Featured Photo: A constant barrage of missiles and artillery bombardment continues in the eastern Regions of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia. Even though Ukraine is regaining the occupied areas, there are many who continue to be displaced. Here is a group gathering for evacuation to a region that is safer. Old ladies, mothers, and children wait for transport to locations in the west.
Our on-going efforts in Ukraine continue. I can well identify with those in Gideon’s army who were “exhausted (weary) yet still pursuing” (Judges 8:4). They were exhausted by the constancy of the task BUT they refused to relent—they still pursued!
Judges 8:4 summarizes our resolve in the current efforts to assist Ukrainians struggling against Putin’s evil.
It is wearying to face the constant labors required; to reply to the never-ending communication; to read the morning’s briefings of events from the previous 24 hours; to attending the funerals of those whose lives have been terminated much too soon; to mourning with those who have lost loved ones to evil. I could continue the list of exhausting tasks, but I think you understand.
Our response continues. We have loaded at least four containers since the last update. These containers have had over 600 Family Buckets that many of you collected plus valued medical supplies, hygiene products and other urgently needed items.
In the next update I want to give you a summary of these loads and personal reports on how God’s People are distributing and consequently teaching the love of God and seeing the increase from the harvest! We ship these items for this purpose and it is encouraging to hear brethren all over Ukraine report on their constant involvement. These are to be commended as they are “exhausted (weary) yet pursuing”!
There is never acceptance of duty dereliction—such is treasonous to one’s sworn duty. There is no justification for not doing one’s duty. A protocol that has always guided my efforts is that if one is not faithfully discharging the assigned duty, then immediate replacement is warranted. These brethren need our constant support and prayers in their labors. If these good results are not visible then something is wrong.
Our labor “here” is focused on our “hereafter.” Illustrating this is the following report that comes from our brother Marlon Rutherford (Hatton Church of Christ in Town Creek AL). I received this report and asked Marlon if I could share it on this website. He graciously replied, “Brother John: We certainly appreciate all the work you have done and are doing for the Cause of Christ. Yes, feel free to share this. I will never forget the day Volodia and Muza traveled five hours in minus 40 weather to be baptized.”
“Compassionate Soldier of the Cross”
Our Brother Volodia Vakrushev of Ukhta, Russia has gone to be with the Lord. What a wonderful, compassionate man was Volodia. Being a medical doctor, he would treat many patients free of charge to get an opportunity to share the gospel with them. He and his wife Muza were a dynamic team for our Lord. They had great love for the lost and especially for the orphans/foster kids in Children’s Shelter in Ukhta. He gave Bibles to everyone that wanted one even when he was under surveillance and threatened by the authorities. The following is a letter he wrote me in his own words:
“Before Muza and I drove to Syktyvkar to be baptized on that great day February 23, 1992, I was one of the blessed people in the Soviet Union, who had a chance to even see a Bible. Millions of people in the Soviet Union were born and died never seeing the Bible. I was 42 years old MD in Ukhta, when I got my own Bible. Really, it was not a completed Bible. It was not all New Testament. This small blue book, the Gospel of John only, was smuggled to the Soviet Union during the Cold War by brave people and given to me in a crowded market (it was safer for them). For many years I carried this book with me everywhere. I read it and reread it. I memorized it. So, when the iron curtain was broken and I met your dad (Harold) and you, I was prepared to accept only true Church of Christ or, better to say, I was prepared to be accepted by Lord’s only Church.”
We were able to purchase a larger meeting place for the Vorkuta, Russia congregation. We were able to purchase the “Big House” in Lviv, Ukraine for displaced Christians who lost their homes in Eastern part of Ukraine due to the war. Many Ukrainian refugees living in Warsaw Poland are hearing and obeying the gospel. Preachers who are in the most difficult situation are continuing to receive their support.
Continuing our efforts for the war traumatized
I also want to repeat a reference I posted several months ago regarding our sister Theresa Winnett’s book “Helping Children of War.” Theresa is assisting the Lord’s efforts in emotional rehabilitation of the children. I have had opportunity to discuss her book and work with a number of those in Ukraine’s governing. We are now involved in efforts that will help the war traumatized to work through their terrors (more on this to come). Theresa’s book has been updated with a second edition. It is in both English and Ukrainian with no content removed from original version but 20 new pages added. Here is the link to the book. Please feel free to distribute to anyone that may find it useful. Helping Children of War Ebook
Compassionate care for the children of war
Our efforts have long focused on the welfare of children in Ukraine. When Russia first invaded in 2014 we worked with a number of people to move children from the orphanages in Donetsk and Kharkov into more secure locations in the west. As we have reported and the media has also noted, Russia has kidnapped and removed 700,000+ children from Ukraine into Russia. The first few weeks of the 2014 invasion saw frantic efforts to move these children before Russian troops seized them. These efforts have been on-going since 2014 but with the full-scale invasion of 2022 the activity has increased. Here is a report on one of our contacts who is receiving food and supplies for the children.
Our greetings to you John and Churches of Christ, we want to thank you for your sincere, kind and caring heart for our country and for our pain, and especially for our children. We bought food and distributed it among the many children who were brought from war-torn areas. Today, we take care of 195 children who currently live in Kyiv region in families. We are making preparation for moving 500 children to Lviv region as winter is approaching. Thankfully there is a sports center that has agreed to house children for winter. Your assistance in feeding these children makes this possible. Once again, thank you very much and God’s blessings to you, your family and Christians who show compassion. Nikolay and Galina Kaminskiy
IVAN’S REPORT
Greetings, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. With God, your prayers and support, we have lived through another month despite the war and all the problems that is has brought about and continues to create. We thank all of you for the brothers on the mission team that visited us. It was a wonderful time spent together in fellowship. All of us sensed a little different world and spirit. Church here is very grateful to you for your support and wonderful Bible classes taught by brothers Chip, Perry, Gif and brother John. We also visited a lot of groups, where people thanked Church of Christ for help and the Christian example of love and spiritual support.
I reckon that brothers have described everything many a time in their reports to the church, since they saw everything with their own eyes and had many opportunities to meet with people to hear and feel what all Ukraine and our congregation are going through.
Of course, we didn’t get to do everything planned with our brothers from America. War and martial law make it impossible to plan everything well, so we had to change meeting and visiting plans. But everything went great and with Lord’s grace much good was done. We have some new people that started coming and we study the Bible with them. We meet with them and study the Bible individually, for there are many questions people prefer to ask one-on-one. Especially true is it for the questions related to differences between the orthodox doctrine and church of Christ, such as salvation and baptism of infants/children. The problem with them is that many consider themselves baptized in childhood as saved, because priests teach that and they are convinced of this from their childhood. There’s also a big problem with the original sin. These doctrines are rooted deeply in people’s minds. Much time is needed to teach them and re-convince based on the Bible. Thus, the Lord through the war destroys the strongholds of people’s mindset and values that contradict His plan of salvation for mankind. It hurts a lot and some cannot stand it.
We assemble in the church building twice a week – Wednesday and Sunday. During the week, we get together at different places for Bible studies and fellowship that we do individually either at people’s homes or at a café with a cup of coffee.
With it being fall, we try to store up wood for heating in winter when freezing weather comes as well as diesel for the generator. The government is warning us that the enemy is planning to shell power stations and public utility providers. Together with the men, we have prepared the bomb shelter, have put in basement windows and have prepared sacks with sand to protect the building from air bombs and fragments.
Please, keep us in your prayers asking the Lord to give us strength and ability to survive winter and freezing weather. May God keep you safe! Guard yourselves and your country. Preach the Gospel to avert God’s anger and have time for salvation and future for children and grandchildren. Thanks to all! We love you! Ivan and Svitlana
Ruslan’s Report
Greetings to all of you and thanks for the visitors. Despite the war in the country, we have had meetings with friends in the Region and the city of Ivano-Frankivsk itself. I guess everybody has already reported on the trip and meetings. Of course, we didn’t do 100% of the things planned, for wars change rules and conditions, introducing lots of restrictions and obstacles as compared to peacetime. May God bless you!
THANK YOU to all who have sent donations that have made it possible to ship thousands of TONS of relief supplies. Our efforts continue and so we continue asking for funds to continue paying for shipments. To help us continue shipping please donate to UKRAINE MISSIONS: https://www.dalraida.org/helpukraine/
John L. Kachelman, Jr. Dalraida Church of Christ, Montgomery, Alabama
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