Featured Photo: From Panama…“This is the mayor of the province. They were excited over receiving the chairs. This is an Indian lady who will cherish the chair. Have a Merry Christmas.” (Larry Brady)
Inspiration governs our actions…1 Peter 2:12, “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may, because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.”
The Touch of Kindness
In 1945, when Ravensbrück concentration camp was finally liberated, the survivors were almost unrecognizable—skeletal, covered in lice, their hair twisted into hopeless knots after years without care. Among the medical staff who entered was a young nurse with a small satchel. Inside were scalpels, bandages…and a simple comb. She approached a woman sitting quietly on a bench and began to pass the comb gently through her hair. Slowly, patiently, she untangled it—strand by strand, knot by knot. It was a gesture of tenderness in a place where only cruelty had existed. The woman trembled and then broke down in tears. Through sobs, she whispered: “No one has touched me with kindness since before the war.”
That moment was more than hygiene—it was the return of dignity, humanity, and the reminder that someone still cared. Years later, the nurse would say that though she had carried medical tools into Ravensbrück, it was the comb that brought the greatest healing. Even in the darkest places, mercy has the power to reach the human soul.
This historical antidote frames our obligation with the gospel’s power—it is in our hands to be used to touch, with kindness, those living in cruelty! It reveals the hope of dignity that only the absolute Truth of God is able to bring into a person’s life. And…Christians are the instruments for dispensing that hope for humanity’s dignity!
Our Mission is to Invite All to “Hope in the Lord!”
Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord.” Biblical hope looks to God’s promises in His Word, trusting Him to supply what we need (Philippians 4:19). Our hope is not some nebulous wish for better things/situations. Our hope is authentic, trustworthy, and powerful. The Church is to “rejoice in hope” (Romans 12:12). Habakkuk survived struggles because he was filled with great hope “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:18). “Yet I will” was Habakkuk’s choice telling us that no matter what happens in life, when our hope is in God, we can praise Him regardless. Choosing hope helps us trust God when we grow impatient with our circumstances. Psalm 62:5 says, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”
Our mission is to communicate the touching kindness of the gospel so that recipients will find security in “hope” through study and obedience to the gospel. Our efforts invite, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
When I think of “hope,” I recall this text, “(R)emember that you were at that time…having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you…have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:12-14). How wonderful it is to see the hopeless become hopeful!
“How delightful are the feet of one who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7).
News from Gif in Ivano-Frankivsk
Note: John Durham and Gif are working on holiday boxes for the children of war—those displaced, orphaned, and those insecure and fearful. These desperately need a “touch of kindness”! Here is Gif’s report on this on-going effort.
“Hello there! As requested, here are pictures of the items we were preparing today. If I remember correctly, there are 78 children in Kherson and one “mother” who will receive these, and then about 26 children in Kramatorsk. We are still waiting on one more item to be delivered and hoping it comes tomorrow so we can ship everything tomorrow afternoon. John D said one couple donated for this, and The Galaxy Center was critical for getting it done.
“They had a Christmas party for the language teachers at UKD today and invited me, which I thought was nice. Denys and Irina texted yesterday to tell me we would be ready to start packing today I, so I could not attend the party. I heard UKD teachers were sad I could not make it, but they understood why.
“Several folks are out of town for the holidays so we only had seven at Church yesterday but just about all who were traveling watched online.
“Will let you know when we get pictures from the children receiving these items.”
A summary of 2025 Actions!
An amazing accounting occurs when our efforts are summed up at year’s end! Even more amazing is that these are the tangible numbers but the intangible, unseen impact of our effort is working like leaven spreading and opening doors for the preaching of “hope” in the coming years!
Look at what YOU helped us accomplish in 2025!
- ➢ Total projects 2025: 32
- ➢ Total Value Shipped: $4,758,573.00
- ➢ Total Weight Shipped: 451,775 pounds shipped
- ➢ Nations impacted 2025: Panama, Poland, Republic of Georgia, Tanzania, Ukraine
Vladimir Paziy: “The Story of One Family”
I appreciate this report from Vlad regarding a family displaced by the war. I met this family in Warsaw on my last visit and Vlad related the background. I love and appreciate Vlad (and Oksana) for evangelistic vision! I recall brother Otis Gatewood saying that all Christians should have 20/20 evangelistic vision. He referenced Acts 20:20 as the basis of his point. Vlad and Oksana definitely have 20/20 evangelistic vision!
“I met Vladimir in Kramatorsk in 2019, before the war, when we ordered a large table from him for our kitchen. Vladimir was the director of a unique woodworking business.
“I was so surprised when, attending a Church meeting in Warsaw, where Yuri and Sergey were helping Ukrainians fleeing the war, I ran into Vladimir! He had been invited by our brother from Lyman, Leonid. It was a warm and joyful meeting.
“Vladimir was baptized and began inviting his family, who had also moved from Slovyansk (15 km from Kramatorsk). First, his brother-in-law Mikhail came and was baptized, then Vladimir’s wife, Zoya, also accepted baptism, and later their daughter, Mikhail’s wife, Kristina, was baptized as well. Today, Mikhail’s son regularly joins them, and I hope he will follow the example of his whole family.
“This story, which began for me in 2019, is wonderfully beautiful and unique. Different people — Yuri, Leonid, Sergey, and the Church in Warsaw — helped bring this family to the Lord. Today, they are a foundation of the Church, and I am sincerely joyful about this. Thank you for teaching us how to bring such families to the Lord.”
A Special Prayer Request from Vlad
My brother Maksym continues his service, and I am very concerned for him. He tries to do what is right, and he is being promoted in his unit. Everyone there knows that he is a Christian. He faces many challenges at war, but he stands firm.
The Closing of 2025…
We close the books on another year. It is incredible that we are entering year 2026! This New Year brings many “open doors” by which we can teach and introduce the lost to the hope cherished and secured by the saved. So many have joined us and supported by prayer, funding, encouraging words and participation in collecting, packing and loading benevolent supplies shipped overseas. THANK YOU!
As the year closes so also closes the financial books. As is the situation every year, some are unable to continue the financial support and we have to seek support to continue our efforts. This is the situation as this year closes. We are in need to secure support to replace that which is no longer available. Please join with us and help us secure the financial support that is required. I am available to discuss our work with those interested in helping us extend the “touch of kindness” that is only possible through the gospel of Christ!
Below is a slideshow of the holiday boxes being assembled by Gif and The Galaxy Center. These will deliver a “touch of kindness” to their young hearts!
John L. Kachelman, Jr. UKRAINE MISSIONS, Dalraida Church of Christ, P.O. Box 3085, Montgomery, AL 36109.
