Four years after Kristin arrived in Ukraine to serve local churches, life and ministry changed dramatically.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has brought untold suffering, trauma, and loss to the Ukrainian people, and the ongoing war affects every part of life. Yet even during hardship, Kristin and her ABWE teammates continue to find opportunities to share the message of Christ with people longing for hope.
1. Where do you serve, and what does ministry look like in your context?
I serve in Kyiv, Ukraine. I have the opportunity to shepherd the hearts of 7th and 9th grade Ukrainian students at a local Christian school while teaching them English and World Literature. Since 2018, I have also helped with a church plant called Onovlennya “Renewal” Church, serving through children’s ministry, women’s ministry, music, and a variety of other avenues.
2. How would you describe the general spiritual need of the Ukrainian population?
The Eastern Orthodox church has a strong presence in Ukraine, as does Catholicism. Paganism (worship of the sun, moon, and stars), fortune telling, and witchcraft have also become more common.
Though there is religious freedom, Ukrainians have historically been resistant to the gospel and to relationships with outsiders. They can be suspicious of those they consider “too friendly.” Building trust takes time, but relationships are very important to Ukrainians. Missionaries willing to invest time in getting to know people can become friends with Ukrainians and find opportunities to share the gospel.
The current suffering and war within the country have brought challenges yet have also brought increased openness to the gospel.
3. What is the state of the local church where you serve?
The local church is growing, and new churches are being planted. People are hungry for hope and are finding it in Jesus. Attendance at my church was averaging about 15 people before the war and has now grown to 30-40. People displaced from their homes in eastern Ukraine have moved west to cities like Kyiv, where they have encountered evangelical churches distributing humanitarian aid, providing community, and preaching about repentance and hope in Jesus Christ. Many people have repented and gotten baptized, and the churches continue to grow.
Finding available men to serve in the church has been a challenge due to the constant threat of mobilization. Many have been drafted into military service, and others have fled the country as refugees. Some men avoid traveling away from home, hoping to fly under the radar and not get mobilized off the street. But other men in the churches are serving regardless of the threat.
Everyone, including believers, lives under a high level of stress all the time. There are air attacks night and day that affect everyone’s sleep and interrupt transportation, the supply chain, and almost every part of life. Passenger trains are targeted, as is energy infrastructure. Last winter, the electricity was off more than it was on due to rolling blackouts (often without a schedule to plan around), and many apartments had no heat at all, because the power plants were impacted so greatly by targeted attacks. Apartment buildings and businesses are constantly bombed. People don’t know if they or their loved ones will be injured or killed. This daily reality has been the “new normal” for more than four years now, and it is wearying.
Despite all these challenges, people are hearing the good news of Jesus, lives are being changed, hearts are being encouraged, and believers are clinging to their faith.
4. How have you recently seen God at work through your ministry?
Every day as I teach my 7th and 9th graders, and cross paths with all the other students, I see God at work. I see their hearts opening and hear them asking questions about life and faith, seeking to know who God is. I know of at least three students who have recently been baptized and at least two who have repented. Investing in lives is a marathon, not a sprint, but the daily investment is bearing fruit.
At the ladies’ ministry in our church, I constantly see unbelievers showing up with open hearts to learn more about the Lord. Some have never read the Bible for themselves. What a privilege it is to come alongside them and shepherd them!
Ministry is often quiet, but the Lord is constantly at work behind the scenes. We do see fruit, but a lot of ministry occurs through daily faithfulness, helping believers grow, shepherding hearts and lives, walking alongside others, and doing life with people while speaking the truth and living out our relationship with Jesus.
5. Can you share about any specific people whose lives have been impacted through the ministry?
One lady moved from eastern Ukraine. She began attending our church, heard the gospel, and repented and was baptized. When we wanted to begin serving sandwiches after service to foster fellowship, she quickly volunteered. Every Sunday she now gets to church early to make sure the sandwiches are ready.
One couple and their daughter also moved from a town in eastern Ukraine. They heard about our church when we were having a family festival in the neighborhood. Our pastor invited them to church and Bible study, and they began to attend and learn about the Bible. The husband and wife both repented and were baptized. They now serve on the music team, invite others to the church, and invest in the ministry of the church in countless ways.
6. How can believers in the US pray for you, your team, and the people you serve?
I encourage people to pray for the four Ps:
- Perspective—that we would keep our eyes on Jesus
- Perseverance—that we would not grow weary bearing up under difficulties
- Peace—in our hearts and souls
- Protection
People often pray for our protection (and that is important), but we also need to maintain perspective, persevere, and have peace in our hearts despite the circumstances. If we were physically safe and protected but not in a good place spiritually, it would not ultimately be helpful for us.
I also encourage people to try to pray for specific individuals they know in Ukraine rather than a general “Dear Lord, I pray for Ukraine.” It’s more personal that way. If you don’t know any people to pray for, my team will introduce you to some!
