In December 2020 representatives of David’s ministry in Ukraine made a perilous journey to the Lugansk and Donetsk regions, to minister to soldiers and to those still living on the frontline in the war with Russian-backed separatists. Since 2014, over 20,000 Ukrainians have died, over 30,000 injured, and 2 million displaced; over 5000 are missing, presumed buried in mass unmarked graves.

Working with the Ukraine Bible Society, representatives of David Hathaway’s Ministry in Ukraine have frequently distributed Bibles and ministered to those in need of comfort and support. Our staff have made many trips to the ‘red-zone’, distributing Bibles to soldiers who are in a stand-off with Russian-backed separatists. In addition, we have ministered to vulnerable children living in Kiev, offering them much needed care and support. These are the stories of three individuals who have benefited from these outreaches.

For six years, since the war began, we have been visiting the frontlines in East Ukraine. In mid-October, we were there again to distribute Bibles to the military. Children’s Bibles have always been especially popular among them – to bring back to their kids. We read the Bible together with soldiers, pray and give Bibles to those who don’t yet have one. On this visit, a commander explained how two years ago he had asked us to pray for him and his wife to have children, as medically it was impossible, and after we prayed, he had asked for a Children’s Bible in memory of this prayer.

Anna and Olexander Chubenko’s daughter, Polina, is 8 years old. They live in a village in the Cherkasy region of Ukraine. Polina was 4 years old when she began to experience a lot of pain with severe swelling. Finally it was discovered she was in the early stages of sarcoma and had to begin a very difficult, long and painful series of treatments.

This month representatives of David Hathaway’s Ministry in Ukraine shared the Gospel and distributed Bibles in Slovyansk, which is part of a highly militarised zone of Ukraine.