Introduction
In early March I led a small team of volunteers from the UK-based charity, Dnipro Hope Mission, to visit our ministry partners in Ukraine. In the following reflections, I aim to capture not only the outward journey of travelling to and from Ukraine but also the inward journey of our Ukrainian ministry friends, whose faith, courage and dignity continue to inspire and challenge me.
This was already the third DHM trip to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022 and, as usual, significant time was spent in transit, which allowed plenty of opportunity for the DHM team members to bond and pray together. With the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, anyone wishing to visit Ukraine must factor in a couple of days’ travel just to reach the Ukrainian border.
Crossing the border into Ukraine on the train, I felt a sense of joy mingled with a strong note of apprehension. The moment when we finally arrived at our destination was a moving occasion that I will remember for many years to come. Several of our Ukrainian friends were waiting outside the hotel as we arrived in our minibus. They formed a column, welcoming us with wide smiles and warm embraces as we disembarked and made our way to the conference venue.
Having been praying constantly for our Ukrainian partners, we had come to Ukraine as a group of DHM volunteers to visit our Ukrainian friends in person. We wanted to show them that we were standing with them – not only through our prayers, but also in the solidarity and vulnerability of our physical presence.
Finding Faith in Suffering
As we prayed, wept and worshipped with our Ukrainian friends, we touched on crucial themes of suffering, death, life and hope. I was struck by the courage, dignity and fortitude of our Ukrainian friends and by how the light of the gospel shines even more brightly against such a dark backdrop of grief and pain. Each conversation I had with our Ukrainian friends illustrated their suffering in body, mind, and spirit while simultaneously highlighting the transformative power of their faith in Christ.
It is hard to convey in words the unimaginable hardships our Ukrainian friends have had to endure these past three years. They have experienced first-hand the full horror of the war in all its brutality and rawness. They have seen death and destruction every day for three years without respite. They have collected the remains of children whose limbs and heads were severed by Russian missiles or crushed under debris from bombed buildings. One DHM partner, Pastor Sergei, who serves as a chaplain to the Ukrainian Army recalled how he had witnessed countless mortally-wounded young men die in the most horrific circumstances.
Our Ukrainian ministry partners operate in a climate of constant chaos, danger and uncertainty. Several of the DHM ministry partners are putting their lives in mortal danger every day. They are organising evacuations of people stuck in towns and villages very close to the frontline that are under constant Russian bombardment. They are delivering vital supplies of food, water and medicines to people trapped in bomb shelters. They are bringing wounded soldiers and civilians out of the frontline areas to hospitals in Dnipro and Zaporizhe. They are saving countless lives, even as they risk their own lives in the process.
Through the example of my Ukrainian friends, I witnessed how resilient the human spirit can be when it is anchored in a divine purpose. They are driven by a deep sense of Christian duty to support their fellow suffering Ukrainians amidst the all-encompassing devastation. It is through their acts of bravery and compassion that they not only provide hope in an otherwise bleak situation, but also embody the spirit of solidarity that transcends mere survival: they are not only saving lives, but restoring dignity to those whose lives have been completely devastated by the Russian invasion by bringing these people into a community and compassion and care.
The Restorative Power of Community
This, for me, was one of the most gratifying discoveries of this latest DHM trip to Ukraine: the restorative power of community. Beyond the aid packages and the life-saving material support that the DHM partners have been able to offer to countless people, the most impressive and impactful aspect of DHM’s ministry has been the sense of community that has developed among the ministry partners themselves. The importance of community during these difficult times cannot be overstated. During my recent trip to Ukraine, I gained a new appreciation for the way that God uses community to restore hope and encourage his people.
Before they came in to contact with DHM, very few of the ministry partners knew each other. They were often practicing their ministry in isolation with next to no resources and no one to encourage them or to recognise the value of their work. Since their partnership with DHM, they have formed a very special bond with the other ministry partners, which finds expression in many different ways. Not only do they keep in regular contact via social media to share their prayer requests, but many of them now meet up regularly in person and open up their homes to each other, so that they can support each other while they are travelling to and from the frontline regions.
This year we intentionally planned for a more relaxed time with few formal sessions and plenty of opportunity simply to relax. As part of the itinerary, we arranged a walk in the beautiful countryside surrounding the town where we were staying. We made a trip to a nearby thermal spa where our Ukrainian ministry partners could spend a few hours relaxing in peace and quiet away from the demands, rigours and dangers of their grueling ministry in the war-torn areas where they live.
One afternoon we treated our Ukrainian friends to a sumptuous meal at a nearby local restaurant that served us generous helpings of delicious local food. After this feast, we had a prayerful walk around a lake with the beautiful Carpathian Mountains providing a sublime backdrop of beauty and soul-restoring serenity.
Tribute to the Dedication of the DHM Volunteers
As well as discovering a new admiration for our Ukrainian ministry partners, I also came home from the retreat with a profound respect and appreciation for the remarkable team of DHM volunteers who accompanied me on this journey, each of whom uniquely contributed their gifts to bless and comfort our Ukrainian friends.
Dave Benson from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity brought not only creativity and a sense of fun, but also deep theological insight to our discussions and prayers. Dave’s remarkable ability as a gifted teacher and communicator was complemented by his role as an attentive listener, as he gave prayerful heed to countless stories of suffering shared by our Ukrainian companions. His willingness to pray with each person reflected the heart of Christ in action. It was a joy to share this time of ministry with him.
Jose Arrais, a dear friend I have come to cherish in recent years since I first met him at a Mennonite conference in 2018, enriched our group in many ways. Jose is the European Director of the Mennonite World Conference and his remarkable ability to relate and connect with people makes him uniquely suited to his networking role within the MWC, as well as a powerful advocate for DHM, which he serves as a member of our International Advisory Board.
Jose’s warm and sanguine Portuguese temperament helped to dispel some of the gloom and despondency that had settled upon us during difficult times of praying and sharing. His sociability is complemented by a deep empathy and a remarkable ability to connect with people in a way that instills trust, hope and encouragement. I also value his free and open ecumenical spirit, which transcends boundaries of nationality, language and denominational labels. He was a blessing to our group and an inspiration to us all.
The contributions of Rodger and Margaret Murchison, a precious godly couple from the United States, cannot be overstated. Margaret possesses a profound gift for caring and empathy, which, combined with her deep wisdom and strong maternal instincts, soon led her to become a mother-figure to all our ministry partners. For his part, Rodger has been a formative influence in my own life as a theologian and Christian leader. He possesses a rare ability to provide the right words at the right time and his wisdom to know how to respond in every situation with grace and good humour was a blessing to our group.
For over seven years, Rodger and Margaret have been travelling with me to Ukraine, taking risks and showing indefatigable support for our Ukrainian friends. Their willingness to immerse themselves in DHM’s challenging and often unrewarding ministry to Ukraine speaks volumes about the depth and integrity of their faith. They have not only provided vital financial support and travelled entirely at their own expense, but have also offered prayerful guidance and moral support to our ministry partners in their darkest hours.
The sense of community among the ministry partners that was so palpable during this recent pastors’ retreat would not have been possible without Rodger and Margaret. Their leadership has transformed these fellowship gatherings into safe spaces of healing and encouragement. The Murchisons embody the heart of DHM’s ethos and ministry. Their influence has made a lasting impact on our ministry and they are deservedly held in great honour and affection by all our Ukrainian friends. I am profoundly indebted to Rodger and Margaret for their selfless service to Ukraine over several years, as well as for the countless ways they have enriched my life and ministry through their exemplary servant-heartedness.
Conclusion: The Journey of DHM Continues…
As I reflect on this extraordinary trip to Ukraine, I was reminded as soon as I arrived back home that the outward journey may be over, but the inward journey is just beginning. I intend to use the precious memories of this trip as a clarion call to summon all Christians and other people of good will to demonstrate solidarity with our suffering Ukrainian friends. In the face of despair and in a time of great political uncertainty, we must renew our commitment to uplift our Ukrainian friends through prayer and concrete acts of support and solidarity.
If we assume that this war is taking place thousands of miles away and does not concern us, let us remember that we are all interconnected within the body of Christ. As Martin Luther King put it so powerfully: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Our commitment to standing alongside our Ukrainian brothers and sisters is an act of faith: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11).
I pray that our collective response will be one of hope, resilience, and solidarity as we rise to the challenge of this evil, devastating and senseless war. The future rests in God’s hands, and we remain steadfast in our conviction that His righteousness will ultimately prevail.
As we share in the burdens of our Ukrainian friends, may we also assure them that they are never alone in their struggle and that their calls for justice and peace resonate throughout eternity. I pray that we will have the grace and courage to carry the torch of the gospel before them to illuminate the dark path that we tread together and that, in journeying together through suffering, we can create a lasting legacy of hope and peace.
