Serving Refugees in War: an update from Ukraine
Last month we posted a blog from Yaroslav Pyzh, pastor of Journey Church and President of the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary in Lviv, Ukraine, about how they were preparing for the Russian invasion. In the last three weeks, we’ve seen that preparation turn to action. With the war causing untold damage in the east of Ukraine and near the capital, Kyiv, what is the Church and Seminary doing to serve during wartime?
24 February 2022 was the day that saw Russia invade Ukraine on several fronts, displacing millions of people.
The city of Lviv is an important waypoint on the journey to the Polish border, and hundreds of thousands of people have passed through the city on their way to longer term refuge. They haven’t yet seen the sort of violence or destruction that the eastern areas of the Ukraine have seen save a few air raid warnings. The Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary has become an important shelter and centre for people in such need to resupply for their onward journey.
Yaroslav Pyzh said in a video message, “We’ve established a refugee centre, a transitional refugee centre, to help people from all over Ukraine to leave this country and move to other countries which are much safer for them.”
He explained that between days seven and ten of the crisis, the number of people they’d helped through their centre had doubled and sometimes tripled. He expressed how this need is only growing and how he hopes to use the resources that many, including Union Mission, have channelled to them to set up a logistical network, so that they can send resources and humanitarian aid to other areas of Ukraine.
“We’ve established a refugee centre, a transitional refugee centre, to help people from all over Ukraine to leave this country and move to other countries which are much safer for them.”
Opening the seminary to refugees has also provided the opportunity for the more than 75 staff members to witness and pray with those who are passing through. As of 7th March, more than 2500 people had been hosted at one of the shelters operated by the seminary and were provided with food and supplies for their onward journey.
Another challenge they have been faced with is that staff members have needed to set aside their normal jobs and step into new temporary roles in order to help people along their way.
The Assistant head of UBTS’s missionary programme is now serving as a nurse looking after people in need of medical care. She had previously had some medical training and the Lord is using her skills in a much-needed way at this time.
They are now preparing for a long-term effort for the duration of this war.
“This is not going to be a short time,” says Yaroslav. “We’re talking about a marathon, so please continue to pray with me for a miracle”
Please continue to pray for Journey Church and UBTS in Lviv as well as many of Union Mission’s church partners in other areas of Europe who are working hard to serve refugees from this terrible war.
“This is not going to be a short time. We’re talking about a marathon, so please continue to pray with me for a miracle”
Journey Church in Lviv, Ukraine has received support from generous donors through Union Mission. Find out more about how we support church planting work in Europe: