An Update from the Podgaiskys

Gennady & Mina Podgaisky are missionaries to Ukraine that our church offerings support. They have not been able to move back to Ukraine since Russia began its invasion in February 2022. So they have been traveling, speaking, supporting, and counseling remotely ever since. In July 2022 they spoke in our church services, and we have been praying for them since then. Here is an update they recently posted:

We have relocated to Krakow, Poland!
Current prayer requests:
• Praise God, our move to Poland went smoothly. We will serve the Ukrainian refugees living there and continue other ministries online.
• Pray for our upcoming trip to Kyiv for 2 weeks. We have several items to take care of. Pray for God's protection, for strength, and a productive trip.
• Please continue praying for the end of the war in Ukraine.
• Pray for wisdom and protection for the leaders and defenders protecting the country.
• Pray for big and small miracles in Ukraine.
 
Thanks to you, we can fulfill our God-given call to serve the people of Ukraine! We thank you for your faithful support of us and our ministries.

Contact us over e-mail HERE, or at our new address:
Gennady & Mina Podgaisky
Orla 36A
30-244 Krakow
Poland

To donate to our Ukraine ministry click HERE.
Or send a check designated to The Podgaiskys (05058) to:
CBF
160 Clairemont Ave., Suite 500
Decatur, GA 30030

Russian Baptist Leader Flees for Safety

Yuri Sipko, a pastor and former president of the Union of Baptists in Russia, had to flee the country in August when authorities attempted to arrest him for publicly praying for peace in Ukraine. He anticipated the government’s action after his participation in a virtual prayer vigil in February. The event was hosted by Mission Eurasia on the one-year anniversary of the invasion.

Pastor Sipko said, “The law makes it a crime to call the war a ‘war’ and does not allow anyone to call for peace in Ukraine. But I prayed for peace and said it is a crime to drop rockets and bombs on the Ukrainian people.”

He evaded capture at his Moscow home on Aug. 8 and has since been placed on a most-wanted list for disseminating “false information” about the invasion. “It is a terrible thing when the word ‘peace’ is outlawed. Everything is upside down in Russia. But until I am gagged, I will continue to speak out. The gospel and Christianity compel us not to remain silent. Jesus Christ was not silent, and the apostles were not silent. Paul was not silent even when he was in prison. I am merely following the example of the gospel and such great Christian witnesses.”

Mission Eurasia is a Nashville-based global ministry helping Sipko with living expenses while he is in hiding. Mission Eurasia president Sergey Rakhuba said that Pastor Sipko “left his house in a t-shirt and jeans and barely managed to escape. They came after him with special police, like SWAT teams. They wanted to arrest a pastor for saying, ‘Stop killing people’ and ‘Stop bombing people.’ The state threatens evangelicals and there is no religious freedom under Putin. Only the Russian Orthodox Church has freedom, and the state threatens evangelicals with imprisonment.”

He added a plea for US churches to continue helping and praying for Ukraine: “Ukraine is a very resilient nation, but they need help defending their country, feeding their people, and protecting their right to freely worship God.”

An Update from Missionaries to Ukraine

Last year we were honored when missionaries to Ukraine that we support, Gennady & Mina Podgaisky, spoke at church one Sunday. Their ministry, calling, and determination was inspiring. Recently, Gennady wrote an update on how things are going in Ukraine and what their mission work involves these days. We continue to pray for peace and that Russia will stop its invasion. Here are some things Gennady reports:

Since the war started in February 2022, we have visited Ukraine twice: the first time in August 2022 and the second time in April 2023. Both times the fighting was raging on the eastern and southern fronts of the country.

The war is still going on, but now people’s focus has turned towards the future, which looks a bit brighter and more hopeful. The people of Ukraine understand that victory in this unjust and unprovoked war is possible. Ukrainians know that millions of people have prayed and are still praying for the end of the war and for the restoration of peace and for justice.

We saw signs of hope and resilience as we drove by towns and villages damaged from the war. Streets were cleared of the debris and rubble, many houses were repaired, and fences fixed. Black traces from fires on buildings were painted over or covered. There is hope in the future for Ukrainian people.

Ukraine Missionaries Update

Three months ago we got to meet in person the inspiring missionaries Gennady and Mina Podgaisky, who our offerings help to support. For 20 years they have served in the areas around Kyiv, Ukraine, running a ministry center for youth and foster families. Soon after they spoke in our worship service, the Podgaiskys were able to return to Ukraine for the first time since the Russian invasion started in February.

After returning safely to North Carolina, where they have been staying during the invasion, they gave a presentation at a recent Cooperative Baptist gathering about their trip. Sadly, their ministry center, Village of Hope, had been destroyed by Russian missiles.

Fortunately the Podgaiskys were able to travel safely and avoid areas that were being shelled. They asked us to pray for them as they continue to minister to Ukrainians, many of whom are now refugees in countries around the world. They asked us to pray that Russia would stop its invasion. They asked us to pray for people in Ukraine being killed and places being bombed. And they asked us to pray for their ministry center, Village of Hope, that used to house foster families and host youth retreats, as it tries to rebuild.

Baptists in Ukraine Update

As the war in Ukraine passes its seventh month, Ukrainian forces have reclaimed parts of occupied territories. Fighting has intensified in the east and south. And recently, Russian attacks have included major city centers, sending many back into underground bunkers. Baptists in Kyiv commented, “It feels like we are back on Feb. 24.”

In spite of all the death and destruction, Ukrainian Baptists continue to serve as witnesses of hope, living between deep grief and thanksgiving. They grieve the recent loss of a pastor killed in Kharkiv. They grieve the church in Zaporizhzhya that was shut down as Russian soldiers stormed into worship and collected all the congregation’s information. They worry for the lives of a pastor and his wife who were kidnapped on Sept. 21 in Mariupol. They grieve the loss of 46 damaged or destroyed churches and the 200 scattered congregations that are no longer meeting. (The photo is rubble from a Baptist church in the Donbas region, hit by Russian shelling.)

Yet Ukrainian Baptists express deep gratitude for God’s continued work in Ukraine. They are grateful for the ways they have been able to serve people with food, water, energy, transportation to safety, and care. They are grateful for opportunities that the aid brought: Thousands of people have started following Jesus through the witness of Ukrainian Baptists; 2,300 baptisms have happened over the last three months, with 15,000 starting to visit churches. One church in Nikopol had to hold worship three times on a single Sunday in September because 600 people showed up to the church that could only hold 200.

Baptists in Ukraine and the neighboring countries have served an estimated 500,000 people over the past seven months. A remarkable number, since there are only 250,000 Baptists in the whole area. Many Baptists did not expect to be so involved for so long, but as leaders in Moldova commented recently, “We learn to trust in God, to be perseverant, to love God and the people in spite of all the challenges and threats.”

Ukrainian Refugee Family Update

Recently our church family was introduced to Kate, Peter, Daniel, and Eliza Bochevar. They are a lovely family from Ukraine that has travelled through many countries to arrive in Arden to stay with family. In June we shared a meal with them at the campus ministry house at UNC Asheville, and in July the oldest child Daniel went with our youth to camp. While continuing to minister to their family, we have asked what their most pressing need is currently. They responded that they would like our help in finding an affordable and reliable car to buy or borrow while they are here. If anyone knows of a vehicle that fits that description that they could borrow/rent/purchase please Regina know.

We greatly appreciate everyone for helping us serve this family in our community and will keep you updated as needs arise.

Ukraine Missionary Testimonies Here!

We were honored to host Gennady and Mina Podgaisky in July. They are Cooperative Baptist missionaries in Ukraine that we support through our missions offerings. For 20 years, the Podgaiskys have served in Kyiv and beyond, running a ministry center for youth and foster families called Village of Hope. (To read more about the Podgaiskys and their ministry, click here.)

During the Sunday School hour at 9:45, the Podgaiskys showed a video presentation in the Fellowship Hall and answered questions. In worship they spoke about the incredible mission work they have done in the past and what they have had to do since the Russian invasion began. Watch their presentation below:

Ukrainian Refugee Family Update

It was a lovely evening a few weeks ago when a few FBCW folks and others got to have dinner with the Bochevar family, who are refugees from Ukraine staying in a cousin’s home in Arden. David Stone arranged for the campus ministry house at UNC-Asheville to be available, great food was enjoyed, and new friendships were made. We look forward to getting to know the Bochevars more in the weeks ahead. The first fun update is that their 16 year-old son Daniel joined our youth boys next week for Youth Camp. And we’ve invited their 9 year-old daughter Eliza to participate in our weekly Kids Summer Arts Camp.

They are from the town of Irpin, which is just outside of Kyiv. They left when Russian missiles started falling on their neighborhood and eventually bombed their building. To read about what has happened in their town, you can read this report from the BBC. It is completely heartbreaking.

We plan to support the Bochevars and other Ukrainians who might end up in our area as they flee from danger.

More Incredible Work from Baptist Churches in and around Ukraine

The latest report from the European Baptist Federation (EBF) notes that needs continue to mount, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that more than 6.2 million people have fled Ukraine, most of those being women, children, and the elderly.

The tragedies caused by Russia’s invasion have been met head-on by Baptists throughout the region. In Romania, which borders Ukraine, Mănăștur Baptist Church has assisted hundreds of refugees with food, medical supplies, housing, transportation, jobs, and emotional support. A Ukrainian passing through there on the way to Italy said the congregation’s support was life-altering: “I never experienced so much love in all my life. We want to be part of such a church, so please help us find one like yours in Italy.”

A group of churches in neighboring Slovakia have started a ministry that sends truckloads of humanitarian aid into Ukraine, and back in Slovakia it helps with doctors’ visits, finding jobs, getting food, and school placement for refugees. The Slovak Baptist Union has also obtained 5,000 Ukrainian children’s Bibles to distribute.

Baptists within Ukraine also have developed and grown comprehensive wartime ministries to aid those trapped in the invasion, often while maintaining the services they provided before—like support for the blind and drug addiction recovery. Irpin Bible Church is housing a team of up to 70 volunteers. They spend each day repairing damaged homes, delivering hot food to the armed forces, and welcoming people into the church to wash clothes, charge phones, and collect basic necessities. Pastors and deacons are on hand to provide pastoral care.

Let us be inspired by all of the incredible work that is going on. Inspired to pray, help, and support.

More Good Missionary Work around Ukraine

Ralph Stocks is a retired missionary to Hungary and Romania. For nearly 25 years, Ralph and his wife Tammy were missionaries with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), so our tithes and offerings were able to support them in their work. But before he served in Eastern Europe, Ralph was also a part of our church!

Tammy & Ralph Stocks

Sensing a new call to serve after Russia invaded Ukraine, Ralph reached out to the folks at Project Ruth, a CBF missionary-run school in Romania, who were already helping refugees from the Ukraine-Romania border get to safety, medical care, and food. Knowing he could really make a difference in their work, Ralph flew to Romania to help. He sat down for an interview to talk about what he is seeing, hearing, and experiencing as he works with people on the Romania-Ukraine border. Listen to Ralph's interview here.

One of the special things that Project Ruth is doing to help Ukrainian families is assembling and distributing food care boxes. Each box contains enough food to feed a family of four for seven days. You can learn about what’s packed in them here, which even includes devotionals in Ukrainian for much-needed encouragement. The cost to pack and transport one of the Food Care Boxes is $44. Anyone can donate money online to help provide them for Ukrainian families by supporting Project Ruth’s food box program here.

A Word from the Pastor – What kind of work are we called to do?(The answer may surprise you.)

Since we’re having a fun lunch this Sunday around the theme of “How can you make a difference,” I’ve been thinking about how everyone is called and gifted to help—both individually and as a church. While pondering some of those different ways, I came across this article about the incredible things a church in Ukraine is doing.

The town of Irpin is outside the community of Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv and the site of horrific destruction and killings. Irpin is sometimes called “the Evangelical Hub of Ukraine” because it has many churches as well as offices for the Ukraine Baptist Union. One of the churches there is Irpin Bible Church (IBC). As soon as Russian troops pulled out of the area, IBC volunteers immediately began delivering food to survivors, cleaning up destroyed buildings, and even removing land mines. (!!) Apparently when the Russians retreated, they left landmines behind to try and kill or maim the people there.

The very idea astounded me. We invite people to volunteer in many ways here—inside and outside the church. But all the good work we do seems so… low-risk, compared to removing landmines. That’s not an activity you’d expect to see on a church Sign-Up Shack.

The Coordination Center of Ukrainian Baptists asked all of us to pray for church volunteers clearing landmines: “prayers for their strength and safety.” That’s quite an understatement. Can you imagine that being on our list of prayer concerns? It’s hard to fathom.

As it turns out, Irpin Bible Church’s ministry center was badly damaged in a bombing raid when the Russians pulled out. (see photo) The congregation had just bought the building a year before; then spent eight months renovating it. I can’t imagine that either. I see everyday the awesome work that our church volunteers are doing on our hallways, ceilings, carpet, gardens, and more. So many work hours they’ve put in to help our church look beautiful, especially as we get ready for our 100th Anniversary this summer. But what if, once we finished, someone bombed our church? It would be heartbreaking.

Despite all of that horror, the pastor of Irpin Bible Church said, “We believe that the Lord will give us the opportunity to rebuild the church building…. But most importantly, we pray for our people in Irpin and try to serve them, so that they will see that in the most difficult times, the Lord is near.” Amazing. What a witness of endurance, service, and strength. (see photo of people sheltering in their church for safety) What an inspiration. And it really puts things in perspective.

The next time we think about the work there is that needs doing, and if our schedules allow it, we can think about the kind of work that church volunteers in Ukraine are doing. Hopefully it will make us all the more thankful for what we have, and the work that we get to do.

Baptist Aid Work in Ukraine

It is inspiring to see how people and churches work together to help those who are suffering in Ukraine:
Small churches are involved in extraordinary efforts. Take the Philadelphia Church in Ternopil, a city in western Ukraine. Despite having only 40 members, every day it receives around 100 people, many with pets, who are evacuating. It gives them food, rest and shelter in its building. In total it has helped 7,000 people, with the help of friends and partners.

The Church of the Transfiguration in Severodonetsk continues to be active, evacuating families, hosting the homeless and distributing food kits to sick and elderly people in the city. The church was only established in 2016 and had previously focused its ministry on people struggling with addictions. Their activities in the war mean that former alcoholics and drug addicts have become true heroes of the faith, preaching the gospel and hope in the Lord.

In the Cherkasy region, more than a thousand displaced people are housed safely in church buildings every night. In Lviv, one local church held a baby shower for three mothers-to-be who had fled the fighting, bringing hope in the midst of suffering. To read more stories of churches in Ukraine helping in inspiring ways, read this article.

North Carolina Baptists have also been helping with disaster relief on the ground near Ukraine and working with local Baptist organizations tirelessly since the Russian began its invasion. They say:
We ask you to join us in prayer for families who have been separated, those who have lost loved ones, and those who are fleeing the violence in their country. Lift up those who are selflessly providing transportation, shelter, counseling, and needed supplies to the refugees—sometimes at great personal risk.

NC Baptists on Mission has committed to assist people in the region, with funds being used to purchase food, medicines, medical supplies, hygiene items, baby food, and other items to assist displaced Ukrainians. We have established ways of getting these items into Ukraine and to the local churches who are caring for refugees. One way is through ready-to-eat meals, as many have no easy way to prepare food themselves. Tons of flour, yeast, and salt are being purchased and sent to local bakeries in the Ukraine, where it is made into loaves of bread. Individuals then receive a loaf of bread, a jar of sausage spread (a local favorite), and part of a cake, which will feed them for a day. We can provide this meal for just $2.

The impact of Russia’s invasion will be felt for a long time. NC Baptists will be there to minister and serve. To make a contribution, make a check payable to Baptists On Mission, designated for Ukraine Crisis, and mailed to: Baptists on Mission, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, P.O. Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512. You may also give online HERE. To read more updates on what North Carolina Baptists are doing there, click here.

Life and Death Ministry in Ukraine and Beyond

We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, who have suffered overwhelming devastation after a month of Russia’s invasion. Here are updates from some of the Baptist ministry work going on in and around the area:

• To read stories of relief work that local Baptist churches are doing for Ukrainian refugees in neighboring Romania and Moldova, click to here.

• Click here to read the first-hand account of a Ukrainian Baptist who helped a group of families escape the bombing in the city of Mariupol.

• There are Baptist missionaries we support who are working all around Eastern Europe. Click here for updates about what they are doing in multiple countries to serve Ukrainians.

Serving and Supporting the Kingdom of God in Ukraine

Fyodor Raychynets is a Ukrainian pastor and theology professor at the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary in Kyiv. Some days he serves the Lord’s Supper to Ukraine’s military. Many days he serves bread to the elderly who are hiding in bomb shelters. He says, “I have to remind myself on a daily basis that we are humans. It is so crucial in the midst of this hell, not to lose our humanity, but to preserve it, and to show it, and to demonstrate it. Because that’s what the people need the most at this moment.” When the Russian invasion began, Raychynets formed a group of volunteers who would serve the people that suffered the most from the war: the elderly. “They are in the basements. They have no idea what’s going on outside the world. They’re just there. Blocked. They are scared to death. They are there hungry, without electricity, without water. So we provide for them.” To read more about Pastor Raychynets’s difficult but truly inspiring work, click here.

The Ukrainian city of Mariupol has been heavily bombed by Russian forces. A Baptist leader there said, “The city is simply wiped off the face of the earth. It is completely destroyed. There is no electricity, all the wires are on the ground. There is no gas, as the gas pipeline is blown up. We have a well in the church, but there is salty water in it, so we drink salty water. There are lots of people in the streets, and they are hungry.” For more reports from Baptist churches in Ukraine and the surrounding countries, read the European Baptist Federation’s Ukraine update by clicking here.

Two weeks ago, a missionary with the Assemblies of God World Mission (AGWM) who lives in Kyiv was asked, “What do you want to say to churches in America?” He said there are huge physical needs due to all the Russian bombing, and because of the despair there are deep spiritual needs too. To watch his 3 minute response, click here.

The Baptists missionaries in Ukraine that we have supported over the years, Mina and Gennady Podgaisky, pleaded for our church to “pray, pray and pray some more, especially during the night in Ukraine. They are 7 hours ahead. In the night is when the bombing, rockets, and plane attacks intensify.” The greatest needs right now are food and water. To give money directly to the Podgaiskys, who will immediately pass it on to their church leaders in Kyiv, click HERE.

God’s Work in Ukraine

One of the missionary projects that our offerings support is Project Ruth in Romania. For decades they have provided a school for hundreds of children from preschool to 8th grade who live in poverty and have been overlooked. They also provide food and support to families, counseling for women, and training for ministers. But recently they have also started to directly serve refugees from neighboring Ukraine who have fled the Russian invasion. So it now includes a shelter that provides three meals a day, a place to shower, and access to nearby embassies. “This is not our ministry in terms of vision or strategy planning. This is all very new to us,” explained Mihail Ciopasiu, executive director of Project Ruth. “This is just a situation where we thought that if we had a building to host refugees, then we should do that. We should do it to show them that we love them just as God loves us.” Sadly, Romania has the highest rate of sex trafficking in all of Europe. Given how vulnerable the refugee women and children are after the long journey into Romania, there is a pressing need for immediate help and protection to avoid the potential of being kidnapped. It is another huge crisis that is unfolding as a side effect from the invasion. Ciopasiu begs, “Pray for the protection of these mothers and children.” To read more about this story and Project Ruth’s work now, click here.

Tragically, the dean of the Slavic Evangelical Seminary in Kyiv was among those shot dead by invading Russian troops. His body was left in the street for days, after he was trying to reach a ministry center for shelter. Read more about the life and ministry of Vitaly Vinogradov here.

This story does not necessarily have a religious connection, but perhaps it does. In the Bible, the first instructions God gave to humans were to tend the garden and care for the animals. To read touching stories about what it's been like for animals in Ukraine’s zoos and the people who care for them, click here and also here.

Supporting Missionary & Recovery Work in Ukraine

Mina & Gennady Podgaisky are Cooperative Baptist missionaries in Ukraine that we support through our missions offerings. For 20 years, the Podgaiskys have served in Kyiv and beyond, running a ministry center for youth and foster families called Village of Hope. They provide counseling services, Bible studies, and family support.

Fortunately, the Podgaiskys had traveled to North Carolina to connect with local churches right before Russia invaded Ukraine, so they are safe. But sadly, the Village of Hope ministry center was bombed this week by the Russian military. Thankfully, everyone had been evacuated, so no one was there at the time of the attack. The families are sheltering in the basement of the local church, along with 50 other people.

We reached out to the Podgaiskys to ask how we can support them, their ministry, and the people of Ukraine during this terrible time. Here is their response:
1). Pray, pray and pray some more, especially during the night in Ukraine. They are 7 hours ahead. In the night is when the bombing, rockets, and plane attacks intensify.

2.) Pray for us and for the children at Village of Hope. We continue ministering every day for long hours via telephone and messages. We are giving encouragement, support, counseling, and coordinating all kinds of help for those staying and those fleeing. Pray for strength, wisdom, and rest.

3.) Share updates on social media, in your church, and with friends so that others can also pray. We need an army of prayer warriors to protect Ukraine, especially Kyiv, the president, and his family.

4.) Donate money. We are constantly sending funds to people in Kyiv. The greatest needs right now are food and water. When someone donates money to us, we can transfer it to our church leaders there and they can withdraw it from an ATM within 15 minutes. So people’s donations make an immediate difference on the ground.

To read more about the Podgaiskys and their ministry, click here. (And read an inspiring article about more ways Baptist churches in and around Ukraine are helping people in incredible ways here.)
To donate directly to the Podgaiskys, who will pass it on to the people of Kyiv, click HERE.