Standing with Ukraine
At The Uniting Church offices in Stockholm with mission partners from Hope International Ministries.
Leonid Regheta, (right) is a native of Ukraine and moved to the US as religious refugee in 1989. We first met when we were students at North Park Seminary 25 years ago. He went on to serve as a Covenant missionary in Russia and it has been such a blessing to reconnect with him on his visits to Sweden. Today he and Paul Minakov, (left) originally from Russia, team up to support the people of Ukraine through the innovative work of Hope International Ministries. Their focus is on trauma healing in Ukraine and among the 5 million Ukrainians who are dispersed around Europe. Partnering with local churches and civic leaders they opened their first trauma healing center in Kharkiv. They also organize seminars and retreats for families and veterans in Ukraine and around Europe.
The Uniting Church in Sweden, as well as Covenant World Relief and Development have been supporting the work of Hope International and Leonid and Paul came to share an update on the ministry. Leonid shared stories from his recent visit to Ukraine of the courage and resilience of the people he met. But also the deep suffering they are experiencing and the trauma they carry in their minds and bodies. Despite all they are going through Leonid gave witness to God’s healing and renewing power in the midst of the darkness of war. He shared about people turning to Christ and receiving hope and courage for living, for the healing he has witnessed as people come together to share their stories and receive compassionate care and support. He also named that thirty new Ukrainian churches have been planted all around Europe. Leonid shared that even in the darkest times God is making all things new and working in the midst of disruption and struggle to draw people to Himself.
To learn more about Hope International Ministries you can check out their website through the link below.
Pray for Leonid, Paul and Hope International ministries as the join the work God is doing to bring hope and healing to Ukranie.
