM
Karina’s Flowers of Love (for her wounded Daddy)
War robs children of their innocence, inflicting trauma and forcing them to endure constant stress. Yet, amid this overwhelming grief, sponsors from North America have been responding to the tears of these children, offering hope and support.
Karina, a sponsored child and a determined young girl, has a plan to help raise money to assist in her father’s medical treatments while he is still hospitalized and recovering from his war injuries. READ MORE


EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Walking in My Father’s Footsteps
Can YOU truly make a difference in the world? Read Oleksandr’s heart-breaking and inspirational story to remove any doubt.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to HART for giving me the hope and belief to realize my dream of becoming a great engineer – like my father.” READ MORE

BROTHER ANDRIY’S JOURNAL FROM THE FRONT LINES
Hunting for Smiles

Andrey and his team deliver crucial humanitarian aid and water to communities near the front lines. He’s witnessed the devastating impact this barbaric war has had on people physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Smiles are a rare sight around here these days – almost never. When you actually see them, you react like it’s some abnormal phenomenon. Just like once, I saw a rainbow in the middle of winter.
Her genuine and heartfelt smile came from the depths of her soul. It shows all 32 teeth, or how many are left, creating wrinkles around the eyes. This isn’t a forced grin for a mundane photo opportunity, but as if the sun suddenly peeked through the clouds, illuminating everything. It was as if, for a moment, all the sorrow had been forgotten, as if, for a moment, someone returned to a carefree, peaceful life.
Yet, all too quickly, the clouds gathered again, obscuring that bright ray of light. Life returned to its grim reality—the constant anxiety, wailing air raid sirens, the daily fight for survival, the tiredness, and eyes heavy with weariness.
Think about this transformation. The woman’s smile has vanished, replaced by a strained expression—a bitter and sad smile. She is no longer someone with a joyful heart, but someone weighed down by life’s burdens.
This is one of the many evils inflicted by war, one of the many crimes committed by the enemy. They’ve robbed more than just a smile; they’ve stolen joy itself—the simple joy of human beings.
I think I paid a compliment to the woman in this photo. This brought such a genuine smile. She appreciated it, and I felt pleased as well.
Being a hunter of smiles, I wonder if I will see more emerge. Let’s join in the hunt for smiles – let’s encourage them and celebrate their beauty! Brother Andriy
CREATIVE FUNDRAISING
The second annual “Calves for Ukraine” auction raises $12,000 for HART. WATCH VIDEO
Although we recognize and appreciate how well HART’s community is prayerfully and financially supporting our ministry, another interesting aspect of this “community” is its creative approach to fundraising for HART.
From schoolchildren collecting funds by shoveling sidewalks, babysitting, or baking cookies, to real estate agents from Purpose Realty donating a portion of their commissions to HART, and young adults encouraging their friends to contribute to HART in lieu of birthday gifts, the innovative fundraising efforts are truly inspiring.
Over the last two years, another unique HART fundraiser has emerged, spearheaded by retired rancher Al Rand from central Alberta. He and his wife Marylin are enlisting fellow ranchers to contribute calves for auction each October. The proceeds from these auctions support HART’s efforts in Ukraine. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Al and Marylin for raising more than $12,000 for HART in last month’s auction!
Read Al’s interview in a recent newspaper article below.

Al Rand’s story about why he initiated these auctions.
VIDEO: In this interview, Jake Broe has an interesting take on several issues: Joining Russia’s army is a death sentence. Internal pressures Russia is facing now. Where the war is at currently. Putin’s immediate strategy. The options for Donald Trump and his administration.
Jake Broe is well known to those who follow Ukraine’s war against Russian aggression for his dynamic, interesting, and accurate analysis of what is transpiring in Russia’s war against Ukraine. He is a former Nuclear and Missile Operations Officer in the US Air Force.
The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s fastest-growing English-language media outlet. It was created in November 2021, just three months before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, and has become essential reading for millions of people around the world.
In a world where disinformation and propaganda are weapons of war, their commitment to journalistic integrity and truth-telling established them as a vital platform for understanding the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
For up-to-date information on all things Ukraine:
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.