Time and again, I am reminded of a profound truth: God acts as the supreme orchestrator of human destinies. This belief was illustrated recently when geopolitical turmoil led eight women from various towns in Eastern Ukraine to find refuge in Uzhhorod, a city still untouched by the conflict and the furthest from the encroaching Russian forces. In this time of upheaval, representatives from the United Nations were divinely guided to set up their operations within Uzhhorod. They partnered with Nehemiah, a key figure in our Transform Uzhhorod Alliance. Supported by UN resources, Nehemiah embarked on a vital mission to form support groups dedicated to providing trauma counseling for those affected by the war’s ravages.
A decade ago, long before the shadows of war loomed, Providence led me to cross paths with a dedicated youth pastor in Kyiv on the cusp of founding his own congregation, the Youth of God Salvation Church. Over the year that followed, I had the privilege of mentoring his leadership team, helping to sculpt a ministry poised to inspire and engage the youth. When conflict tore through the streets of Kyiv, Pastor Sasha and his wife Marina Masuk, found themselves amongst the early targets of an advancing Russian occupation due to their evangelical faith. Their previous connection with us drew them to seek sanctuary in Uzhhorod. Fate had different plans for them; Sasha was called to serve in the military, while Marina, with her resilient spirit, joined Nehemiah. There, she channeled her strengths into leading a group dedicated to mending the psychological scars of war through trauma counseling.
Marina approached us with a proposal: to utilize our Connections Café, a ministry center well-placed in the heart of the city, for a purpose that transcended its usual calling. It was in this welcoming space that we first encircled the eight women whose lives had been disrupted by the war. They not only found solace in the counseling provided but also in the simple act of sharing coffee, served with care by our own Marina. As the structured program drew to a close, a shared desire to continue gathering at the café emerged among the women. Both Marinas consented, with one significant addition to their gatherings: they sought to invite Jesus into their midst, opening a new chapter of fellowship and healing.
In this latest movement of God’s grand symphony, the divine maestro directed his baton towards Hope For Ukraine, a crucial part of our Transform Uzhhorod Alliance. Fresh from their creative endeavor, they had crafted ‘Group of Trust’, a curriculum designed with the internally displaced in mind. This initiative found its first expression with our intimate circle of eight, who served as the vanguard for this compassionate outreach. As the course unfolded, each woman discovered a new path, embracing faith in Jesus. Their personal transformations found a poignant moment of celebration on International Women’s Day, a testament to the new, everlasting life they found through their unity in faith.
The orchestral narrative of faith and transformation continues to unfold, with the Great Conductor initiating the third movement of this divine symphony. The baton points now to another collaborator within the Transform Uzhhorod Alliance, the Church of the Living God, as they commence a new Alpha Course. It is here that our eight women will venture next, embarking on a journey of discipleship, nurturing the seeds of their newfound faith. Yet, anticipation builds for the fourth movement, a promised crescendo where the full glory and impact of this symphony will be revealed, harmonizing the echoes of change with a powerful finale.