Thank you from Ukraine

Through the incredible generosity of donors and congregations, The Outreach Foundation has helped to supply critical medical support throughout Ukraine. The medical supplies originate from outside Ukraine, collected in Romania by our partner Beni Husarciuc (a Cru staff person) who drives them to another partner, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Lviv. From there, the medical supplies are moved to the central hospital in Lviv and dispersed to a number of remote medical units. Because of the personal way this is being done we are able to receive pictures and stories.

Ukraine Appeal - Getting to Know Our Partners - Oleg and Lena

Before Putin’s massive invasion of Ukraine, I was pleased to know Oleg and Lena Vasilevsky. I have always been inspired by their passion for the Lord, the young people of Ukraine, and their commitment to transforming culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1994 they gave birth to Radooga Ministry which seeks to transform Ukraine from the grassroots, beginning with the next generation. Channel 5 in Nashville, TN featured their story as part of their series detailing The Outreach Foundation’s war relief effort.

Ukraine Appeal - Getting to Know Our Partners - Sanna of City Church, Lithuania

Meet Sanna Karosas, a dynamic, lovely, and joyful Christian woman who is Pastor Saulius’ wife. Today (April 29) she received the Lithuanian Award of Merit from the President of Lithuania for her sacrificial work with Downs’ Syndrome children!

City Church has three congregations, each one providing various forms of humanitarian and spiritual compassion to Ukrainian refugees. It has been a significant and time-consuming project, with job training, networking for employment, arranging for health care and education, and organizing a hotel that is managed by the Ukrainians themselves. They are an example of what a healthy partnership looks like.

Ukraine Appeal - Mission Eurasia - Anna's Story

Anna’s story: spiritual rebirth emerging from the ruins of war

Anna lived in Kyiv when the war broke out. She spent many days in her basement listening to explosions. When a Russian rocket hit her neighbor’s house, Anna and her family made the decision to evacuate. They didn’t know anyone in western Ukraine so they decided to take the first available train. That train happened to be going to Chernivtsi. When they arrived, they were met by the volunteers of Mission Eurasia's refugee assistance center, who helped her family find a place to live.

Ukraine Appeal Update

As the world watched in horror, Ukraine was invaded by Russia on February 25. In less than a month, more than 3 million Ukrainians have joined millions of other refugees in Europe. On the nightly news, we have witnessed the tragic fallout from this catastrophe including bombings and sniper attacks, deprivation of basic necessities, the terror of families being separated. Heartbreaking.

But we have also witnessed hope. The Outreach Foundation is blessed to have relationships with several partners in Eastern Europe.

Europe, Important News, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationMarch 28, 2022Ukraine, Ukraine Appeal, Eastern Europe, Europe

The Importance of Showing Up

For many, a simple card of prayer is a wonderful and understandable expression of love and support from American Christians. Yet for the generation of Ukrainians and other Eastern Europeans who were alive before 1990, other reactions rise to the surface, mainly fear and PTSD.

EuropeThe Outreach FoundationMarch 22, 2022Ukraine, Ukraine Appeal, Eastern Europe, Europe, Europe Initiative

Pain: Ukranian Refugees in Poland

Poland is an emotional place. Despite what people may tell you, that people generally keep to themselves in Europe, there is no sense of an aloof attitude or one where people don’t seem to care, not in Poland. It is quite the opposite. I have found people in Poland kind and helpful. They are warm and at times funny. Yet there is an emotion that I have felt since my arrival that I have tried to ascertain. Its best name is pain. Pain is front and center in the collective memory of the people here. It enters into many conversations. Pain seems to be in the DNA of people. It is even on display in the architecture.

EuropeThe Outreach FoundationMarch 21, 2022Ukraine, Ukraine Appeal, Eastern Europe, Europe

City Church in Lithuania to Aid Orphans from Ukraine

God has told us to focus on the orphans of this war. Pastor Saul of City Church in Lithuania joined The Outreach Foundation’s team visiting Iranian refugees in Liverpool. While with us, he shared that the elders of City Church have discerned its war relief focus will fulfill the call issued in James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

EuropeThe Outreach FoundationMarch 16, 2022Ukraine, Ukraine Appeal, Europe, Europe Initiative, Eastern Europe

Lviv: the Heart of Ukraine

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.” 2 Corinthians 8:1-2

If Kyiv is the “head” of Ukraine, Lviv is its heart. Lviv is the center of Ukrainian culture and although Russia has had a great deal of influence on the East, Ukrainian identity has been well preserved in Lviv. Also, as the heart of Ukraine Lviv has historically been much more tolerant and understanding of various ethnic minorities modeling that to live together well people must be at peace together. During this war, “heart” has taken on another dimension of compassion and today we want to tell you of this special work and the priests seeing it done.

EuropeThe Outreach FoundationMarch 7, 2022Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Europe

A Roundtable with Church Leaders in Ukraine

The Church of Ukraine is diverse, though more heavily populated by the Ukrainian Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic, and Ukrainian Greek Catholic traditions. On Friday morning, March 4, the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv held a round table discussion between key representatives of these major traditions. Tom Boone, our Associate Director of Mission and staff point person for our European Initiatives, was honored to be invited to this dialogue.

The purpose of the round table was to present how their various traditions are responding to the war. Also, each provided insights into their traditions’ official positions regarding Moscow. It was inspiring to see these leaders take time to express their views openly even as they are enmeshed in this war. One of the leaders was delivering humanitarian relief to Kyiv and showed us the traffic crossing a bridge and activity at a checkpoint.

Ukraine Appeal Update: “Our hearts are very heavy"

More than 1.7 million Ukrainians have joined millions of other refugees in Europe. Among them, God has planted many Christians who are being faithful witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They do so even as they cope with their own fear, exhaustion, and want to do something, but are unsure about what is next. The Outreach Foundation has partnered with City Church in Lithuania to provide shelter for families who have fled Ukraine, and we are pleased to share the story of one family.

Meet Sergii, Nataliya, and her mother Evgeniya.

To see their selfie from a few months ago they could be any of us! Today they are refugees of this war.

EuropeThe Outreach FoundationMarch 3, 2022Ukraine, Europe Initiative, Eastern Europe

From the Front Lines of the War in Lviv, Ukraine

February 28, 2022

When it’s darkest, that is when we can see the stars—a story from the front lines of the war in Lviv, Ukraine.

“It’s hard to imagine” Father Oleh reflects on what has become his daily routine. Oleh serves as a parish priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Lviv and is Professor of Philosophy at the Ukrainian Catholic University of Lviv. His story is one of many stories of faithful church leaders helping people experience God’s love in their darkest of nights.

Voices from Ukraine

February 25, 2022

The Outreach Foundation is listening to voices of our friends from Eastern Europe and we are sharing them with you.

While the bitter cold of war continues to escalate, we are grateful to share with you the voices of our friends in and around Ukraine. Friends such as Father Oleh Kindii, a professor of philosophy at Lviv University and a parish priest. Today he received hundreds of confessions from people. Today he wrote, “On this day when Russia has launched a vicious attack on the country of Ukraine, we pray that the Good Shepherd may bring strength and wisdom to leadership and protection for the most vulnerable now in this unjustified, premeditated aggression. Prayers for all.”

Alan and Ellen Smith (PCUSA) - February 2014 Update

It is already February, and I am keenly aware that I have been quite out of touch. The time between then and now has been very full. I was traveling in November to visit colleagues in faraway places, but in December I returned to the U.S. to await the birth of our grandson.

MissionariesThe Outreach FoundationFebruary 27, 2014Alan and Ellen Smith, Eastern Europe, Central Asia

Partner Updates