This weekend our nation celebrated Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. It has also been a time to acknowledge those who still fight for their lives across the ocean. When war broke out in Ukraine over a year ago, no one expected it to still be ravaging the nation 459 days later. The war continues to have a destructive effect on the people of Ukraine, and yet in the midst of these horrors the light of God’s grace has become a beacon of hope for the lost. Since war broke out, we have seen over 250 Ukrainians receive Christ into their hearts. How blessed are we to be God’s messengers to people in need of His love!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”- John 16:33
Now that summer has arrived, Gabi and I have made plans to go overseas and support our missionaries in person. We will be leaving for Romania/Ukraine at the end of June, and will remain until August. There is much work to be done, and no better time to do it!
In Romania we are planning a 3-day missionary conference in Alba Iulia where we can gather and uplift the missionaries and their families. This will be a time for prayer, rest, reflection, teaching, encouraging, collaboration, and fellowship. Our hope is to energize our missionaries as they enter a busy season of ministry.
We are also excited to work on the properties we have obtained in Romania for the purpose of creating spaces for retreats and camps. We hope that those properties become crucial assets for our ministry moving forward.
We would like to thank the missionaries in Romania who have faithfully supported their brethren in Ukraine. Pavel Petihachny, the PIEI National Director of Ukraine, connects will all of our Ukrainian missionaries so that he can learn what supplies are needed for the refugees they serve in different communities. He then communicates those needs to Timothy Stanea, the PIEI National Director of Romania. The close proximity of our Ukraine missionaries to Romania makes it possible for Timothy to gather and send those needed supplies over the Carpathian mountains every month, and our humanitarian purposes allow our convoys to pass through the border quickly and without complications.
We have also been thrilled at the amount of aid that we have received from our supporting partners! One US church managed to collect and ship 17 large boxes of supplies to donate to Ukrainian refugees for the Christmas season. Another group of pastors from England travelled with the convoy to Ukraine just this weekend and spent 4 days visiting and encouraging the missionaries there. Gabi and I will also join one of those convoys this summer, along with a Short-Term Mission Team, as we travel to Ukraine for their Summer Camp (July 24-29).
The Summer Camp in Ukraine is the greatest opportunity that we have for sharing the Gospel with children who have never even opened a Bible. Last year over 50% of the children who attended camp received Christ as their savior! Some of the children who attend are refugees, and are in desperate need of God’s word. Moreover, we know that many of the children who receive Christ at camp return to unbelieving families. Those children are the hope of salvation to their loved ones.
If you would like to sponsor a child to attend camp, you can Donate to Ukraine (Sub Fund: 24302- Ukraine Summer Camp) for $12/day. We would also appreciate your prayers for the missionaries, churches, refugees, campers, and families that will be served this summer. May God use us as His hands and feet!
In Christ, Cornel Stef
