The United Nations estimates that 1/4 of all Ukrainians who were living in Ukraine are now homeless and on the run, with 3.5 million of those being refugees externally and the rest internally displaced. Their homes have either been seized, shelled, or completely destroyed. In many cases, they’ve lost everything. Only God could take a situation like this and turn it into good. As a result, we’re praying for a miracle from Him to do so. Will you join us in prayer and action for the people of Ukraine?
Ukraine
Provide Help and Hope
Forming a New Team
Team Expansion has a long history of serving in Ukraine, but we did not have a team working there when the conflict began. God has now raised up two experienced workers to meet the needs of the Ukrainian people. These are Team Expansion veterans with two decades of experience serving in an Eastern European nation.
Decades of Experience
Throughout their long ministry, these workers have been exemplary at relating to government authorities, along with sister humanitarian aid organizations and faith-based missions. They’ve witnessed horrible conflict at the fall of their nation’s government. They’ve established clinics, schools, and feeding programs. And they’ve established churches, hearts, and homes by sharing the Good News with everyone they meet.
Ready to Serve
They will be living at the front lines of this refugee crisis, traveling as needed to all neighboring lands and, if the situation warrants, inside Ukraine as well, as long as they can do it safely. They are, without a doubt, perfect for this role. Because of their long-term experience and history with Team Expansion (and in the located ministry before they joined the org some 20 years ago), we also have implicit and thorough trust in their ability to manage and handle funds for water, food, and transport. Will you help to equip this team to meet essential needs in Ukraine and share the hope of the Gospel?
Bringing Hope to Ukrainians
To start, our on-the-ground team leader will be setting up a base of operations, offering water, food, transport, and pastoral care. At least one sister agency has already asked him to help coordinate agencies and partners so they will be able to complement one another’s efforts rather than compete. (He’s that kind of guy – able to help people work together well.) He is currently preparing for the arrival of over 150 orphans coming out of Ukraine with nowhere to go, no plan, and no future. Would you be willing to take a stand on their behalf?
Any funds given will be directed at this ministry and the direct infrastructure necessary to fulfill it. Thank you for your partnership and shared vision. As an example of the kind of things God will be able to do through your help, the first $1000 enabled 51 tons of potatoes to be sent by truck directly to Mykolaiv. Today, there are people in the Mikolaiv and Kherson regions who are eating potato soup because of you and other partners like you. Thank you for your help!
Please note that a monthly report will be provided for all givers of the work being done.
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Team Expansion’s work in Ukraine
In the fall of 1990, a friend came to Team Expansion’s president, Doug Lucas, and said, “You should prepare a team for the Soviet Union. Just watch. It’s going to crumble soon.” In the months that followed, Doug began pursuing that goal. At a special conference in Moscow, he received an invitation from a delegation from the city of Kherson. They wanted Team Expansion to come to help them grow their church. Doug agreed on one condition: That the church would be willing to “think outside the box,” growing locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The church quickly agreed. That became the spark that started Team Expansion’s first team in what was then the USSR.
It turned out that the USSR was indeed disintegrating. A few months later, the USSR became 15 different countries. Team Expansion’s work was in Ukraine.
Within a few short years, God enabled Team Expansion workers to build a solid witness in no fewer than five cities. Many churches were birthed. At least one, the Kherson Christian Church, grew to more than 1000 members, started dozens of daughter churches, and helped send two different mission teams of Ukrainians to unreached people groups in other lands. Over the years, God used Team Expansion in multiple ways, including:
- Launching and creating a Bible translation (in partnership with PBT) for a Muslim people group in southern Ukraine
- Inviting an international training group (TCM International) to help train new church leaders
- Inviting Christian leaders who helped form a university in the region to help train business people for many careers.
Fast forward to today. Suddenly, Ukraine finds itself embroiled in a conflict that has already resulted in millions of refugees fleeing the country. Countless more families and individuals are internally-displaced. Hope is in short supply.
All the churches established by Team Expansion workers reached a point at which indigenous leadership could stand on their own. As a result, at the time the war began, Team Expansion no longer had workers in the country. But thanks be to God, He has provided the family above to serve as the point person in this difficult and stressful time. We will continue to work in partnership with all our long-term friends both in and near Ukraine.
Pray for Ukraine 24/7
We hope, regardless of if you can give or not, you will join us in fervent prayer for Ukraine. Our partners at Pray4Ukraine.Team are looking to cover Ukraine in 30 days of non-stop 24/7 prayer! Will you sign up to cover a timeslot in prayer?
Learn More and Sign up to Pray