Here are reports and insights from both Commission To Every Nation and Commission Ministers Network workers. I edit the reports to items I believe will be of interest and that help us understand and feel what our brothers and sisters are experiencing in the midst of this situation. But, for security reasons, I will not post names or places. I hope this helps all of us pray with insight and compassion and share the burden of those going through this situation.
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
If you would like to give to help in this situation, we have set up a special account through Commission Ministers Network that will distribute funds as needs arise to both CMN and CTEN ministers and missionaries. To help, CLICK HERE.
From Rick: To “introduce” you a little more to our CMN minister who is sending most of the updates I’m attaching a photo of him and his family. It is a couple of years old as it was his application photo when they first joined Commission Ministers Network. He operates a Christian school in Ukraine. This is the Zhenya and Alona Dontsov family from Ukraine and his latest report.
Friday 4/7/2022
FROM CMN MINSTER – Zhenya Dontsov
Hi my friends
1. This is the time for some update. I believe that you get lots of information from Ukraine, but I hope my updates give you some inner feeling from the person who lives inside of this war. I will write some information and in the end of each prayers points.
This week the world was shocked by #buchamassacre . Civilized world cant understand how it is possible in 21st age after all horror of Second World war. But you can understand it if will find out how russians are thinking about this conflict. During last 10 years few hours per day, from the main TV channell of Russia they teach russians that Ukrainian nation is not exist, that here living stupid people, nazi people. They tell russians that Ukraine has no right to exist.
I will publish here 2 links for articles. One is about what happened I Bucha. But in reality this is everywhere in Ukraine where russians were (Hostomel, Irpin, Bilhorodka). We think that worst things are in Mariupol, thousands of killed people are under houses that were destroyed. Another article will help you understand what russians want to do with Ukraine and ukrainians. That is translated artice that was posted in main russian inform agency ria, and written by one of the significant thinkers of Putin.
https://ukrainianpost.com/opinions/272-what-should-russia-do-with-ukraine
Yesterday I saw also the video from russian channel Russia 1 (one of the main). One lady (cant use this word towards such person although) told that ”dont allow moral principles stop you doing right things”. Something similar old Adolf Hitler to German nation.
Prayer point: Please pray for russian nation (it is hard to write it after everything they did). They are completely sick, and are under Devil` lie. They believe that their nation fulfill now God` Christian calling and other nation are sinful. 83% Russians support this war and Putin. Majority of Russians dont believe that Russians kills civilians and destroy cities in Ukraine. They think that all those video and pictures are fakes by Ukrainian journalists. The mother of my mother in law, who lives in StPetersburg until now doesn’t believe that russian soldiers are in Ukraine.
Russians soldiers shot the van where the big letters on the front say, “Children.”
Mothers are sign their children in case they will died that children have their names and birthdates
Where is God.
When I read about Holocaust during World War 2, I read that many Jewish lost faith in God. They told that they cannot believe in God after such things they experienced and after they didnt get reply from God. Same situation developing in Ukraine. People see and experience such horrible situations, so they start to proclaim that there is no God anymore. You can see it from interview of 15 years old girl who lost her mother, father and young brother, you can here it as well from some famous persons… People saw wild things and God didnt answer them.
I think, after the war we will face it a lot.
Prayer point: Please pray for Ukrainians that they could see God`s hand even in such dark times. That they could distinguish the God and evil that we human created. It will be hard t explain, therefore we need prayers.
6 years old boy near the grave of his mother. She died from hunger, he brings some food now to her grave. She buried near home. Kyiv region
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Please continue pray for Ukrainian army that we were able to defend our country. Please pray for cities that were under occiupation – lots of mines are there. At apartments, at kinder playground. Even some mines our soldiers found in washing machine at people`s appartment. Cant understand such thing….
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This week I had gift from God. I was able to get permission to leave country to take some humanitarian aid from Poland. While DHL had custom clearance procedures which takes time , I was able to go to my family for few days. It was great as they were still sick , with high temperature. But now everybody going better.
Please continue to pray for Alena as she feels not completely good.
Also please pray for work I am doing now. We had some stuff from different part of the world. This humanitarian aid is very important for Ukrainians, some of this aid is delaying, some has some bureaucratic procedures etc – so I feel a bit frustrated that cant do it quicker:
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for quicker custom clearance of water filters tat very needed in Ukraine
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for 16000 balls I should get from partners to dictribute it in Ukraine and around where is Ukrainian refugees (we need fimd the quicker and cheaper way to bring it from Sweden)
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For another balls that will be donated (we need find logistics from Pakistan to Poland)
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for portable gas stoves and water filters from Germany to Ukraine (also some delay on the way)
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medical tourniquets for soldiers (my partners bought it) but seller appeared as bad person and now we try to convince him (using police and journalist) to give money back to my partners or finally deliver stuff
All these delays made me more stressful. I understand that there is no my foul but someway I feels that I could do something better.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support. It is really important at this crazy time! Thank you!!!
With help of our partners normal bus is serving now as ambulance for soldiers
Friday 3/19/2022
FROM CMN MINSTER – Zhenya Dontsov
Hi my friends,
This is update from me on 24th day of war.
First of all, let me say thanks to you for your prayers. Understanding and awareness that many people are praying for you personally and for your country help me don’t give up, don’t be frustrated. I understand and believe that God controls all this situation despite how bad it looks now.
Sometimes here in Ukraine, when you see killed children or killed pregnant women, we can’t really understand why God doesn’t stop it immediately. And of course, we know all right words, explanations, theology… but in reality, it is hard to understand. But again I continue trust the Lord about His ways.
Yesterday with my mother-in-law we discussed about the situation from the book of Judges 19-21, when Israel needed to punish the tribe of Benjamin, when they got defeated a few times, despite on God`s support, and after, in the final they punish the sinful tribe. God didn’t promise easy life, and understanding of global Bible picture helps in these tough times.
So really thank you for your constant prayers and sharing of these news for prayer support with others. Thank you!!!
So some updates from this week.
This week missile alarms were increased. It became more in the night and duration as much longer. Russians started to bomb western Ukraine more and more. In my city, 2 missiles got to TV tower and building near. 21 young soldiers were killed. A few days ago at the central square of my city, we had a funeral ceremony for those people.
Praise to Lord, my cousin Arkadij from Chernihiv called me day ago. He is still alive. Please continue to pray for him, he is a soldier. Chernihiv is a city on north Ukraine and surrounded by Russians army. Last few days russians killed 53 civilians who stayed in queues for water and bread. Also I was able to send some humanitarian aid to that city through my friend who was governor of this province year ago and through his contacts we sent products and medical stuff.
Humanitarian aid to Chernihiv our office became the storage for humanitarian aid.
Please pray for my son Alister. He is 6 years old and this is the age, when father is especially needed. A few days ago my wife Alona called me and asked urgently to speak with Aliester. A few days he was depressed and cried, as he wanted to be near me. Few days he didn’t want to go outside, to play. We have every day video chat but he really misses me. Please pray for him. Now he is doing better but I understand how hard he feels now.
Alister can’t write well yet, but here he wrote me that he loves me.
This night was first night during the week without missile attack, but while I am writing you this letter, we got alarm again. Crazy Russians.
Please continue to pray for my family, for my country, for peace and defeat of our enemy.
I have 2 Christians whose lives encourage me most, it is Dietrich Bonhoffer amd Eric Liddell. Both of them didn’t survive Hitler`s war. I hope that God will give me a bit different destiny than my two heroes of faith. (I hope my sense of humor brings a small smile to you.)
Zhenya
He was asked by his Pastoral Care couple if he had adequate finances to help those around him he responded:
Donations have been good so far. We bought 20 mattresses and accessories for a little more than $100/piece this past weekend. The price is going up daily but we’re ordering 20 more as soon as the factory can furnish them. These are for temporary shelters we’re helping.
Unfortunately, we think the worst is yet to come and we want to be ready. Remarkably, there’s been an adequate supply of everything that we need although I’d say it’s still a pretty chaotic endeavor.
So, short answer, we’ll take whatever we can get and we’ll use it promptly I’m sure.
If you would like to give to help in this situation, we have set up a special account through Commission Ministers Network that will distribute funds as needs arise to both CMN and CTEN ministers and missionaries. To help, CLICK HERE.
Tuesday 3/8/2022
FROM CMN MINSTER – Zhenya Dontsov
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.
These days, when more and more children and women are killed by Russian rockets, bombs weapons, Ukrainian people don’t really understand the fear of Western countries to help us. We don’t understand that we are left one on one with a country that shoots not at soldiers but at women and children.
A member of a local Baptist church, 26 years old man was killed when he helped a woman and her young daughter to get on a bus to escape the town. Woman and daughter were killed as well. This man had wife and daughter as well. Please pray for God`s comfort for them.
Some updates about family and me.
I am happy to be useful for my country. I help evacuate people from Eastern part of Ukraine, I help my friends that work with people in Kharkiv, and help to get all needed stuff from West to Ukraine – medical stuff, defensive army stuff, different humanitarian aid. That helps me to be not depressed and be optimistic. There are many communications, more chaos, but slowly we get what we need. Great to see how people from whole the world are helping Ukraine.
My family is already in safe place and children enjoy being outside and playing on playground. Before they left Ukraine, for more than 8 days they didn’t go outside of the home in Ukraine and we didn’t switch one bright light on in the home. So now they really enjoy doing what children supposed to do – playing, running , shouting.
My daughter awoke one night and cried as she saw the war in her dream. So it was good decision to send them out of Ukraine for a while. Alister didn’t want to leave me, in the car he told me, I know what we can do in order to bring you over the border – we need to dress you as woman. We laughed at this. He has a Scottish name and I explained to him what his name means – defender of humanity, so I asked him to be a defender of his mother, sister and other girls. He is a good boy.
Some new habits of current life:
- You send short messages to your cousins that are soldiers and don’t expect the answer from them. You only glad to see ticks in messengers that shows that they read the message. It means they are alive. Please pray for my cousin Arkadij, who fights near Chernihiv, I couldn’t get any message from him during last 2 days. Please pray for his life.
- You sleep well during alarms about missile raids and don’t run anymore
- You appreciate smallest things and happy that at least one cafe at your area open and you can share coffee with friend
- And you start to really appreciate friends.
Again, very thankful for your prayers. We need it as never before. Evil should be stopped!
Some pictures of Alona and children
Friday 3/3/2022
FROM CMN MINSTER – Zhenya Dontsov
Quick update points.
- Together with friends, using my money and money of my friends from UK and Netherlands we build the playground for our children academy. Now it closed and soldiers use this field to practice to crawl. It is better to crawl on artificial grass than on snow. Also on request of army we cut the nets from goal post and gave them to make camouflage net2. I started to work to connect volunteering center, regional governmental office for humanitarian aid and some network of businessmen who know me and trust me.
- In our office of children academy now work some people who were connected in wonderful way. We already got some medical stuff from west to Ukraine. Also thanks to your donation i was able to help some people and also to buy fuel for volunteers in Kharkiv who help people evacuate from the city3. My children pray every night to God asking him to stop war. And they don’t even really see it, compared to other children. My 3yers old daughter recently said to Al`ona: ”Mom, i worry about you. There is the war. I dont want that you to worry. Do you understand it.”After tomorrow Al`ona and kids will go with some our friends to Czech. 4 young women and 7 their small children. Alona still doesn’t want to go, but i try and try to convince her to leave Rivne for 2-3 weeks. Just in case in order for children to be more outside, don’t focus on war, protect their psychics. It will be hard. Please pray for them, for road, safety and comfort. Our wives are so brave that don’t want to leave their husbands.4. I also helping now using my business contacts and minifootball contacts to send more people to stay with people in other countries. My friends abroad are great and provide houses, food, water and others things free of charge.5. Our government already reported about minimum 2000 death of civilians. 850000 people left Ukraine and become refugees. 15000 people still stay 8th day at subway as at bomb shelter. The relatives of Alona stay at Kharkiv. Their 2 yo daughter first thought that missile is a fireworks, but later when 4 or 5 missiles explosed near their area she recognized that that is the dangerous and she scared.Russians dont win, but i start to understand that how big damage they already did to people, to children. I didnt plan to develop my children academy around the Ukraine. But now i start to think how we should later to help children at whole Ukraine with many things using football. But it will be later. I am sure.For those of you who is willing to send donation, there is link where you can donate in USA
https://cmnetwork.denarionline.com/Donate/?missionary=DontYevh
Really appreciate your emails, messages, repost in social media, your prayers and financial help!!!
Friday 2/25/2022
FROM A CMN UKRANIAN MINSTER
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| Thursday 2/24/2022 |
FROM A CMN UKRANIAN MINSTER
Yes, it is tough time. Some people start to panic. But I believe that we are under God`s control. And in this believe there is hope and peace.I don’t plan to escape from city and country yet. I want to live here, to work and serve here. But will see what situation will bring soon.
Very sad to see how our 6 year old son explain me very well what means war. It is sad to see our 3 years old daughter explain to our puppy what is missile attack. That is pity to introduce kids to such situation.
Churches from eastern Ukraine now sending to our city women and children. We will help them. 2 of our coaches today were called to army. They are single sons and they dont have fathers. So we need to care for their mothers while they gone.
And we need prayers. We need your voices to God to stop those crazy people.
Hope to see you one day and talk in persons.
God is in control! This creature is His! The light will shine!
RECEIVED Friday 2/25/2022
FROM A CMN UKRANIAN MINSTER
Yesterday, we had unbelievable hard day. Shocking day. It looks like today it will be even harder.
Yesterday evening I got message that my city will be under missile attack. So we decided to leave apartment that we rent on 7th floor, and stay night at private house of my mother in law.
I got to sleep around 3am, we awoke at 6:10am from sound from missile. Russians attacked airport, which is located in other part of the city, but explosion was heard at whole city. Russia will try today occupy our capital Kyiv and put their government.
Russians politics are liars. I read today speech of head of Russian parliament. He said that purpose of this attack to clean Ukraine, to make Ukraine democratic, independent, peaceful country. They want to bring things that we already have and they even don’t know what it is to be free, democratic country.
Yesterday my wife Alona told me that we need to create a special word to our family. When I say it, it means that our children should immediately stop whatever they doing and need to leave apartment as soon as possible. Using this word to avoid panic etc. So I proposed word “catastrophe”. Children like it, wife not. So we decided to chose word “Vacation”.
Yesterday evening my son told wife that his dream is that Russians stop bombing us. Heartbreaking thing… Please continue to pray for Ukraine, for stop of war, for strength and wisdom of our army, for our Christian brothers who went to army now, that God keep them alive.
2/28/2022
FROM A CTEN MISSIONARY IN UKRAINE
Before breakfast, I went to the closest ATM and tried to get cash. There were lines Saturday and getting cash was slow because there’s a 1000 UAH limit on withdrawals (about $36), so you have to stand there for an hour to withdraw enough money for the day. Yesterday the lines weren’t as bad. This morning, there was no cash in the machines.
Saturday and Sunday we bought and delivered supplies to a refugee intake facility/temporary shelter and to some families. We’ll do a lot of that today. Fortunately, we can use the debit card to buy food and supplies that we’re distributing.
Sunday was beautiful, bright sunny and fairly warm. Our city’s biggest park was full of children and families. There were 2-3 big tents and pavilions that were full of volunteers. They were making thousands of Molotov Cocktails to be delivered where needed.
They were also mixing special black paint for distribution. It is assumed that every city has been infiltrated by Russian saboteurs. Among other things, saboteurs leave markings to identify targets for troops or aerial assault. The black paint is for citizens to cover the markings when discovered. Residents here are being advised to check the roofs of buildings, bridges, and other potential targets for such markings.
FROM CTEN CHURCH PLANTER IN SLOVAKIA
As you know, war has come to Ukraine. Our home and churches are about 35 miles from the border. Traffic heading west is flooded with refugees, primarily women, children and elderly. Traffic heading east are convoys of loaded military vehicles.
One of our churches has been transformed into a center to receive refugees.
Tonight we received our first guests. Brothers went by car to the border and brought to our church 13 women and 30 children. They wished they could have packed more into the cars because they left many more women and children crying in the cold.
Upon their arrival, the refugees cried and our people cried. But soon the atmosphere shifted and children were laughing and running around the sanctuary. This group is from a town only 39 miles from us where there is active fighting. It had taken them 36 hours to cross the border.
FROM CTEN SEMINARY PROFESSOR IN BELGIUM
This reminds us of David fighting Goliath! David just had 5 little stones. The Jewish Ukrainian President Zelensky is saying that he doesn’t need a ride out of Ukraine, he needs ammunition (5 little stones). He is not fleeing his country, his people, he is staying to fight.
The seminary – we have 5 Ukrainian PhD students – notified all staff not to turn on the heat in our offices, dining hall or chapel due to the sudden rise in energy prices in Europe. But compared to what our friends in Ukraine are dealing with, we can live with those new mandates.
Ukraine is known as one of the largest Christian countries in Europe. There are over 200,000 Jews, of which President Zelenskyy is one.
Since the invasion which began on Thursday morning, we go through our day feeling a little guilty that we can go on with our “normal” life, while just a few countries away there are babies being born in train stations, or born in the basement shelters of hospitals, children and families sleeping in a cold underground train station. Men from ages 18-60 are opening their doors with a uniform to get ready to fight for their country, while they say goodbye to their families.
It’s that helpless feeling and guilt, and how and what can we do something? It leaves a real mix of emotions. We realize our greatest power right now is PRAYER! Let’s not lose this urgency of praying for one another.