The war in Ukraine is driving families from their homes, turning millions of people into refugees. Households are being separated as fathers and sons remain behind to fight. Distance and lack of communication with loved ones add to the fear and anxiety.

However, the Lord is also bringing people together during this international crisis.

Christians across Poland have opened their doors to displaced Ukrainian families. In Ostroda, the AFCI Poland team reports that so many people have moved into private homes that no refugee camps have been needed. Now the churches are growing as the Ukrainians are looking for places to worship. On Easter Sunday, an extra service in Ukrainian had to be added to accommodate the new congregation.

Among the worshippers was Pastor Wolodymyr Shkira, himself a refugee. He had been a firefighter on the front line during the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 and later had been called into ministry. At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, his churched was bombed and he had to leave his homeland, finally ending up in Ostroda.

Now, the Lord has brought Pastor Wolodymyr together with the AFCI team in Poland. Zbigniew Chojnacki, AFCI Poland National Director, writes:

“From the first moment we met, we felt a special connection by God’s grace. Now we are looking for a possibility for Pastor Wolodymyr to stay in Ostroda and plant Ukrainian churches.

“Please pray that we will find an apartment for Pastor Wolodymyr and his wife, daughter, and grandson. We are eager to have someone lead a ministry to the Ukrainian refugees in our community.”

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