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A YEAR NO ONE EXPECTED

December 13, 2023

In mid-February I was in Ukraine. All was peaceful and quiet. That quickly changed four days after I left. On February 24, Russia attacked Ukraine in the early morning hours. Everyday life for Ukrainians was dramatically altered, as were all of our ministry endeavors. A proper response required assessing what the situation might look like for the future. Our focus quickly became two-fold: 1. Making sure that the 49 children residing at House of Joy remained safe. Delivering aid to people inside Ukraine. House of

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A YEAR NO ONE EXPECTED

December 13, 2023

In mid-February I was in Ukraine. All was peaceful and quiet. That quickly changed four days after I left. On February 24, Russia attacked Ukraine in the early morning hours. Everyday life for Ukrainians was dramatically altered, as were all of our ministry endeavors. A proper response required assessing what the situation might look like for the future. Our focus quickly became two-fold: 1. Making sure that the 49 children residing at House of Joy remained safe. Delivering aid to people inside Ukraine. House of

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FIRE BIBLE

March 3, 2023

In August of 2022, I met with a close friend, Tom Greene, who has been involved in Fire Bible distribution around the world. The Fire Bible organization had just approved the reprint of 15,000 Ukrainian Fire Bibles. Through Tom’s connections,

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ONE THING I KNOW

March 3, 2023

As we begin 2023, the news cycle has not changed. Uncertainty abounds in the hearts of many. There is one thing I am certain of; God is always at work even when we cannot see it. He will prevail. Nothing

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A NEW YEAR

January 13, 2023

A new year offers new hopes, new dreams, new ex- pectations. Certainly, our friends in Ukraine are praying 2023 brings better days in the new year. I realize much of our newsletter commentary in 2022 was about the war in

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Thanksgiving and War

November 17, 2022

As we approach Thanksgiving, we are thankful for regions ofUkraine that are seeing hope in the midst of war. As of this writing Kahovka, the hometown of House of Joy, has not yet been liberated, but the Ukrainian army has

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Orphans Helping Orphans

October 17, 2022

That is a strange title, I know – ORPHANS HELPING ORPHANS. Please allow me to explain. In the summer I received a call from Greg Conway, Director of Tulsa Boys Home. The Home has been in existence for decades in

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Punch Back

September 13, 2022

As I type this, things are tense around Kahovka, Ukraine, and House of Joy. Kahovka is in Kherson state, which was quickly occupied by the Russian army at the end of February as the war began. Apparently, Ukraine has mounted

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Church in Times of War

August 1, 2022

Many have wondered how the churches in Ukraine are faring during the war. The following article was written for us by a very close friend, Pastor Maksym Bilousov. I think his faith-filled words say it best. Twenty-five years ago, we

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The Effect of War on the Nikishenko Family

July 13, 2022

During the war, you do not have a problem with figuring out your priorities. Things you treasure the most become very obvious. And they are not things at all. In my case, my family is my highest acquisition on this

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War Brings Change at House of Joy

June 13, 2022

House of Joy is in the state of Kherson in southern Ukraine, bordering Crimea. If you have followed the news, you know this is one of three states in Ukraine that Putin has openly stated he wants to take from

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Turmoil in Ukraine

March 1, 2022

I made a trip to Ukraine in February. Of course, some questioned the wisdom of such a decision, rightfully so given the rumblings of war that have prevailed there. Let me just say that it was essential for our ministry

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Ukraine Relief

As the war in Ukraine continues, we are in constant contact with our team in Ukraine. Relationships built through 30+ years of ministry in the former Soviet Union afford us multiple venues to offer aid directly to many Ukrainians displaced within the borders of their own country. We provide relief and financial aid to people in various parts of the country. Our prayer for the Ukrainian people is Ezekiel 28:26, “They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety … and know that I am the Lord their God.”

Ukraine Relief

As the war in Ukraine continues, we are in constant contact with our team in Ukraine. Relationships built through 30+ years of ministry in the former Soviet Union afford us multiple venues to offer aid directly to many Ukrainians displaced within the borders of their own country. We provide relief and financial aid to people in various parts of the country. Our prayer for the Ukrainian people is Ezekiel 28:26, “They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety … and know that I am the Lord their God.”

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