Ukraine Prayer # 479

Yulia Kolesnikova
Here is a short summary from the ministry in Lukashivka with local youth. Our team going there every month and building relationships with people in the village. We hope that the Youth Centre will be restored and these people will have a place to gather and learn more about God. 
 
From the first days of the full-scale invasion, this village were highlighted to us. When we saw the destroyed Orthodox church in the first days of the liberated Lukashivka, as a symbol of the broken lives of many people ... broken, but liberated! How much grief these people experienced and did not lose hope and opened their hearts to faith in the One who is next to them, even in those terrible circumstances. Hope and faith are what our team brings, every time we visit these incredible teenagers who are open to communication and relationships with us and God who guides us.
 
The last few times, together with the local youth, who are just turning their hearts to Christ, they went to the homes of poor and injured people and brought them hope and love in the form of food packages, medicines and prayers for healing and salvation!
 
After listening to the stories of these incredibly courageous people who want to continue their relationship with us and God - this is exactly how the Church of Jesus Christ should be planted. Our last time we visited the local children, whom their parents lovingly brought, despite the severe frost, to celebrate Christmas. After receiving wonderful gifts and Bibles in their native language, people were incredibly grateful for this time. The local youth are very grateful for the restoration of the roof and windows at the local old school, where a youth center is planned, which they, together with us, plan to renovate this spring.
 
Pray for our teams who continue to bring hope to these wartorn places in so many different ways. Pray for the youth of Ukraine who are growing up in the midst of incredible evil and yet in the midst of such kindness and love being shown to them.
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Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team