More Than Just Food, But Faith and Hope

May 2025

Dear friends,

I hope you had a wonderful Easter! My wife and I are excited because our girls are coming home from college and we look forward to spending time with them this summer. My oldest daughter will return to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix a bit earlier than my other child, due to her getting a teaching job at an elementary school – we are so proud of her. She will be working hard her last year of college, as she completes school while working almost full-time.  

The war in Ukraine continues to rage on with about 2,000 men being killed or injured every day. It is hard to imagine, but these numbers are not exaggerated and may be even under-reported. There are so many conflicting reports about the war’s trajectory, I don’t really know what to believe, so we continue to pray and help our friends in Ukraine.

In this prayer letter, we are highlighting Good News Church in Kharkov, where we partner with this church in helping with their food kitchen. They were having to feed less and less people every week due to limited finances, but with your help, we have infused them with enough donations/money that they have been able to increase the amount of meals by 30% to about 500 meals per day on Sundays and 350 meals per day throughout the week. Thank you for being a blessing to the poor and hungry in Ukraine. If you would like to make a donation for the food kitchen to help continue our partnership, you would be such a gift from God!

We have partnered and worked closely with this church for 24 years in many different ways – before the war, we helped them with English evangelism, theology courses, medial outreach events, kid’s clubs, orphans, Christmas outreaches, etc. And since the war, we have partnered with them with firewood, heating units, medical supplies, biblical resources, food delivery, evacuations to other countries, many individual donations, and of course, this food kitchen. They have been faithful to serve God throughout the years and glorify Christ. Here are three testimonies of people you have blessed with your food donations.

Marina Found More than Just Food!

“Hello friends in America, I want to thank you for not only blessing me, but our entire church – many of us have had a hard time surviving this war and each meal is a gift from God, so thank you! A little bit about me – I live in a high rise apartment in Kharkiv, and since the war began in my country, there have been two missiles that touched down in my own yard where I live. You can just imagine how overcome with fear I was when these bombs landed near me, but then a third missile actually hit the side of my home, and made a direct hit to the apartment below me. I thank God I am alive and safe!

Fearing for my life and being overwhelmed with everything going one, I began to go to various churches to seek consolation. I heard about the food kitchen at Good News Church and decided to visit this church. When I arrived, I immediately fell in love with the people who served us, with the food, and with their kind and gentle Christian demeanor. Because of their love, I have been attending church for three years, and I am attending a home group Bible study too, I have found peace from the war now that I have found rest in Christ. My husband has also begun reading the Bible with me too. Thank you for offering free food, because I have found my Savior too.”

Natasha was Lifted from Despair

“Hi my name is Natasha and I want to thank you for helping me survive in several ways. At the beginning of the war, I wove nets out of desperation and despair for money, since my grandson and son-in-law were taken to the front of the war zone and I had no money to survive. Two weeks later, news came that my grandson was missing in war. I was beside myself and couldn't find a way out of this situation and I was in deep depression – I assume he is dead. Due to this horrific news, I was in bad shape and didn’t know what to do because of my despair.

Then some friends told me about Good News Church, where they feed people. I truly needed help financially and emotionally. I went there to pass the time and find some support. Eventually, I began going to church and began being fed spiritually too. I have found peace and joy once again. I have consistently been attending church, and I have been serving the church for three years. Thank you for help bringing me to God.”

Natalia Found Her Purpose During this War

“Hello friends, I greet you with joy that comes only from the Lord Jesus. I want to thank you for helping Good News Church’s food kitchen for over three years now! Here is a little bit about me - My son, grandson, and son-in-law were all taken to the front line of the war, and my heart was torn to pieces – because so many of my family members were leaving to fight and put their life on the line for our freedom.

I truly needed emotional support, and I heard that Good News Church was distributing humanitarian aid, so I came seeking physical and emotional support. When I came for humanitarian aid, they also told me that they were feeding people for free in the dining room, so when I went in, I realized that this was my home, my family, and my church!

And while my family are still fighting bravely at the front, I now have my church family to support me. I am thankful to give back to the church by cooking for many of the people coming through the food line for assistance. I know what they are going through – fear, loneliness, and exhaustion, so thank you for helping my church with your generous donations, so I can help serve others. Because of your help, I have gained peace and confidence in God, I pray more often and more intentionally, and I enjoy serving others. Thank you for blessing me and helping others!”

Friends, I will put up a few more photos of the food kitchen on our Facebook page. Until then, thank you for all your prayers and support in every way! We are down $10,000 already this year, so please pray for our ministry.

In Jesus’ love,

 Ron