“When will we go home?”: An Update from Poland
Aleksander Saško Nezamutdinov, a Ukrainian-born pastor working in Krakow, Poland shares his perspective on the challenges and opportunities of the ongoing situation for Ukrainian refugees
I was standing at a tram stop after a full day of work at the church’s office. Right next to me there was a young woman with her daughter, who was about 6 years old.
They spoke Ukrainian with a mixture of Russian. That bit was not surprising at all, we hear Ukrainian and Russian everywhere in Poland now.
The little girl said to her mum:
“I want to visit grandma!”
“We will see her soon,” replied the mum.
“When will we see her?”
“When we get back home.”
“When will we go home?”
And the mother leaves that question without an answer and brings her hand closer to her teary eyes.
It has been almost three months* since Russia invaded Ukraine and started an unprovoked war. Over 3 million displaced Ukrainians have stayed in Poland. This is for a number of reasons.
Many Ukrainians already had friends or family here, others are staying because they can easily understand the language. The Polish government is still going above and beyond to help the people in need whether it’s with accommodation, jobs or humanitarian aid. Ukrainian displaced people do not act like refugees and are striving to get independent financially as soon as they can.
At this stage, there are more people returning to Ukraine than there are people coming into the EU. It’s primarily people from Western and Central Ukraine where it’s got quieter though still not completely safe as missiles land all over the country.
Many, like the girl from the tram stop, are dreaming about their return home. Many have nowhere to go as their house isn’t there any longer or if it is, there are already friends or relatives living in it, because they have lost their places.
Polish Protestant churches have grown in number. I don’t think there is a single Evangelical church (at least in big cities) that wouldn’t have at least some Ukrainians that have joined. In the church that I pastor we have even been doing separate worship services in the Ukrainian language and we regularly have people in attendance who, before the war, considered themselves to be Orthodox, Greek Catholic or atheist. The war has made everybody think and is resetting everything. There will be no going back to the old ‘normal’ and old reality after the war. We all will have to learn to live in a new world.
“We all will have to learn to live in a new world.”
This is why churches are reconsidering their ministry philosophy and everyone is trying to accommodate Ukrainians. This is done by providing translation for them during worship services, producing or importing Ukrainian literature into the EU and planning summer activities for these children who will be stuck and bored in Polish cities starting from the middle of June, because this is when the Ukrainian school year is going to end. Most Ukrainian children who live in Poland are still doing school in Ukraine remotely over Zoom.
After the school year is over, they will have a lot of free time on their hands and wise churches and ministries are thinking about responding to this need and organising day camps for these children during the summer. I am very proud of my church which has planned a very brave thing to do - an all-summer children’s Day Camp where children will be able to learn more about God, enjoy crafts and games, learn English and just spend time with other children who speak the same language.
We are planning for a full summer of work with the Ukrainian refugees because not much is going to change over the next three months. One thing that is certain is that as the heavy and lethal weapons promised to Ukraine by the West are slowly making it to the country and as the Ukrainian army is getting trained in using them, we should be expecting Ukraine to strike back in late June. This means that the situation will only get hotter in the occupied territories in July and August.
I have a feeling it will even cause another influx of refugees to the West of Ukraine and probably to the EU. We can expect more people from Eastern and Southern Ukraine to lose their homes.
One of the issues that Ukrainians will be struggling with in the near future is disability as soldiers return home with missing limbs, PTSD, and mental and psychological traumas. A lot of these soldiers may now be thinking they wish they had been killed in battle because it would have been better than having to live without legs or arms. There will be a great need for suicide-prevention workers and Christian counselling will be one of the most important ministries. A lot of Ukrainian Christians will need training in this field.
There will be a great need for suicide-prevention workers and Christian counselling will be one of the most important ministries. A lot of Ukrainian Christians will need training in this field.
The Church has to think ahead and be prepared for the challenge and the big need for the gospel. God uses crisis to advance His Kingdom and He makes no mistakes.
We might be scared, we might be frustrated and angry, lost and confused but if our God is wise enough to create the Universe and all living creatures, He is strong enough to preserve and keep them. And this is the most beautiful hope in the midst of the most dreadful situation.
The Church has to think ahead and be prepared for the challenge and the big need for the gospel. God uses crisis to advance His Kingdom and He makes no mistakes.
Please pray for Aleksander’s church
For the summer day camp for Ukrainian children
For Ukrainian and Polish Christians to be trained in counselling skills
For healing and hope for those who are suffering the effects of the war
For many to turn to Christ
*Details correct at date of publication: 17th June 2022
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