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The Other Side of the Story

News outlets and social media are plastered with images of destruction and death in Ukraine. The numbers of casualties and refugees are staggering, and the realities of war are heartbreaking.

But there is another side to the story that you won’t see on the news or on social media. It is the story of hope in the face of despair. The story of faithfulness in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

It’s the story of love in the face of hate.

Recent updates from our partners in Ukraine and Romania have given us reason to hope—not only for the coming days and weeks, but for years to come.

Eric Mock is the Vice President of Ministry Operations at the Slavic Gospel Association (SGA), which is our partner organization in Ukraine. “The other side of the story,” Eric shared with us recently, is a legion of faithful followers of Jesus Christ that are not running from the fray. They tell us stories of hearing gunfire down the street. Of tanks, literally rolling down their streets. Of explosions and gunfire. In the meantime, they’re gathering for worship. They’re going down the street to the people in need and they’re taking food to them.

“These are the new heroes of the faith: of faithful pastors who realize they may lose their own life, but they know that there are people in their villages that are distant from God. And if they don’t stay in place, if they don’t endure, who will tell them about Jesus?”

Since 2011, Children’s Hunger Fund and SGA have shared the same passion to build up local churches for gospel-centered mercy ministry. “We take a long-term view,” Eric shared. “When the dust settles and all the major organizations back off to go somewhere else in the world, the church will still be there. The need will still be the gospel.”

In addition to our partnership with SGA and our Mercy Network pastors scattered throughout Ukraine, our Mercy Network partners in Romania have travelled across the border into Ukraine and partnered with local churches to aid in the refugee crisis.

Children’s Hunger Fund has already sent relief funding to our partners in Ukraine and Romania that can provide up to 120,000 meals as well as other essential resources. We invite you to partner with us to provide food and aid to families who have lost so much in so short a time. Click here to give to our emergency relief efforts.

Prayer requests from our partners:

  • Pray that the violence would cease and there would be an end to the suffering.
  • Pray for the safety of those who remain in Ukraine. Pray that our Mercy Network pastors would not be discouraged, that they would not lose hope.
  • Pray that God would be glorified even now.
  • Pray that resources would continue to be made available. There is a huge need, and funds are being dispensed quickly.
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