We are honored to share the inspiring story of Olexandr Rokytsky, a dedicated chaplain serving the people of Ukraine with unwavering faith and compassion. Through his ministry, Olexandr provides spiritual support, guidance, and hope to those in need, particularly in these challenging times.
Olexandr’s journey to becoming a chaplain is a testament to his deep faith and commitment to serving others. Feeling a profound calling to minister to those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, Olexandr has devoted himself to offering spiritual care and emotional support to soldiers, families, and communities. His presence provides much-needed comfort and encouragement, reminding people of God’s love and strength.
Click to watch Olexandr’s story here or read it below:
“Hello, my name is Oleksandr Rokytskyi. I am 40 years old, married, and I am a deacon at the Salvation Church in Ostroh, as well as a minister of a rehabilitation center for addicts and combatants. I also perform chaplaincy service in the chaplaincy unit “Nabat”.
This year, I have completed my bachelor’s degree in Church Ministry at UBTS. I intend to continue my studies for a master’s degree.
I met Christ and accepted Him into my life in 2017. Until then, I was an enemy of Christ and led an immoral lifestyle, used drugs, drank alcohol, and generally did what I wanted, and thought was right. I thank God for stopping me and bringing me to the Svoboda Rehabilitation Centre in Ostroh and giving me repentance. After that, my life changed completely, with Christ and His Word as its foundation. God kindled in my heart a desire to serve and preach the Gospel to similarly “fallen” people.
My area of responsibility at the rehabilitation center includes the spiritual care of people who have completed their rehabilitation at the center and are now re-adapting to society. I am on duty at the center for one day a week (communicating with addicts, providing pastoral care, studying the Word of God). I am also in constant contact with the ministry team (meetings, fraternal meetings, etc.)
In 2022, when the full-scale invasion began (on the second day), I, along with another brother deacon, started a tent ministry near the military commissariat, where there were many people who wanted to go to defend the country. We treated them to coffee and tea with sandwiches, gave them the Gospel for the journey, prayed with them on the way, created prayer lists, and exchanged contacts. I still lead this ministry today.
About a month and a half after the start of the invasion, my brothers and I (5 of us) decided to go to the East, directly to the war zone to visit our defenders, I took part in the war in 2015-2016. It helped me to find a common language with the guys who are now defending our country. We started travelling to the East for at least 7-10 days every month and bringing them everything they need, according to their requests and needs. For almost 2.5 years of this ministry, we have established strong friendships with many soldiers. We try to provide for them by meeting their physical needs as well as supplying the Word of God. Many of them are fighting without break for more than 2 years and they are exhausted both physically and spiritually. We know that even after this bloody war is over, we will remain friends and will be able to help all these guys and invite them to our church.
Every month we look for the things the guys need (generators, uniforms, shoes, turnstiles, first aid kits, power stations, power banks, food, etc.), and then look for the ways we deliver it all to them. In one trip we covered about 5,000 kilometers. Once we reached the frontline, we go from Kharkiv to the Donetsk region, Zaporizhzhia, and end our trip in Kherson. During one trip we visited about 150-250 soldiers and delivered aid to them, approximately in 25-30 locations, for 7-10 days. We live with the guys, spend the nights, have lunch, get as close to them and their needs as possible. We talk a lot and try to answer their questions in the light of Scripture, share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them, and pray with them. It is an amazing time that the Lord gives us.
After returning home, I take care of our family and church affairs (ministry at the center as well as the Deacon’s ministry). Then we again ask the soldiers to form the lists of needs, announce financial needs, call our friends and partners, look for everything we need, and begin preparing for the next trip.
We also meet with our soldiers who come back on leave, or after being wounded, or who have been written off, and invite them to church with their families. This year, the wife of one of these soldiers will be baptized in our church in about a month. We see this as a great blessing from God and His glory.
Our chaplaincy unit is very happy when God gives us people who share our values and help us to serve these people together. We constantly have needs in the lists I mentioned above, as well as in connection with this ministry, personally, my family and I need financial support, as all our resources and all my time are directed to these ministries (Rehabilitation and Chaplaincy). We pray for this and believe that the Lord is helping and will help my family in the future.”
Support Olexandr’s Ministry
Ukraine on Mission continues to empower and support local leaders like Olexandr in their ministries. Your support is crucial in enabling them to continue their impactful work. We invite you to partner with us in supporting Olexandr’s chaplaincy ministry. Here are specific ways you can contribute:
Your generous donations can make a significant difference in the lives of many. Together, we can bring hope, healing, and the message of Christ to those in need through Olexandr’s chaplaincy ministry.
Donate Now and Partner with Us
Click here to make a donation and partner with us in supporting Olexandr’s ministry. Your contribution, no matter the size, will have a lasting impact on the lives of those served by Olexandr’s compassionate care.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Ukraine on Mission and the incredible work being done by leaders like Olexandr.
We are excited to share the heartwarming story of Volodya Myskiv and his remarkable ministry through the “Colibri” Christian children’s soccer club. This sports ministry is dedicated to offering physical and emotional rehabilitation for children affected by war, while also sharing the good news about Jesus Christ through sports and coaching.
Volodya and his team are passionate about using soccer as a tool to bring hope and healing to the children of war. The Colibri Soccer Club provides a safe space for children to play, learn, and grow both physically and spiritually. Through the love of the game and compassionate coaching, Volodya is able to reach these young hearts and share the message of Christ’s love and redemption.
Click to watch Volodya’s story here or read it below:
“Hello! My name is Volodymyr, I am 56! I am married to my wife Natalya, and we have a 3 month old son named Yaroslav!)
I am the head coach of the children’s football club Kolibri! I live in Lviv, Ukraine
Many years ago, I dedicated my life to serve younger generations by bringing them the message of Christ and help then grow spiritually. I have been coaching children at the Kolibri Club for over eight years now.
This year our club has grown and we now have 2 age groups and 30 children and teenagers who train twice a week here on the football field near the church.
The goal of our club is to be a platform of emotional, physical, and spiritual support for children and families who are experiencing the injustice of war.
We help children to develop physically and at the same time to instill Christian values in the souls of young people by sharing the Good News with them and their parents.
Our club is not just about football, our club is about reaching young people and war-wounded hearts with the healing message of Jesus Christ through football.
Children from different families play in our Christian club. Some children are children of believing parents! Some of the children are children who live near the church, but their parents do not go to church. Part of our team consists of children of refugees, who have experienced the horrors of war, and have various traumas from what they have seen and experienced. We also work with children whose parents are now at war or children from extremely poor families where parents often abuse alcohol! In such families, parents cannot pay for their extracurricular activities and our club is the only place where they can feel Christian love, care, and guidance!
One of the best things about this ministry is not only to see the boys grow, but to see how what you do influences their lives. Recently I had one of the parents approach me and hug me. I was surprised at first, but then she explained. Her only son has been visiting our football club for the last half a year and this has had a tremendous effect on him. Their family is from the Donetsk oblast. They lived through occupation and all the horrors of war. This teenager saw tank battles, explosions, and people getting killed right in front of him. About a year ago they fled to Lviv. Her son became extremely closed and experienced random shivering. “But after he started playing football with your team and listening to all the Bible stories you told, I see how he is changing. Even his shivering is almost gone!” she said! This is one of the many stories that we hear, after which we want to say – Praise the Lord!!”
Support Volodya’s Ministry
Ukraine on Mission continues to empower and support local leaders like Volodya in their ministries. Your support is crucial in enabling them to continue their impactful work. We invite you to partner with us in supporting Volodya’s ministry with the Colibri Soccer Club. Here are specific ways you can contribute:
Your generous donations can make a significant difference in the lives of many children. Together, we can bring hope, healing, and the message of Christ to the children of war through the Colibri Soccer Club.
Donate Now and Partner with Us
Click here to make a donation and partner with us in supporting Volodya’s ministry. Your contribution, no matter the size, will have a lasting impact on the lives of the children served by the Colibri Soccer Club.
We also want you to support us in your prayers:
Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Ukraine on Mission and the incredible work being done by leaders like Volodya.
We are thrilled to share the inspiring story of Dima and his family, dedicated missionaries serving in Mena, a town situated about 100 km from the Russian border in Ukraine. Mena, once under occupation, is now a place of hope and renewal, thanks to the tireless efforts of local leaders like Dima, supported by Ukraine on Mission.
Dima and his family have been steadfast in their commitment to ministering to the local community in Mena. Through their evangelical work, they provide spiritual guidance and support to those in need. Their ministry has become a beacon of hope, offering relief and encouragement to many in this formerly occupied territory.
Click to watch Dima’s story here or read it below:
“We are the Gromychenko family, Dima (26), Tanya (23), and our little son Artem (3) and we are sending you greetings from a town in northeastern Ukraine called Mena. This year marks our 5th year of ministry in this town.
It all started with me visiting the Mena church every Sunday morning for worship and organizing meetings for teenagers after the church. At that time, I was still living in Kyiv and worked as a taxi driver.
I realized that one meeting on Sunday was not enough to reach the hearts of these children.
So, after a while we started coming for the weekend. We saw God work in our hearts as well as the hearts of people of that town. After consulting with my wife, we decided to move there to start a full-time ministry.
Now, thanks to the help of many people, we have the opportunity to serve in the church, to hold youth meetings for non-Christian youth, conduct events for children, and organize a group for boys called “The Wise Carpenter”. The group for boys is where we learn various woodworking skills. Thanks to this, they are able to earn a little money for their own needs by selling these wood products or by making something useful for the home. The girls also have a “Kitchen Club” where they learn to cook various delicacies.
The work with younger people is strategically important for our church since the majority in the church are aged 50 or older. We believe that investing in the youth will not only bring fresh perspectives and energy to our congregation, but will also provide a Christian influence in our community.
The last half a year has been extremely difficult for all Ukrainians and we are no exception. Since we are located only about a 1 hour drive from the Russian border, people are living in an ongoing stress of possibly being occupied again. But God is showing His mercy to our country and to us in particular. Several months ago, we baptized two of the girls that we work with and three more are scheduled for baptism.
We continue to serve many families in our area by visiting them and their families. Currently we are able to reach about 60 families on a regular basis. At this time, we have 30+ boys and girls who attend either our “The Wise Carpenter“ club or the “Kitchen Club” regularly.
At this time, we are facing various challenges. The main one is the ongoing war and the possibility of being drafted into the Army at any time. Please pray for the Lord to show His mercy on us and our country.
Another challenge is the lack of ministers in our area that can reach the young generation. Please pray for new people and a good team that would serve with us! It is very difficult to reach so many people when there are only two of us.
In addition, we lack the usual spiritual communication, another Christian family with whom we can share our experiences and support for each other, so we ask for your prayer support. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support from all of our family!”
Support Dima’s Ministry
Ukraine on Mission continues to empower and support local leaders like Dima in their ministries. Your support is crucial in enabling them to continue their impactful work. We invite you to partner with us in supporting Dima’s ministry in Mena. Here are specific ways you can contribute:
Your generous donations can make a significant difference in the lives of many. Together, we can continue to bring hope and transformation to Mena and other communities in Ukraine.
Donate Now and Partner with Us
Click here to make a donation and partner with us in supporting Dima’s ministry. Your contribution, no matter the size, will have a lasting impact on the lives of those served by our dedicated local leaders.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Ukraine on Mission and the incredible work being done by leaders accross Ukraine.
We all know that Christmas is a special time of joy, hope, and peace for everyone! It’s a time when people gather to celebrate God’s love to all nations, to all people around the world; To celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. But for the people of Ukraine, this Christmas tells a different story…
For many of us living in Ukraine, this Christmas and all the passing year has been a profound journey of faith, a testament to the enduring power of Christ’s hope and prayer in the midst of turmoil. Amidst the ongoing war, we found joy and strength in His Word, ministry, and knowing that so many of you are standing with us, praying, and supporting!»
«Ukraine On Mission» continues to support Christian leaders and evangelical churches in Ukraine in their missional and humanitarian initiatives.
Because of your love and generous donations, this year we were able to help over 2000 refugees with food and clothing. Each family we helped has its own unique story. Some of them lost everything. Some refugees come from places like Mariupol or Berdyansk, towns that have been occupied and there is little hope for them to return home. Others left their damaged apartments and have no home to return to. Some lost their loved ones and now live in temporary module homes by themselves.
Refugees face immense hardships such as loss of homes, livelihoods, and often, family members. By offering support and Christian care we show that they are not forgotten and that there is God and His people who care enough to help. This is a powerful source of hope for Ukrainian families facing uncertainty and displacement.
Another way we help is by empowering local leaders in the calling. This year we have supported a church in Mena, a town in the northeast of Ukraine, that has undergone Russian occupation. When local leaders and church elders fled the town, young people stepped up and remained faithful. After Ukrainian authorities had reclaimed this town, the church could freely assemble again. The Church has become more than a building for the locals; it’s a place where locals receive help and care. It is a beacon of hope for the disheartened. It’s a place of joy, a place where people hear and receive the Good News of Jesus Christ.
We have also supported several projects organized by Lviv Central Baptist Church: Green Christian Fellowship for women refugees, Wave Music school, and Christian children’s soccer club “Colibri” providing help and scholarships for refugees.
For refugee children, who have faced disruptions and traumas, engaging in fellowship, music, and sports can offer a sense of normalcy and routine. It also serves as a therapeutic outlet for women and children to express themselves, receive encouragement, and cope with stress and anxiety.
For the local church, it’s also an opportunity to establish relationships with families and share the message of Christ in a way that is engaging and relevant to their interests and age.
This Christmas, the usual festivities are replaced with a deeper reflection, a collective yearning for a return to days filled with unclouded laughter and unguarded moments of happiness. It is a season marked not by what is present, but by what is profoundly missed, and yet, a time where the resilience of the human spirit shines through.
The people of Ukraine carry within them the true essence of the season – a resilient hope that outlasts the darkest of winters, a peace that endures beyond conflict, and a joy that blooms even in adversity. This Christmas, while not as traditionally joyful, hopeful, and peaceful, is a poignant reminder of the enduring strength and unity of a nation standing together through the storm.
As scripture says in Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Your generosity is a living example of these words. Thank you for sharing joy, hope, and peace with so many here in Ukraine.”
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each of us!
April is the month when everything starts to bloom. The sun is shining more and more often and it feels warm. April in Lviv, Ukraine was filled with wonderful moments that everyone remembered.
April has begun with a new project of special care for displaced families. The members of our social center visited large families who were forced to move as a result of the invasion of our country. Food packages were prepared for these families to make them happy at least a little bit in this difficult time (video).
There were also regular meetings of the “Green” Women’s Club for refugees. Here, displaced women have the opportunity to meet and communicate with those who have gone through the same experience. Sometimes, neighbors who lived next door to each other would come to the meetings.
For more than a year, the church has been providing clothing for those who left in a hurry and left behind everything they had. Every Tuesday and Friday, the girls help those in need with clothes, medications and personal hygiene items.
In the times we live in, it is important to know certain aspects that can save lives. For 2 days in a row, mine safety classes were held. We believe that those who took the time to attend did not regret it and took away a lot of useful tips that will help in the future (video)
The month ended with a wonderful and heartfelt meeting of the “Green” Women’s Club. Women shared their stories of what they experienced when they left their homes.
The woman whose photo is in the middle had a stroke 3 months ago. She said that their windows were broken and there were no doors in their house. She has been in Lviv since October. For 6 hours, doctors tried to bring her back to the life. The doctors managed to save her life, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that the doctors were in tears. When she was unconscious, she remembers well that she was praying the Lord’s prayer. She realized that she did not understand anything here in life, because she could not even hold a spoon in her hands, because it was too heavy for her.
Dale Frasier (president of “Ukraine On Mission”): We are pleased to announce the completion of our web site. It has been in progress since last December and we are now making it available for everyone to keep current on what is happening with Ukraine On Mission.
We will be doing our best to keep the content on this web site current as well as accurate by using reputable news sources. Please feel free to email us with any suggestions you may have on how we can improve the site and we will consider them.
Also, I would like to address the discussions that have been either on the news or conversations with people having opinions on the war in Ukraine and the aid the United States has been providing to Ukraine. The aid coming from the U.S is not earmarked for spiritual use. Even though the country of Ukraine is named in our organization, our real purpose is not as much about Ukraine as it is about God’s kingdom. Our mission is to reach out to people who have been displaced, lost loved ones, or have been impacted by the war in some other manner. The hopes and prayers of the Ukraine On Mission staff are that God would allow us to be a tool He can use to reach people for Jesus Christ by providing physical and spiritual support
Every refugee you meet has his own story and his own trauma because of the war.
It does not matter if you are from Mariupol, Kherson or Kramatorsk – the war has destroyed the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Some of them have lost everything they worked for years. Others have lost the most precious thing – their loved ones!
Some were injured trying to escape, others still have parts of the exploded bombs in their bodies, like Anna from Kramatorsk.
Every month we organize special meetings for about 100 refugees and their families: Kharkiv, Donbas, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhya and other oblasts.
These meetings serve as a space where people from the areas where they lived before the war can meet and build their friendship network with compatriots!
We inform the IDP’s about other events offered by the Hope Center or Lviv Central Baptist Church for different age groups in our city.
We also use this time together to distribute food packages and share the Good News of Jesus and His love for us!
We are glad that we can organize such meetings for them! Many of them thank us that this kind of meetings helps them to become more socially active andopen. As they say: “Humanitarian aid is important, but the fact that you treat us as human beings with dignity and show us love and care is our greatest need!”
We thank you for your prayers, your help and your donations. Together with our partners and volunteers in Ukraine, we were able to help over 100,000 people! Food, shelter, medicine, hygiene items, clothing and over 208,000 pounds of humanitarian aid were delivered to many regions of Ukraine.
Here is a video from one of those trips.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees have found their second home in the city of Lviv. After so many traumatic experiences and losses, we understand the great need for positive emotions that displaced parents and children have.
One-day trips to Lviv oblast should be a source of inspiration and rejuvenation for those who have experienced displacement and stress.
The “Golden Horseshoe” or Lviv Oblast Castles Tour is perhaps the most popular excursion route in Lviv. It offers the opportunity to visit the medieval castles of Western Ukraine with their unique history and architecture.
Part of the program is lunch, which we cook for our “tourists”. It is a special opportunity for our team to make new friends.
King Solomon once said, “A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17) Our team wants to be there for people who have experienced terrible things in their lives and are now far from home.
