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Where Hope Is Growing

News Stories (1).pngWednesday 29 July 2026 15:05

When war reached the town of Borodianka, Tolik and Lena responded by meeting practical needs and caring for those who had lost so much. Four years later, that ministry has grown into something more. Their vision is to see a thriving church established so their community can discover the hope found in Christ.

Greetings from Borodianka!

Hello, we are Anatolii (Tolik) and Olena (Lena). Our family has been living in Irpin, in the Kyiv region, since we got married in 2018.

In 2022, when the full-scale war against Ukraine began, we started our ministry in the town of Borodianka, just 35 km from our home. This was one of the towns occupied by enemy troops during the first days of the invasion. Immediately after its liberation, we went there as volunteers and began helping people through a Volunteer Center, providing humanitarian aid, food, medicine, pastoral care, and ministry to children, teenagers, and the elderly.

Over the last four years, we have continued travelling to Borodianka with a commitment to serve the people there. Our dream is to see a new, young, vibrant church established in this place.

Family Outreach

Our hope is that this church will be filled with young families.

One of the greatest blessings in recent months has been a Family Evening for married couples.

Over the past three years, we have met with several families over coffee or tea, offering practical help and building genuine relationships. Through those friendships, the opportunity arose to invite families who had never attended church before. Four couples came to the evening, each stepping inside a church for the very first time.

We prepared the evening with great care, striving to create a place where everyone would feel welcomed and accepted.

Through interactive activities, we encouraged the couples to listen to one another, and during our teaching we shared biblical family values. We spoke about God's design for the family—a place where sacrificial love, communication, forgiveness, and mutual respect can flourish.

It was incredible to watch barriers disappear. Even more encouraging was hearing the feedback afterwards.

Olya, the wife of a military veteran, told us it had been a long time since she and her husband had enjoyed such an open, heart-to-heart conversation.

Young Life

Today my heart is overflowing with gratitude, and I am eager to share with you the fruit of our ministry—a ministry in which you also take part through your prayers.

As a team, we serve teenagers and young adults through our Young Life club. Around 20–25 young people between the ages of 13 and 21 attend our weekly meetings. They face many challenges every day: strained relationships with family and friends, questions of identity, and spiritual emptiness. Our desire is to invest in their lives, helping them grow spiritually while navigating life's most important questions.

One young woman, Nastya, has a special place in my heart.

I first met Nastya at a sports camp in Borodianka in 2022. Afterwards, she began attending our youth meetings to learn more about Jesus. In time, she repented, decided to follow Christ, and a year later was baptised.

However, life brought difficult circumstances and trials, and she drifted away from her faith.

For a long time, we continued praying for Nastya, never losing hope, while staying in touch and encouraging her whenever we could.

Then, just before Easter, we met again and began talking about life with Christ. I shared the story of the Prodigal Son and how our Heavenly Father is always waiting with open arms.

Nastya looked at me and said, "That story is about me."

She told me she wanted to return to Christ.

Today, we are witnessing a miracle as she takes her first steps back to Jesus.

Please Pray

  • For Olya and her husband Vitaliy, that they would continue drawing closer to Christ.
  • For the other families who attended the Family Evening, that God would complete His work in their hearts.
  • For wisdom as we plan future Family Evenings.
  • For Nastya, that she would remain steadfast in her faith, be firmly established in God's love, and continue growing through His Word and fellowship with other believers.
  • For the young people who attend Young Life, that they would experience God's love, acceptance, and truth.

Thank you for investing not only in projects, but in transformed lives with eternal value.

With love in Christ,

Tolik, Lena and Daniel Hulinskyi

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Stories from Europe > 2026

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Where Hope Is Growing

News Stories (1).pngJuly - 29 - 2026 15:05 When war reached the town of Borodianka, Tolik and Lena responded by meeting practical needs and caring for those who had lost so much. Four years later, that ministry has grown into something more. Their vision is to see a thriving church established so their community can discover the hope found in Christ. full story

A Corner of Light

News Stories (2).pngJuly - 22 - 2026 15:19 For five years, ECMI workers David, Myriam and Chloë have been building relationships with immigrant families in southern Spain. Now they are taking the next step: creating a welcoming place where friendships can grow, practical needs can be met, and lives can be transformed. full story

Scattered — Yet Sent

News Stories (7).pngJuly - 15 - 2026 11:23 What began as a devastating displacement through war is becoming an unexpected movement of gospel witness across Europe. Ukrainian believers, carrying deep pain and loss, are also carrying the hope of Christ wherever they go. full story

Together Behind Bars

News Stories (6).pngJuly - 08 - 2026 17:36 A young prisoner recently gave his life to Jesus through a prison outreach made possible by churches and ministries serving together in unity. His story is a powerful reminder that when believers partner together, the gospel can reach even the most difficult places. full story

A Place Where Families Are Seen

News Stories (5).pngJuly - 01 - 2026 16:48 In a neighbourhood of Tirana, Albania, mothers and caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities are finding something they rarely experience — support, encouragement, and a community that understands their daily reality. full story

Go in the Strength You Have

News Stories_20260616_171457_0000.pngJune - 24 - 2026 17:16 When the task ahead feels bigger than the resources available, it can be tempting to focus on what is missing. Yet God often calls His people to move forward not with great strength, but with the strength they already have — trusting Him to do the rest. full story

More Than a Haircut

News Stories_20260618_115208_0000.pngJune - 18 - 2026 11:40 In Lviv, Ukraine, Nazar and his wife Iryna continue serving their community amid the ongoing challenges of war. Recently, what began as a simple haircut became an opportunity for encouragement, friendship, and meaningful spiritual conpversation. full story

Hope for the Overlooked

News Stories (5).pngJune - 17 - 2026 12:43 In a community often forgotten, one ministry chose to stay. Through daily presence, education, and care, trust slowly grew — and with it, new life for children, families, and neighbours. full story

Ready for Camp Season?

News Stories (4).pngJune - 10 - 2026 10:28 Summer camps across Europe continue to offer children, young people, and families opportunities to encounter Christian community, hear the gospel, and experience lives transformed through Christ. full story

A New Path

News Stories (6).pngJune - 03 - 2026 12:46 Fatima* arrived carrying deep trauma and a firm rejection of faith. Through consistent friendship and practical support, her openness began to grow — until one unexpected moment changed her direction completely. full story

Churches Unite in Leiria

News Stories (2).pngMay - 27 - 2026 12:51 More than 200 believers from 12 churches and 9 mission organisations joined together in Portugal’s Leiria region for two days of evangelism, prayer, and outreach — with around 700 people approached and 40 decisions for Christ reported. full story

A Life Saved

News Stories (4).pngMay - 20 - 2026 12:38 What began as a soup kitchen relationship became something far more urgent. When Mr. Dumitru’s life was at risk, ECMI workers refused to give up — advocating, praying, and walking with him until the moment that changed everything. full story

The Sun Shines for Irene

News Stories (3).pngMay - 13 - 2026 12:34 After years of searching — through religion, spirituality, and personal pain — Irene reached a point where she didn’t want to go on. But a simple online search connected her with an ECMI couple whose open table became the place where everything began to change. full story

A Place for Everyone — Rethinking Ministry Together

News Stories (2).pngMay - 06 - 2026 12:05 Across Europe, many live unseen — shaped by disability, anxiety, or neurodivergence. As followers of Jesus, we are learning to notice, to listen, and to create spaces where everyone belongs. full story

Faith from the Ruins

News Stories (13).pngApril - 29 - 2026 13:34 When war tore through Irpin, life was shattered. Yet even amid war, God’s work continues—lives changed, churches planted, and hope restored. Discover the story. full story

Faithful Presence

News Stories (12).pngApril - 22 - 2026 13:06 Mission in Europe often moves slowly, but God works in unseen ways. This story from Austria reminds us that faithful, patient love can transform lives — even when change seems invisible. full story

Searching for Hope

News Stories (11).pngApril - 14 - 2026 12:52 Across Europe, many people are searching for meaning, identity, and hope. Behind the statistics are real lives. Meet Sander. full story

Called? Keep going!

News Stories (10).pngApril - 08 - 2026 12:42 Sensing God’s call to mission can be both thrilling and daunting. Anna’s journey back to Romania reminds us that when God calls, He provides — and you are never alone. full story

The Triumph of the Cross

News Stories (8).pngApril - 01 - 2026 12:23 As we approach Easter, we remember the Cross — the moment that changed eternity — and give thanks to Jesus, the King of kings. full story

Claremorris Church Opens Its Doors

News Stories (4).pngMarch - 25 - 2026 11:31 What began as a small gathering in a town hall has become something far greater. On 21 March 2026, the growing church in Claremorris, County Mayo, celebrated the official opening of its very first building — a powerful milestone and a testament to God’s faithfulness. full story

Step Into Mission: Opportunities Across Europe

News Stories (3).pngMarch - 18 - 2026 10:55 What could your next step in mission look like? Across Europe, doors are open for you to serve, grow, and make a meaningful impact. Whether you’re exploring a short-term experience or sensing a longer-term call, there are opportunities waiting where your gifts can make a real difference. full story

Women of Faith

News Stories (9).pngMarch - 04 - 2026 12:27 This March, we celebrate the incredible women serving in mission — women who lift God’s name high, shine His light, and make a difference across Europe. full story

A Church Takes Root

News Stories (6).pngFebruary - 25 - 2026 11:48 In the fast-paced rhythm of Budapest, a new church is taking root. Through patient relationship-building and creative outreach, Tamás and Virág are seeing lives changed and a vibrant community begin to grow. full story

Encouraging Growth in Portugal

News Stories (7).pngFebruary - 18 - 2026 12:05 There are hopeful signs of growth in Portugal, as new data reveals a significant rise in church planting across the country — a reminder that God is at work, often in ways we may not immediately see. Read on to see what God is doing! full story

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