Featured Photo: Last Sunday two people were baptized. It’s a joyful event for the Church and for the Lord. An elderly couple from Kharkiv region stopped in Bela Tserkva fleeing from the war. We helped them out…They got attached to the Church, experienced our love and care, attended the services regularly, and studied with us the Word of God. As the result these two got on the way of salvation. We pray that they will be an example for the group of other refugees who also attend our services regularly. Every Wednesday we keep on distributing the food packages and preaching the Gospel to newly resettled citizens of our city (whoever they are, they are seen as souls needing God’s love and mercy).
The mission team has returned and hit the ground running! Perry is on another trip with AP going to Arizona for a special presentation that Jeff Miller has planned. Gif helped supervise the loading of a container going to Odesa. I am in Columbia, TN making some reports to contacts. And Chip is running full-open following his return! All returned well and no lost bags. But all were exhausted by the events of the trip.
Among the positives I see on this trip was a meeting that Gif and I had with a group seeking to target rehabilitation needs in Ukraine. This will focus on helping those impacted by the war to find recovery and resume a positive role in their communities throughout the nation. The focus will be on physical, emotional, social (family) and spiritual rehabilitation. I have been asked to help coordinate the spiritual rehabilitation and this will be on a nationwide level. I am already in contact with faithful brethren who will be involved. It is encouraging to me that there is national encouragement for this spiritual rehabilitation effort. This coming week there is a high-level meeting of those who are trained to treat PTSD in Washington, DC. I cannot attend but Charita and Bogdana are attending and will pass along the necessary information. The invitation for the Churches of Christ to coordinate the spiritual rehabilitation results from the massive humanitarian aid that we have shipped.
Speaking of shipping…upon returning we have 3 containers that will be filled and shipped. On 20 October we loaded a container with med supplies, hospital beds, and other items that is going to Odesa. On 27 October we will load another container with med supplies and hospital beds and it will go to Lviv. On 30 October we are loading a container that is going into Kherson and will have Family Buckets, school furnishing, med supplies and many other items that are begged for those impacted by the dam’s destruction and the constant bombing.
News from Bela Tserkva
I have just received brother Denis Sopelnik’s recent update and want to share part with you. His news illustrates very well Inspiration’s principle “We do good unto ALL men and especially those of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Denis’ words and actions are a great encouragement to me.
Dear brothers and sisters, as well as the congregations, We are very grateful for your prayers and your help that you constantly send to our country and the congregations of the Church of Christ. The winter time is approaching and we are praying that we will have the opportunity to live through the colder time of the year. The warfare continues and, sadly, thousands of people die daily for the ambitions and desires of the handful of people with the power.
Last Sunday two people were baptized. It’s a joyful event for the Church and for the Lord. An elderly couple from Kharkiv region stopped in Bela Tserkva fleeing from the war. We helped them out, sent them food and helped in resolving their problems. Some brothers would take them to the doctors’ appointments, helped them make their living place more comfortable. They got attached to the Church, experienced our love and care, attended the services regularly, and studied with us the Word of God. As the result these two got on the way of salvation. We pray that they will be an example for the group of other refugees who also attend our services regularly. Every Wednesday we keep on distributing the food packages and preaching the Gospel to newly resettled citizens of our city (whoever they are they are seen as souls needing God’s love and mercy). This is a good opportunity to meet people and establish some friendships. May God keep you safe and take care of you, Your brother,
Dennis Sopelnik
News from Zaporozhe
An earlier report focused on a group that traveled to meet me and Gif since we were told it was too dangerous for us to go there. It was a delightful visit with those we have worked with for many years. Upon their return a news report was published in the newspaper. Here is the translated copy and the entire article is in a PDF below.
ZAP-MIG-Newspaper-BinderSouvenirs from Zaporizhzhia and sincere gratitude to charity provider John Kachelman, Jr.
It is not for the first time that John Kachelman Jr. has come to Ukraine. He is the head of Ukraine Missions, a mission of Churches of Christ, an American protestant community. John helps coordinate and supply relief shipments for Ukraine and other countries.
“The humanitarian aid allows the people of Ukraine to see our love for them as people and open their hearts and minds to listening to the saving Gospel message”, reads the introductory article at www.kachelman.con/ukraine/blog/about/. With John’s initiative, the frontline inhabitants constantly receive loads of humanitarian aid, namely clothes, medicines and medical equipment. Beginning February 2022, the Churches of Christ broadened the scope and started shipping relief items to other Regions of Ukraine.
The Benevolent Foundation “Veterans of Chornobyl” has developed sincere friendly relationship with John. Thanks to this work, dozens of medical institutions in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions have received modern equipment.
Humanitarian items shipped to the Benevolent Foundation “Veterans of Chornobyl” in spring 2022 – hygiene supplies, orthopedic mattresses and basic household items – have played an important role in meeting the needs of internally displaced people and special needs citizens of Zaporizhzhia under the patronage of the Foundation.
Thus, to see someone who’s so involved with what’s going on in Ukraine, the Board of Directors of the Foundation “Veterans of Chornobyl” Oleksander Kovalenko, Inna and Eugene Migulia, went to meet with John. They couldn’t help but respond to the current visit of their old friend and, finally, have an opportunity to visit with him in person. John Kachelman received national souvenirs made by Zaporizhzhia craftsmen. He was updated on the work on the Foundation and together they discussed opportunities and plans for future partnership.
Ukraine Missions has worked in Ukraine since 1994, when John came to Ukraine on a mission trip for the first time. He worked in Donetsk Region then. Mission trips became yearly and were focused on evangelistic efforts in the new independent country of Ukraine that was growing from Russian chains, – informs www.kachelman.com/ukraine/blog.
Soon John realized it was necessary to come to this country twice a year, for he understood the real life in Ukraine and developed personal relationship with people here, which made humanitarian work fitting and precise. Within almost 30 years of partnership, Ukraine Missions have shipped thousands of containers of humanitarian aid for Ukrainians. And the work goes on.
Inesa Atamanchuk
Let me conclude this final report on the 2023 Fall Mission Trip with a BIG THANK YOU to all who supported this trip financially and with constant prayers. Thank you for your expressions of encouragement and concern for those suffering a historic evil in Ukraine. Please pray for the development of the rehabilitation project and that we will still find a firm backing and support from Ukraine’s national governing.
John L. Kachelman, Jr. Montgomery, AL
Photo Below: The Church of Christ assembled in Bela Tserkva, Ukraine!
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