Kharkiv Ministry – April 2025
April is over—but it’s far too early to exhale. This month was one of the most difficult for Kharkiv since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Our city endured 136 Russian strikes in April—a devastating record. The enemy attacked without pause: morning, afternoon, evening, and night. The tactic remains the same—massive drone raids, launched in coordinated waves, designed to overwhelm and exhaust our air defenses. Each raid brought destruction, injuries, and loss of life. 230 people were wounded, including 19 children. Seven people were killed, one of them a child.
The scale of the destruction was staggering:
533 buildings damaged
147 roofs destroyed
Over 10,000 windows shattered in homes, entrances, and balconies
Despite this ongoing violence, we celebrated Easter with the entire Christian world (Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant) on the same day for the first time since 2017. This year, the resurrection of Christ brought a special comfort. Here in Kharkiv, we truly know what it means to cling to hope in the dark. Death has no power over the believer. It was also the first Easter celebration for our 10-month-old twin sons, Augustine and Rufus.
Mercy Ministry Continues
Thanks to the support of faithful donors and partners, our Social Center was able to provide 200 food bags in April, helping over 600 people. This Saturday we provide another 190 food bags and plan to continue. As always, each interaction is also an opportunity to share Christian literature and the gospel.
We also continue to serve many families with clothing through our donation room, which remains active and full of life.
The Church is Alive
We have moved into a new worship space, which allows us to welcome more people each Sunday. We now regularly have 50–60 people at worship, and we’ve recently launched a new group for seekers exploring the Christian faith. We rejoice that new people are coming not only for humanitarian aid but for the Word of God.
New Publication: Thriving in Grace
Despite the war, we were able to publish a new Ukrainian translation—Thriving in Grace by Joel Beeke and Brian Hedges. It is a joy to place this book in the hands of believers and seekers alike, trusting that the Lord will use it to bring spiritual growth. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.
