News from Ukraine
Christ is Risen! This joyful phrase can be heard everywhere, filling the air with hope. It’s such a blessing to feel a joy so deep that nothing can overshadow it. Even in times of sorrow, this joy remains with us and gives us strength in the midst of pain.
Last week was filled with various activities and preparations, and there were many opportunities to share the Good News. Easter is a major holiday in Ukraine—everyone celebrates it. However, in our Orthodox culture, the focus is often more on rituals, traditions, and preparing special foods. People go to church to have their Easter cakes blessed, and for many, this is the only day of the year they attend a church service.
The pre-holiday mood often inspires conversations about the upcoming celebration. It’s always a wonderful opportunity to talk about the most important thing—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection. Our church gathered on Thursday for a special service and communion, a meaningful time of remembering the Lord’s Supper.
I also had a special time with our support groups of refugees and local volunteers. We read Scripture and prayed together. People asked questions, and it was truly exciting to share the Good News with them again and again, each time from a different perspective.
Sunday’s service was also a special time for our church. Afterward, we presented our Easter program, which included a short concert and a drama performance. Preparing for the event was a great joy, especially because it gave me the chance to work closely with our youth group. It was truly encouraging to witness their spiritual growth and dedication. One story that stands out is about a young man named Nikita, who first came to our church last summer. At the time, he was going through a season of searching. He was struggling with his relationship with his parents, who were also facing difficulties in their own relationship, and he had challenges in his personal life as well. When he first came, he was reserved and not ready to open up about his inner world. However, he was drawn to the warm atmosphere of the church and quickly connected with the youth group. Before long, we began to see real change in him. He opened up, grew more confident, and started participating enthusiastically in all church activities. We are grateful that God has touched Nikita’s heart, and we continue to pray that He will complete the good work He has begun in Nikita and in his family.
Many new people joined us for our Easter service, making it a truly joyful celebration. We also invited children from the orphanage, who were excited to worship with us. They even took part in the program by performing a motion song, which brought smiles to everyone’s faces.
It was a wonderful gift to see Dr. Anya and Paul Lukoshkin, who were able to take a few days off for the holiday. Vladislav, a soldier living in our Refugee Center, who is recovering from a serious wound, was also with us in church. Our hope is that those still on the front lines will also experience the joy of the holiday—and that, proclaiming Christ is Risen, they will entrust their lives to the great God who gave His life for us.
We are now praying, planning, and taking the first steps toward establishing a military rehabilitation center. We need to find a suitable location, train a dedicated team, and develop a comprehensive rehabilitation program. When the war ends and our soldiers return home, many will carry deep wounds—not only physical, but emotional and spiritual as well. It will be essential to offer them spiritual care and lead them to the One who alone can truly heal the soul.
Easter Day was a moment of truce—for the first time in three years, we experienced a day without air raid sirens or rocket attacks. It was a rare gift, allowing us to celebrate the holiday in peace and quiet. But as soon as the day ended, the drones returned. Odesa, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson came under attack once again. For three nights following Easter, Odesa has not slept. The city has endured wave after wave of enemy strikes. Again and again we are witnessing fires and destruction.
Thank you for your prayers and support, and please continue to pray with us for peace.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” 1 Peter 1:3
Please, send your donations to Pathway Ministries
E. Langston Haygood,D.Min.,Ph.D.
Pathway Ministries, Inc.
288 Huntington Parc Circle
Birmingham, AL 35226
In Christ,
Lyuda
