Ukraine Update: Day 10 of Russian Invasion

UKRAINE – Rev. Roland Syens, Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) pastor emeritus and former LCC Missionary-at-Large to Ukraine, has written the following letter providing further updates concerning the people and pastors of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU):

Today as I write it is Saturday, March 5, 2022. I have been able to talk with a number of our pastors in Ukraine and have been asked to share the updated information.  

Pastor Oleg Schewtschenko is in Odessa and has just returned from driving refugees fleeing from Ukraine to the Romanian Border.  He along with Bishop Alexander Yurchenko and some of the other pastors continue to drive from Odessa to the Romanian or Polish border to take the women and children and elderly to safety. At the border they have contact with a Romanian Lutheran pastor whose son is at the border helping to process papers and get those coming to people who can help. 

Pastor Oleksiy Navrotskyy is in the city of Nikolaev (Mykolaiv) he has sent his wife, Vika, and two sons to Romania where Vika, when she crossed into Romania was asked to help others with paper work. Now she and her sons are in Germany staying with members of the Lutheran Congregations who also have Russian/Ukrainian roots. Pastor Navrotskyy continues to provide shelter and help through the congregation he serves. At this time he has informed me that most of the women and children of his congregation have now left for Romania and then to Germany. He cares for his mother who did not want to leave as well as some of the elderly in the church keeping it open for those who need shelter. Very often he hears the sounds of war in the distance. Pray that the LORD give him wisdom for what next steps to take. 

Pastor Sergei Bevz in Dnipro has sent his wife with two small children to Germany. The church in Dnipro has opened its doors to help others, many as they need a place as they pass through to get to other countries. The town of Zarya where he also serves has been preparing themselves to receive refugees and also to help the soldiers who pass through. Most of the villagers have prepared their root cellars with supplies so that when the fighting draws nearer they have a safe place to take shelter. They continue to share the love of God and the faith that comes in Jesus. Pastor Bevz has been using his vehicle to transport people to the train station in Dnipro to get on the special evacuation trains or to drive people to Odessa and connect with Pastor Schewtschenko and the others to take them to the border.  

Pastor Valera Verba continues to help in Odessa as his town of Nova Kakhovka has been invaded by Russian forces and he is trying to find ways to help by getting food to his members. He also helps with the driving of refugees to the borders. 

Pastor Rudolph Kraus is serving a congregation in Yalta, Crimea. He is fine as he was already part of Russia when they annexed the Crimea on February 20, 2014. He continues to serve and is very concerned for his fellow pastors.  

The other pastors are holding up with Jesus holding them up. It is a very difficult time as they never know when a bomb will hit their area. However, they continue to share Jesus and are so grateful for the faith that God has given to them. When times of fear grow and the stress gets very difficult they tell me that they are comforted by the fact that the LORD is their Shepherd and that they have salvation because of His sacrifice on the cross.  

Our mission in Lviv – Dima is our contact person and his wife and two children are in Poland. He continues to be a resource person to help people at train stations who need to change trains, to give information on border lines and help out where he can. He has a great faith in God and a great love for Jesus.  

Practical Needs

Practical needs – They need finances as they have been needing to drive many kilometers to transport people and gas tanks need to be filled. They need money for food as they care for others. They need finances to help others who have no finances to travel by trains or a few dollars when they cross over borders. They need money to help those they feed in the churches, that have become a lighthouse of hope, for those fleeing or who have already lost their homes to war. They need support as they minister to soldiers and feed them and share the message of God’s love for them in Jesus.   

Pray, pray, pray

Ministry continues as they have the greatest message to share with people who are desperate for hope, help and eternal life. Thank you for your prayers. Pray for God’s wisdom to our pastors in Ukraine who need to make quick and life changing decisions.  

Pray for border guards that God would give them compassion and wisdom as they process people through the borders. Pray for Russian soldiers who don’t know God’s love for them so that their eyes might be opened to see God’s heart. Pray for the leaders of all countries that God gives them wisdom to know how to fight this battle. Give wisdom to all those who are making decisions in this invasion to bring it to an end. Especially pray for orphans, physically challenged individuals whose mobility is limited and for all the children who don’t understand and need love, especially God’s love in Christ Jesus. Pray for churches as they open up their facilities and care for others so that they are given the supplies they need to care for others and the wisdom to help others in their time of crisis.  Pray, pray, pray. for God’s help and His will to be done.  

Support

If you want to help financially and would like the funds to go to our churches in Ukraine and the ministry they are giving to others then please send your gifts to Lutheran Church–Canada’s Ukraine Aid Fund.

In prayer… for Ukraine and Russia,

Pastor Roland Syens  

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Rev. Roland Syens, pastor emeritus in Vancouver, B.C., is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s former Missionary-at-Large to Ukraine.

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