100 days of war: Irpin Bible Church ministry

“With God we will do mighty things, and He will trample our foes.”

Psalms 60:14

📍The city is being restored. More and more families with children, the elderly, and young people are returning to Irpin. Shops, cafes, kindergartens begin to work. The city is green – it abounds in spring, covering burnt-out cars in parking lots with green bushes and grass and growing through the conflagrations of bombed and shot houses and apartments of Irpin residents. It seems that this is a sign of God – everything will be restored.

📍Church. Now people in the city are in great need, because many returnees still cannot find jobs – a lot of enterprises are still not working. People need basic things – food, hygiene items, clothes, materials for at least temporary covering of the houses roofs. No less people need spiritual support and help. War, the deaths of loved ones, the constant psychological pressure due to the advance of the enemy, rocket attacks and alarm throughout the country, as well as the news and evidence of the daily death of defenders – all this brings incredible pain and makes you defenseless against the future, makes you ask questions “Why is this happening? and where is God?”
That is why we, as a Church, see great opportunities for ministry right now. We have become a powerful volunteer center in Irpin, providing assistance to residents – we distribute food, hot meals, fresh bread. More than 400 people come daily to our church territory, which has become for many a place of salvation and a symbol of hope.
Together with those gathered, our volunteers, pastors and deacons turn to God and pray for Ukraine, for the soldiers on the front line. And the people of Irpin join the prayers. Many volunteers are also performing chaplains work, because as they communicate with visitors, people willingly share their experiences about the war: one has nowhere to live, the other worries about missing relatives after the occupation, some find themselves in crisis and do not know where to move on.

In addition, a Bible club has recently opened on the church territory – pastors Sergiy Sologub and Sergiy Kolesnikov conduct lessons for people who want to read and understand the Bible. More than 25 guests have already taken part in the study of the Gospel of Mark. And we are very happy about it.

📍Children. We are resuming meetings for children, teenagers and young people on our territory – home groups, sports, campfire meetings. The church is filled with children’s noise and laughter again, and this is very pleasing.

On June 1, the Child Protection Day, we held an event with stations, sports and master classes. More than a thousand people came to the territory – families with children participated in competitions, enjoyed cotton candy, lemonade and ice cream, and had fun. In the evening we had a final meeting. They also listened to God’s Word in our main hall.

📍Outside Irpin. Previously, we asked you to pray for the Kyiv region – for God to open the door and encourage our team to act. Over the past month, we have opened a new volunteer center in Hostomel, near Irpin. Every day it serves people in need, and holds meetings for teenagers. Weekly services are held in the Center, with the participation of the deacons of the church. More than 40 local residents attend them, read and study the Holy Scripture together, share our experiences and pray.
Also, our volunteers continue to travel to villages of the Kyiv region for humanitarian and spiritual purposes. We especially support the community in Mykhailivka-Rubezhivka, Kopyliv, Portashiv, Zalissia, Sydorovychi, Olezarivtsi.

Gratitude
1. For the dedicated ministers of our church and volunteer teams from friendly Baptist churches who serve in Irpin, changing to help in the volunteer centers of Irpin, Hostomel, Rubezhivka, to repair and restore mutilated roofs, walls somewhere, to communicate.
2. For the prayers that we experience every day, because God is incredibly directing us now in serving people and bringing the Gospel.
3. For the funds that come in: this allows us to purchase building materials to help people, the fuel to deliver goods, bedding and kitchen supplies for those whose homes burned down.

Please pray
— for the people of Irpin, whom we served and continue to serve. We come across incredible stories of people returning from evacuation and giving thanks for being rescued. We believe that God continues to work in the hearts of these people;
— for the cities and villages of the Kyiv region, so that the Lord would give a vision of how else we can serve adults and children, testifying about Christ;
— for volunteers from churches from all over Ukraine who continue to come to Irpin to serve with us at the IBC Volunteer Center;
— for members of our church who are called to serve as military men (more than 10 IBC brothers);
— for the strength to believe and fight, not to despair, not to be discouraged, to hope, not to become embittered, not to blame each other and the authorities. And also sincerely believe in the Lord, serve devotedly to others and never stop praying for victory.