Healing The Trauma: How We Can Help The People Of Ukraine

Justice. Whenever we ask our partners in Ukraine “What do you want?” their response has been consistent: a just peace. Since the outbreak of full-scale war on February 22, 2022, The Outreach Foundation has stood with Christian leaders in Ukraine to exhibit justice and share the gospel in the darkness of war. Donors have given more than $2 million to make sure the darkness does not overcome the light! We give so they can be present.

Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS): Under Dr. Ivan Rusyn’s trusted leadership, UETS offers humanitarian relief support to areas dangerously close to the front. The seminary provides meals for nearly 100 people locally who are unable to cook for themselves. Additionally, the seminary provides funds and supplies to several nearby pastors in the Ukrainian Evangelical Church serving neighborhoods still enduring daily attacks. 

UETS continues its prime directive to train the next generation of leaders for the church and to provide licensed trauma counseling. Now licensed for masters degrees, UETS saw its largest graduating class last year (more than 100 students) and this semester opened with more than 600 students. The greatest need today is to help UETS complete facility upgrades that will allow men and women disabled from the war to attend classes. This is a requirement for continued state licensing, and we can help meet this need.

Support for military chaplains: UETS is on the leading edge of training nearly 200 Protestant chaplains who serve the soldiers on the frontlines. Our partnership has provided training for these chaplains in trauma and PTSD counseling and provided them with kits which aid those seriously wounded. Chaplains ask soldiers fighting and living in trenches how they can help their families and often show up with encouraging letters. This expression of holistic mission is creating exponential growth for the church in Ukraine. 

Radooga: healing the children of war: Most traumatized are the thousands of children whose parents have been killed and homes destroyed through this war. Radooga helps these children experience healing through trauma care and play. Healing from trauma takes much effort. Our visits and follow-up Zoom sessions have helped their teams learn how trauma affects the brain and what the brain needs to heal. They then implement these learnings in weekly camps, in places like Kharkiv and Kherson, which endure daily attacks. This is amazing work.