A Letter Between Two Pastors — a Ukraine update

A month ago, on February 24, Ukraine marked the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of its nation, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian people killed. Lutheran Church Charities continues to send support to Lutheran Mission in Ukraine, which is providing food and spiritual care in-country to residents in the war-scarred region.

LCC President/CEO Rev. Chris Singer and missionary Pastor Oleksiy Navrotskyy have corresponded with one another during this time. Last week, Pastor Oleksiy shared that he had traveled to Germany to visit his own family members who are refugees and to bring back food and supplies to Ukraine.

On the first Sunday after his return, his church had 165 people attending, up from the usual 120 average. His congregation was eager to receive some humanitarian aid, and Pastor Oleksiy was happy to oblige, handing out 330 take-and-bake pizzas.

The war has taken a toll on Pastor Oleksiy and his congregation. He shares, “I wrote [my last] letter while being under heavy thoughts and feelings about the date [of the Ukraine war anniversary]. My letter to you was depressive, motivated by personal pain and anger, and the helplessness of war trauma.”

Rev. Singer believes LCC supporters and friends should read for themselves Pastor Oleksiy’s description of daily life in Ukraine and the hope they have in Christ. Rev. Singer’s response follows.

“The Ukrainian people need our support and prayers,” Rev. Singer said. “If the Holy Spirit is moving you to help, please direct your financial support to the LCC Ukraine Relief fund. Thank you.”

LCC UKRAINE RELIEF FUND

---

Good day, Pastor Chris,

This day, we mark the fourth anniversary of the beginning of full-scale Russian military aggression against Ukraine. These are emotionally difficult days for all the Ukrainian people ... for all those who evacuated and those who remain in the country. 

Russia's conquest war has brought the Ukrainian people countless suffering, grief, and losses, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, brutal violations of human rights and freedoms in the occupied territories, the abduction of Ukrainian children, religious persecution, the destruction of cities and civilian infrastructure in our country, and led to the largest migration crisis in Europe in the 21st century. No measure can accurately measure the combined damages of this war and the years of mourning that will follow. 

However, with God's miraculous help, and because of the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers, the spirit of the Ukrainian people, and the multifaceted support of Ukraine's international friends, partners, and allies, the enemy did not achieve the desired results. Our worthy people — our brave and sacrificial warriors — continue to resist and fight for our lives and freedom. As one Ukrainian general said: "We Ukrainians no longer have a choice ... we will either fight or perish."

Today, I write these lines to you, Chris, with the desire to once again thank you for the fact that from the first weeks of our chaos and horror, thanks to the assistance of Pastor Larry Myers, the leaders and staff members of Lutheran Church Charities, as well as your partners and donors, stood by us and provided significant humanitarian support to our people. Thanks to your early commitment, we were able to carry out extensive humanitarian work for a long time, evacuating people, providing food, housing, treatment, and care to refugees, people who had lost their homes and jobs, the elderly, the sick, the frightened, and the desperate. Thank you.

Today, we are praying with special gratitude for all our partners who continue to pray, encourage, and support us in our struggle for our freedom and future.

These days we also invite you to honor the memory of each of our defenders who gave their lives and health for Ukraine and join us in prayer that God will strengthen and comfort the families of the fallen and missing. We express gratitude to the Ukrainian soldiers and pray to the Almighty God for strength in their military services and for their protection.

May the Lord richly bless your walk of faith and your ministry.

With respect and prayers,
Pastor Oleksiy Navrotskyy
Mykolaiv, Ukraine

---

Dear Pastor Oleksiy,

Thank you for writing and for sharing your heart during these difficult days of remembrance. As the fourth anniversary of the invasion is marked, please know that you and the people of Ukraine remain in our prayers and in our thoughts. The suffering you describe is deeply sobering, and we grieve alongside you for the lives lost, the families separated, and the communities that continue to endure such profound hardship.

At the same time, we give thanks to God for the courage, perseverance, and faith that continue to shine through the Ukrainian people. The resilience of your communities, the sacrifice of your soldiers, and the steadfast ministry of pastors and church leaders like you are powerful witnesses to hope even in the midst of great suffering. We continue to pray that the Lord will strengthen you and sustain the people you serve day by day.

Thank you for your kind words regarding our partnership in serving Jesus together in His Kingdom. It has truly been a privilege to walk alongside you during these years of constant crisis. It is truly amazing to think about how not just our partnership but more our friendship has grown throughout this time. With all you are facing and experiencing I have appreciated the prayers you continue to lift up on our behalf. I am very grateful for my country and the peace we do have relatively compared to what your country is enduring currently. Yet, as you know, the evil one continually attacks our peace in other ways. Every day we continually minister to broken hearts and lives. Again, your constant prayers for us are very meaningful to me and our LCC team.

Please assure your congregations and communities that we will continue to remember them in our prayers. We also continue our support and refuse to grow weary of standing with you as you care for the vulnerable, to bring relief to those who have lost so much, and to remind people that they are not forgotten.

May the Lord continue to uphold you in your ministry, Pastor Oleksiy, and grant you peace, endurance, and courage for the work before you. We remain grateful for our friendship in Christ and for the witness of faith you and your people continue to offer to the world.

Sharing in the Comfort of Jesus!
Pastor Chris