'Strength to Continue' in Ukraine
[Estimated reading time: 5 minutes]
TWR’s International Director for Europe Dirk Mueller (left) and TWR Ukraine Director Alexander Chmut (right) display their partnership agreements during a respite visit from TWR family members to Ukraine. [Image by TWR Europe]
Today marks the 758th day of the Ukraine-Russia war. Just yesterday and this morning, our TWR Ukraine team informed us that they had to take shelter when the missiles struck Kyiv. Thankfully, none of our team was injured, but the danger was palpable.
In January, our TWR Ukraine team had planned to meet with TWR and ERF Medien Germany (TWR's German national partner) staff members in Germany for a time of spiritual refreshing and mutual encouragement. They had official permission to temporarily leave Ukraine, but when they arrived at the Ukrainian border, they weren’t allowed to cross.
After this turn of events, knowing how beneficial it would be to spend time with our Ukraine team and give them a time of respite, a group of staff members from TWR, together with ERF Medien Germany, decided to travel into Ukraine to spend time with the team there instead.
The journey into Ukraine was a peaceful one. The group drove from Poland into the beautiful Carpathian Mountains of western Ukraine. But as they traveled past cemeteries, they began noticing hundreds of Ukraine flags on graves, marking soldiers who have died in the war. The number of flags seemed endless.
Upon arrival at the meeting place in the Carpathian Mountains, everyone felt safe since the risk in this area of Ukraine is low. As various members of the TWR Ukraine team shared stories, there was a mixture of joy and tears.
Emilia’s story
One of those stories has to do with a 7-year-old girl named Emilia. When the war broke out, her mother took her and they both sought refuge in Germany, leaving their husband and father behind since he had to stay in Ukraine in case he was called up for military service.
At some point during the time that Emilia and her mother were in Germany, Emilia said, “Mom, we’re separated from daddy. If a rocket falls and daddy dies but we are here, we will cry for the rest of our lives. But if a rocket falls and we all die together, we will all be in heaven together with Jesus.”
Emilia and her mother returned to Ukraine after three months in Germany, and they are now together as a family. Emilia’s mother serves on TWR’s Ukraine team as a TWR Women of Hope producer and her husband is serving as a pastor.
Partnership signing
Typically, partnership agreements are signed at TWR Europe and CAMENA's* National Partners Conference. However, the Ukraine team was unable to attend in 2023 due to the war.
Despite this, on one of the evenings in the Carpathian Mountains, TWR Ukraine Director Alexander Chmut and International Director for Europe Dirk Mueller dressed for the occasion and marked the moment with an official agreement signing.
Chmut and his team were thrilled that such a large group of people could be together for the event.
Strength to continue
Our Ukraine team desperately needs our prayers. Repeatedly, when we ask what their needs are, they say “strength to continue.”
During the time of respite in western Ukraine, we interviewed Andriy Gotsulyak, a member of the TWR Ukraine team involved in digital ministry. He shared his personal struggles:
“Today I am very happy, but yesterday I was very depressed. And it was the same for each of our team members too. … for example, when we read about the tragedy in Odessa, it’s a tragedy for the whole country. When you feel depressed, it’s very difficult to create and produce, for example, videos for social media. … And we dream about peace all the time. Not peace in the sense of silence, but the peace of no more war; no more bombings and the ability of our soldiers who are in captivity to return to their families. That is our main prayer because for over 700 days now, soldiers from Mariupol have been in captivity and their families don’t know whether these men or women are still alive.”
Gotsulyak served as the host of the Yak vi tam? (“How Are You There?”) project, which highlighted a different Ukrainian city affected by the war in each episode. He described how the city of Nikolai, featured in one of the episodes, went without water for a month or more. The city eventually received water from other countries. On a similar note, Gotsulyak talked about the power of community, specifically Christian community. He expressed how thankful he is that people around the world who don’t even know him have given to TWR Ukraine’s ministry.
Each member of the TWR Ukraine team has high hopes for the future of media ministry. For Gotsulyak, he wants to continue recording his podcast. He would also love to produce a second season of Yak vi tam? (“How Are You There?”) if funding is available.
The Ukraine team was extremely grateful to have a time away from the war zone, sharing joys and struggles with others from TWR and ERF Medien Germany. This special time away from their normal routines encouraged them. They were excited to get a bigger picture of TWR’s global ministries, and to know how vital each of their roles are in the greater story.
The war is far from over, and more Ukrainian flags are being mounted on gravestones each day. Still, as Christians we know each day is a gift, and we can have an eternal perspective like little Emilia. Let’s pray and give generously toward the work of TWR Ukraine for the sake of the gospel.
Will you consider helping us as we share Christ in the region of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus? We’ve set up a Ukraine-Russia Crisis Fund as a way you can give financially for the continuation of this ministry.
The TWR Ukraine team also recorded a message to the TWR family and friends all over the world — you can view it here on Instagram.
* Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa
