God can redeem
The conflict in Eastern Ukraine has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. Christians across the country have reached out to help them.
One refugee couple told a missionary who was serving them, “My mom was a communist, and that is the home that I grew up in. What you are doing here is amazing. We are very thankful for it. I’ve never thought about God before like this. I really need to think about this.”
Though the conflict in eastern Ukraine has brought devastation to many families, God is using His people in Ukraine and your donations to redeem this difficult situation.
Recently three Ukrainian military chaplains in fatigues visited Kiev Theological Seminary — at least one of them is a student there. They had stopped by to ask folks to pray with them and for them as they headed out to the war zone. Soldiers like them are helping to distribute Gospels and New Testaments. They say that people are earnestly taking and reading them, just like they did in the early 1990s.
Churches, Christian camps, pastors, and believers across the country have stepped up to help meet the needs of displaced people. People have been donating produce from their gardens, churches have been taking up donations to help pay the bills of hosting and caring for these displaced individuals and families.
Believers are caring for both the physical and the spiritual needs of the refugees, providing food, clothing, shelter, and medication and also leading Bible studies and praying with these hurting people.
One woman was shaken up by what she had been experiencing, but she found answers. Natasha is well-educated and successful in her career. But the circumstances she found herself in, with war in her city, she herself displaced and her future uncertain, had shaken her to her core. She began to look for answers.
Through the ministry of various individuals at Sumy Grace Camp where she was staying, different discussions, Bible studies and just attending the events that were happening, God began to change her heart.
SEND missionary Leanne Paetkau had been building a relationship with her, and one evening she had the opportunity to use God’s Word to show Natasha how to have a relationship with Christ. Natasha repented and accepted Christ that evening.
Up to that day, she had been struggling with depression and fear. The next morning, it was a different lady who came to breakfast. God had changed her heart. Her joy was evident. She said, “I’m not depressed or scared anymore. I have peace.” Praise the Lord!
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
