‘People need hope’: Ukrainian missionaries seeking support in Medicine Hat

The pair have lived in Ukraine for more than three decades. As the war in that country stretched into its third month, they set out for North America.

Abraham says they came at the request of church leaders “to try to raise money for renewal in the fall time when people come back and they need to establish a new living basically from scratch, from nothing.”

They intend to start with about 100 Centres of Hope.

“People need hope. Most people that go back they’re so devastated deeply inside that they just shrivel up and sit not knowing how to begin,” Abraham says. “So they need Centres of Hope with leaders there who are trained in trauma counselling and other help and then helping first of all to give the people hope Because their minds are shot, their emotions are just gone and deep down inside it’s long-term trauma.”

The Bibles landed in Ohio in late April, travelled to the West Coast and are making their way back east through Canada.

Along the way, they’ve met with individuals, non-profits, church groups and more. Abraham says the people he speaks with are concerned about the war. They’re praying and would like to see more action from western governments, including Canada and the U.S., in terms of helping and avoiding the bloodshed, he adds.

Abraham says everyone is invited to Hillcrest tonight to listen to Diane and him, ask questions and learn how to help.

The pair has been blogging about their time in North America at renew-ukraine.life. You can contact them at victory@bibleyp.com.

Hillcrest Church is located at 3785 13 Ave. SE.

by Chris Brown

‘People need hope’: Ukrainian missionaries seeking support in Medicine Hat

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