Unhindered

Amid the devastation of war, God’s love is transforming lives in Ukraine. What began as a relief effort in Irpin—providing food, clothing, and care—has grown into a powerful movement of spiritual renewal, with new church communities emerging and local leaders stepping forward to shepherd them.
The power of the gospel is often highlighted in times of distress, as trouble can move people toward Jesus. In effect, our need becomes a means of connecting us to God. This is remarkably evident in today’s Ukraine.
At the outset of the war, Irpin was a focal point of the Russian invasion and Ukrainian resistance. Located just outside Kyiv, Irpin endured intense urban fighting and the unimaginable horrors of a monthlong occupation. After Ukraine’s forces eventually recaptured the city, 70% of Irpin had been heavily damaged or destroyed. At the height of desperation, Irpin Bible Church launched a community relief effort to provide food, clothing, and spiritual care to those in need. Four distribution centers were established to facilitate this project, which provided a daily supply of freshbaked bread, funded by our ECM Ukraine Crisis Fund.
Something wonderfully unforeseen occurred at the distribution sites. As people encountered God’s love through the kindness of His people, spiritual transformation became increasingly evident. Many decided to follow Jesus, while others renewed prior spiritual commitments. In time, the seeds of new church communities sprang up in the relief centers, a wonderful reminder of divine restoration in the turmoil. Eventually, ECM was invited to participate in the start of three new churches near Irpin.
This Autumn, ECM welcomes three Ukrainian couples serving in the resulting church plants in the towns of Borodianka, Hostomel, and Nemishaieve. Already, these churches have begun ministries to children, students, seniors, veterans, and those displaced by the war. One of the congregations launched a program using art as a connection point for young mothers.
Please pray for Anatolii and Olena, Andrii & Luda, and Illia and Iryna as they serve these three churches. A fourth couple, Roman and Yaroslava, has joined our New Hope Ukraine ministry team in Lviv, and they also need your prayers.
God’s redemptive purposes in Ukraine continue unabated, come what may.
Stories from Europe > 2025
October
- 10/8/2025 10/8/25, 5:34 PM - “Someone Has to Slay the Dragon!”
- 10/1/2025 10/1/25, 5:18 PM - Unhindered
September
August
- 8/28/2025 8/28/25, 9:57 AM - A New Church in the Heart of Budapest
- 8/26/2025 8/26/25, 11:25 AM - Sharing love in so many ways! (part 2 of 2)
- 8/19/2025 8/19/25, 11:13 AM - Sharing love in so many ways! (part 1 of 2)
- 8/12/2025 8/12/25, 10:30 AM - God's own words of love
- 8/6/2025 8/6/25, 8:56 AM - Another new worker for Portugal!
July
- 7/30/2025 7/30/25, 3:26 PM - One Answered Prayer at a Time
- 7/23/2025 7/23/25, 3:38 PM - "They may be broken, but God sees the potential”
- 7/16/2025 7/16/25, 4:04 PM - Prague: From the Giant Peach to the Hobbit House.
- 7/9/2025 7/9/25, 1:42 PM - Equipping God’s People: A Journey We’re Honoured to Share
- 7/2/2025 7/2/25, 1:35 PM - Sharing Jesus—and Growing Leaders—at Austria’s Summer Camps
June
- 6/25/2025 6/25/25, 1:27 PM - Reaching Romania’s Children with the Gospel of Grace
- 6/18/2025 6/18/25, 1:13 PM - God’s Word on Campus: Training Bible Study Leaders in Portugal
- 6/11/2025 6/11/25, 1:00 PM - Equipping for Abundant Life
- 6/3/2025 6/3/25, 11:41 AM - Groninger Cake in the Court Garden
May
- 5/27/2025 5/27/25, 3:29 PM - From DOS to the App Store: The Story of La Parola
- 5/16/2025 5/16/25, 12:08 PM - Hope in the Post-Atheist Neighbourhood
April
- 4/9/2025 4/9/25, 11:30 AM - Growing a Church that will Last for Generations
- 4/2/2025 4/2/25, 11:43 AM - Jesus is the Way on the Camino: Pilgrims finding God
March
- 3/26/2025 3/26/25, 11:08 AM - Reaching Hearts Behind Bars
- 3/19/2025 3/19/25, 11:55 AM - How God Called Us to Stay at Home
- 3/12/2025 3/12/25, 11:39 AM - How Much my Supporters Mean to Me
- 3/5/2025 3/5/25, 11:33 AM - An experience I couldn’t recommend more!
February
- 2/24/2025 2/24/25, 11:42 AM - Three Years of War, but God is Still at Work in Ukraine
- 2/19/2025 2/19/25, 11:10 AM - From a Bar to the Bible
- 2/12/2025 2/12/25, 12:19 PM - From War Volunteer Centre to Thriving Church
- 2/5/2025 2/5/25, 11:28 AM - How was I called to Europe?
January
- 1/31/2025 1/31/25, 11:49 AM - From Service to Salvation: Sasha’s Journey in Borodianka, Ukraine
- 1/29/2025 1/29/25, 11:05 AM - Breaking Barriers: A Christ-Centered Journey with the Roma Community in Greece
- 1/22/2025 1/22/25, 1:12 PM - How to plant a Church in secular France?
- 1/17/2025 1/17/25, 11:09 AM - A Place of Hope in Christ: Serving Refugees for 25 Years