Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary August 2025 Update

Standing with Ukraine: A Trusted Partnership Amid Crisis

On August 15, 2025—day 1,269 of Russia’s brutal invasion—Ukrainians were glued to their media outlets awaiting word from the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. Their hearts are heavy yet hopeful for a just peace. In this tense moment, The Outreach Foundation, rooted in our mission to fuel the global mission of Jesus Christ through trusted relationships, hosted a stirring conversation between a faithful donor from Northern Ireland and Dr. Ivan Rusyn, President of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv. Our partnership, forged through three wartime visits delivering relief and trauma counseling training, embodies Christ’s love in action.

City Church Update July 2025

In a region shadowed by geopolitical tension and historical trauma, the gospel is blooming. City Church in Lithuania is igniting a church planting movement in one of the least reached corners of Europe—what many call “Putin’s backyard.” Lithuania, a small Baltic nation bordered by Russia and Belarus, lives under the constant reminder of potential invasion. Yet amid this uncertainty, lives are being transformed, and Christian faith is flourishing.

The Outreach Foundation began partnering with City Church in 2023, drawn by its extraordinary ministry among Ukrainian refugees displaced by Russia’s war. Since then, The Outreach Foundation has visited the church three times

Europe, PartnershipThe Outreach FoundationAugust 6, 2025City Church, Lithuania

Novus Foundation July 2025

The war in Ukraine continues to tear at the soul of the nation, leaving devastation in its wake, especially for women and children. Yet even in the midst of sorrow, the light of God’s mercy is shining through His people. Across this battered region, partnerships are emerging that reveal His love, generosity, and compassion. The Church is becoming a beacon of relevance, and many are turning to Christ as a source of hope and healing.

One such partnership is with the Novus Foundation, led by Aneta and Pablo Montano. Their ministry spans humanitarian relief, trauma-informed psychological care, and the education of emerging church leaders.

Europe, PartnershipThe Outreach FoundationJuly 30, 2025Novus Foundation, Poland

Persian Diaspora Partnerships Update July 2025

From International Antioch Ministries

We are overjoyed to share a powerful testimony from Brother Hossein, one of our courageous leaders in Iran. Amid the ongoing challenges of the Iran-Israel conflict, Hossein has opened his modest home to both believers and non-believers seeking refuge from fear and uncertainty. His heart burns with a passion to share the love of Jesus, and his home has become a sanctuary where the Gospel is proclaimed.

Persian Diaspora Partnerships Update June 2025

In the Shadow of Crisis, the Light of Christ Shines

As the devastation continues for our Persian Diaspora Partners, each day comes with new stories of how they continue to be the beacon of Christ’s light in difficult times. We have included a few of these partner stories below.

Novus Foundation Update May 2025

One year ago, our team at the NOVUS Foundation gathered in prayer, seeking direction for the next step in our mission. On February 18, 2024, we simply asked: "Lord, show us what's next."

Exactly one year later, to the day, God answered in the most extraordinary way.

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationMay 6, 2025Novus Foundation, Poland

Persian Diaspora Partnerships Update (Safehouse and Dariush Golbaghi) February 2025

Dariush Golbaghi and his energetic team with Safehouse Ministries have shared some updates with us! For security purposes, we cannot share locations, and names have been changed.

Persian Diaspora Partnerships Update (Quest and Mehrdad Sajadi) February 2025

The Outreach Foundation’s Persian Diaspora Partnership supports a wide variety of ministries sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Persian-speaking population living throughout Europe and in their home countries. We are pleased to connect U.S. congregations and donors with their work through visits to Türkiye, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium, and Greece. In 2025, we will be hosting a November visit to Türkiye and Greece in the footsteps of Paul, and our lead ministry partner will be Mehrdad Sajadi of Quest.

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationFebruary 19, 2025Quest, Mehrdad Sajadi, Persian Diaspora Partnerships

The Presbyterian Church of Bayern: A 2024 Wrap-Up Story

In September, The Outreach Foundation fielded a team of 21 people from six congregations to meet with Pastor Sargez Benjamin and his congregation in the heart of Germany. For most of our team, it was their first experience to be with this congregation, and we emerged with a deeper appreciation for Sargez and the role he serves as an anchoring voice in the Persian Diaspora of Europe.

Persian Diaspora Partners: A 2024 Recap Update

2024 witnessed three visits to our partners in the Persian Diaspora, and a Spring visit from Dariush Golbaghi, founder of Safehouse, to several congregations in the United States. In August we met with the men of Radmard in Türkiye. The visit allowed for a small group of men to engage with Muslim Background Believers for Bible study, coaching, and mutual sharing of testimonies. In September we conducted a visioning visit to a Persian congregation in Brussels. The year concluded in Türkiye where people from six congregations throughout the US facilitated a leadership conference for Gates of Heaven, hearing stories from PARS students, meeting other ministry leaders in the Persian diaspora, and visiting the ancient sites of the “7 churches.

Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary Update November 2024

Word from Ukraine is difficult. We have had several sleepless nights in a row. Ivan looked more tired than I had seen him in a while. With our attention focused on elections, Russia, with help from North Korean troops, has been pummeling Ukraine daily. For weeks the situation has worsened in many cities, even Kyiv. I have learned to become more understanding with staff who suddenly become less effective. Ivan was speaking about a young married woman who had been doing well until recently. Her husband and father are on the front lines, and for several days, she has not heard from her brother. This war is taking a deep toll on the people, and the number of refugees has increased greatly as winter approaches.

Partnership, Projects, EuropeThe Outreach FoundationNovember 20, 2024Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary, Ukraine, UETS

Novus Foundation in Poland Update November 2024

Novus Foundation leaders Aneta and Pablo Montano recently returned from a fruitful trip to the United States. With help from The Outreach Foundation, they visited California, Arizona, Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas. The unique hospitality, kindness, and fellowship of the American people brought back to Aneta and Pablo’s memory the wonderful years lived in the U.S. since they met as university students in this beautiful country.

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 5, 2024Novus Foundation, Poland

Persian Diaspora Partnerships (Jubal Band Ministries) Update September 2024

Jubal Band Ministries (JBM) is one of The Outreach Foundation’s courageous partners in the Persian Diaspora. The team shares the gospel with Farsi speakers in their countries of origin and in the diaspora. Team members have witnessed thousands of Farsi speakers come to Christ. Their ministry is creative and broad using the following methods:

Europe, Projects, PartnershipThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 24, 2024Persian Diaspora Partnerships, Jubal Band Ministries

Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary Update July 2024

Since February 2021, The Outreach Foundation has been following developments in Ukraine closely. The war is not going well for Ukraine, though we remain positive and want only to encourage them in their dark hours. Russia’s latest attacks have increased pressure on the fragile power grid. Ukraine now imports more than 50% of its needed energy. Attacks in Kyiv, such as the one that made our national news on Monday, July 8, are common. The age of conscription in Ukraine continues to drop, and the age of those actively fighting includes men in their sixties.

Persian Diaspora Partnerships Update July 2024

All children have dreams, but in Iran, these dreams are often unable to be fulfilled due to the immense pressure of child labor and trafficking. In the words of Forouzan Rajabi, Director of Gates of Heaven, “We help the children have a better understanding of the unfair world they are experiencing and help them to see some of their dreams come true.” Gates of Heaven provides a safe space among Christians for children to express their dreams. One approach they use is to have the children write their wishes on a “dream wall.” When possible, Forouzan’s team fulfills these.

Novus Foundation Update June 2024

“Since 2022, the Polish people, especially the Polish Church have been incredibly generous. Millions of refugees from Ukraine have poured across the borders and the Poles have taken them into their homes, taken them into their churches...that is an incredible strain on churches and on the people who lead them.” (Bob Fuller, Outreach Foundation trustee and senior pastor, First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX)

Europe, Projects, PartnershipThe Outreach FoundationJune 15, 2024Novus Foundation

Persian Diaspora Partnership (Radmard) Update June 2024

This morning my devotional reading took me to Philippians 1, which contains this verse that most of us have heard. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ...” (v 27a). Lately, I hear a wonderful affirmation for the work of The Outreach Foundation, yet it is not our work. Rather, I get to sit in the passenger seat and watch the Holy Spirit cause faith to bloom in new ways among people from the U.S. as they intersect the lives of our partners who are doing the work. It’s their work, not ours!

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationJune 13, 2024Persian Diaspora Partnerships, Radmard

Safehouse Ministries - March 2024

The Outreach Foundation has been fueling Christ’s mission among the Persian-speaking community that lives in diaspora and Iran. We have developed several trusted partners and each year we are able to visit them in Europe and Turkey where they are providing incredible life-transforming ministry among Muslims and first-generation Muslim Background Believers. The following stories highlight the work of Safehouse, based in The Netherlands, under the direction of Dariush.

Partner Updates