Ukraine Appeal: Small Churches on the Frontline of Relief

A typical day in Eastern Ukraine lately is marked by the sounds of artillery shelling, drones, and even ballistic missiles striking their targets. By the hundreds, civilians and military alike are wounded or killed each week. Adding to this the weather is not as forgiving as last year. Winter has just started to settle in and already temperatures are reaching low 20s. Snow and frozen ground are building where shelter is scarce in war-torn cities. Combined this has created a context of decreasing morale and an increasing sense of isolation. This is precisely where the Ukrainian Evangelical Church is showing up.

Ukraine Appeal — Stories from Ukraine

In God’s providence, The Outreach Foundation has had the privilege to come alongside several ministries serving in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. We are pleased to share some of their highlights with you.

Military Chaplains Minister on Multiple Fronts in Ukraine

Earlier this summer, The Outreach Foundation hosted Dr. Ivan Rusyn (President, Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary in Kyiv) for a visit to the U.S. His several updates included a major initiative to train military chaplains who are serving active-duty soldiers in Ukraine. This initiative has brought together Orthodox and Greek Catholic seminaries and UETS representing the broader Protestant traditions in Ukraine. Military chaplaincy is at the leading edge of what ministry candidates are being trained to do as they seek to fulfill their call while serving their country courageously.

Ukraine — God's Redemptive Mission in a Broken World

The heartbreaking war in Ukraine continues. Through the generosity of many churches and friends, The Outreach Foundation has been able to establish deep relationships throughout the region, offering relief, support, and encouragement.

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationJuly 12, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine, Kyiv

Ukraine Appeal — Small Congregations, Large Footprint

In the opening days of the war in Ukraine, Pastor Valeriy Milinin and his family were in their home listening to air raid sirens, but there was no bomb shelter in the village. Their village is in Chernihiv Oblast (region), an area 90 miles north of Kyiv and 50 miles south of the Belarusian border. It was among the areas first attacked by Russian troops.

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationMay 16, 2023Ukraine, Ukraine Appeal

Ukraine Appeal — We Carry On

Maria is a psychologist from Ukraine who works in Poland. “The trauma I am seeing in children is terrible. It is a very different type of trauma, hidden trauma. On the first days after the children escaped their towns in Ukraine, such as Mariupol, Izium, Deobropillya, they did not say anything. They just sat in silence. There is nothing worse than the silence of children when they hear certain words that remind them of the war, or of their hometown. They fall silent and just stare into nowhere.”

Important News, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationMay 2, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine, Warsaw, Poland

Ukraine Appeal — Vasiliy's Story

The Outreach Foundation recently visited our friends serving sacrificially and at great risk in the eastern part of Ukraine. Dr. Ivan Rusyn and his wife Luda were terrific hosts and we met many of Christ’s faithful followers whose stories have yet to be told. These are the quiet heroes who daily risk their lives out of love for God, and affection for their country, and who are trying to be faithful to Christ’s call to witness about His glory in times like this. One of these heroes is Vasiliy, a 23-year young graduate of the Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary who serves as Coordinator of Relief Ministry for the seminary.

Europe, Partnership, Projects, Important NewsThe Outreach FoundationApril 27, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine

Ukraine Appeal — Providing Meaningful Help to Soldiers in Ukraine

In March 2023, The Outreach Foundation visited Kyiv. Among our goals for this visit was to provide Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs) that had been requested specifically by Dr. Ivan Rusyn of the Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) during his visit with us. These are the most requested items by soldiers at every checkpoint, he told us. Thanks to Delta Airlines, the baggage fee for 600 IFAKs was waived, which meant we were able to purchase an additional 200.

Ukraine Appeal — April 2023 Update

From March 18-26, a window of opportunity opened for The Outreach Foundation to visit friends at the Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv as well as some surrounding towns. The team was comprised of Mark Mueller (Outreach Executive Director), Tom Boone (Associate Director for Mission), and Victor Petrenko, husband of board member Amy Petrenko. Victor’s parents fled Ukraine following World War ll. Joining our team was Dr. Piotr Nowak, president of the College of Theology and Social Sciences (CTSS) in Warsaw, Poland. Dr. Ivan Rusyn of UETS was our host.

Kyiv, Ukraine: Living in this New Day

Last week, four people from The Outreach Foundation traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, to meet with our partners. The Outreach Foundation has seven partners in Europe, and one is in Kyiv. Upon our arrival in Kyiv, we met with the staff of the Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary led by Dr. Ivan Rusyn. The seminary trains leaders and pastors and currently has a student population of more than 500. Right now, the seminary is housing Ukrainian soldiers, but the students return in September.

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationApril 3, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine

Snap Shots: a reflection on our visit to Ukraine

Where do I begin?

Is it the beginning of our trip — on the western border of Ukraine — where rich dark soil and the appearance of normalcy teased us as we traveled to Kyiv? Is it our first night when we escaped from our comfortable hotel room to a bomb shelter from midnight to 4:30 a.m.? That peaceful route we just traveled was now under attack, thank you Lord for the people praying over us!

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationMarch 31, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine

Budmo! We will exist: Reflections on visits to three Ukrainian towns near Kyiv

A team from The Outreach Foundation just returned from a visit to Kyiv (March 19-26). Tom Boone, Mark Mueller, and Victor Petrenko joined Piotr Nowak from Warsaw on this significant visit that we were unable to advertise for security reasons. We saw and heard the testimony of what the church is doing with the help of many donors and congregations through The Outreach Foundation.

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationMarch 30, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine

The Face of Jesus — Ukraine Appeal February 2023

“When this war started all we had was ourselves, our bodies, our hands. But we had nothing to give. Because of you, we have been able to give food, warmth, shelter, God’s Word, and be the face of Jesus when everyone wondered ‘Where is God?’ Thank you.” Dr. Ivan Rusyn, president of Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv

Europe, Important News, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationFebruary 16, 2023Ukraine, Ukraine Appeal

Strength and Beauty in Ukraine

The Outreach Foundation has noted the courage of several Christian servants over the course of the war in Ukraine. Today we share the story of Lludmyla (Luda) Rusyn. Luda joined her husband, Ivan, president of the Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary (UTES) in Kyiv, on their recent visit to the U.S. She comes from the eastern part of Ukraine, and her family has been refugees twice. The first time was when they fled Donetsk in 2014 and the second time occurred when they fled Bucha, north of Kyiv, in 2022.

Europe, Important News, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationFebruary 8, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine

Thank You from Ukraine

In November, The Outreach Foundation paid a visit to our partners in Ukraine who are living and serving so many people on the front lines of this war. The video captures key moments from that visit and we want to share this with you as a thank you. You made this visit possible and the gifts we brought to them were truly appreciated.

Important News, Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationJanuary 31, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine

War Relief for the People of Ukraine — January 2023

Since February 2022, The Outreach Foundation has disbursed over 1.4 million dollars to partners providing integrated ministry to war-affected families in Ukraine and to many who have fled. This incredible show of support was made possible through the generous donations of congregations and donors across the U.S. The Outreach Foundation has fielded three teams to the region since war broke out in Ukraine. Our latest visit was in November, and we were able to reach the border between Poland and Ukraine.

Emergency Appeals, Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationJanuary 26, 2023Ukraine Appeal, Ukraine

Stories From the Front in Ukraine — January 2023

In November 2022, The Outreach Foundation fielded a team of six to meet Dr. Ivan Rusyn, President of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (Kyiv), and Father Oleh Kindii, a priest with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Lviv). The team brought a few hundred pounds of relief supplies and shuttled them from Warsaw, Poland to the Medyka border with Ukraine.

Joyful News from Ukraine — CTSS Counseling Center Graduation

Because of the CTSS Counseling Center, the region has trained counselors who can feed Jesus’ sheep in new ways. With their compassion and attentive ears, they will show a God who loves them and people will be healed over time.

Partner Updates