Trip to Ukraine – June 2024
Trip Report by Pastor Peter Radchuk
The first part of the trip was dedicated to the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the “Good Samaritan Mission” (G.S.M.) in Rivne, our founding office. The celebratory anniversary conference was held on June 7-8, 2024, in the mission office, as well as outdoors at the Christian center “Berezka” in the nearby village of Aleksandria, Rivne region.
On June 7, 2024, 150 missionaries, guests and ministers from Ukraine and abroad gathered for the working session of the conference. We were all blessed by the sermons, testimonies of the missionaries, ministry presentation of the history and vision, as well as musical performances.
Conference participants and guests sincerely thanked God for 35 years of meaningful service of the “Good Samaritan Mission,” prayed for peace in Ukraine, and at the end, prayed for all the missionaries. The atmosphere was pleasant; God’s presence was evident. Despite our fatigue, everyone was filled with joy from the first day of the missionary conference.
After dinner, everyone hurried to the cultural hall where a US-based singing group “The Davidiuks” led by evangelist George Davidiuk, held an event dedicated to the 50th anniversary of their ministry in Ukraine. It was a beautiful and blessed service. This group sang at many evangelistic services organized by G.S.M. over the years.
Many more people gathered for the outdoor service on the second day of the conference. Bishop Anatoliy Kozachok was the main speaker.
What made an impression on me during this trip:
1. The sincerity and simplicity of missionaries; their zeal and sacrifice is worthy of imitation.
2. People are tired of the war; Ukrainians are experiencing a lot of pain and suffering.
3. In almost every service, people repented of their sins and gave their lives to Christ.
4. Services in many churches are filled with newcomers.
5. The number of widows in Ukraine has increased significantly.
6. Many people want to leave Ukraine, but they don’t have the opportunity.
7. The cost of living in Ukraine has risen significantly, but people still remain kind and hospitable.
After the conference, we (my brother Yuriy Radchuk and I) served in churches in Western Ukraine, held a meeting with widows in the city of Sarny (pictured on the top), held an evangelistic service in the village of Zoziv, and visited missionary stations.
In the last week of my stay in Ukraine, I traveled with Ukrainian ministers to the eastern regions of the country. We met with missionaries in the city of Pryluky, Chernihiv Region and then traveled to Lubny, Poltava Region, where we met with the management of the orphanage “Hope”, and had a blessed service at “Covenant Church.”
The following day we left in the direction of Kharkiv. We were treated to lunch at the “Kovcheg” church, after which we had a meeting with the ministers and chaplains. The conversation was short, but pleasant. In this city, we also met with regional ministers and bishops. They shared about the successes and difficulties of serving in wartime conditions.
In the evening, a service was held in Pastor Serhiy Tsygankov’s church. Upon conclusion, a charity dinner was distributed to all who came to the service. In this church, such services are held every Wednesday. First, people attend the service, pray, and then they are fed. The brothers say that currenty, this is one of the most effective ways of evangelizing.
In the morning we traveled to Kupyansk, Kharkiv Region. Local brothers purchased bulk produce, and we took it to the soldiers near the front line. The road was very difficult. It’s been a while since I’ve driven on such a road- filled with a pothole after pothole. With God’s help, we arrived safely and completed our plans. We returned to Kharkiv late in the evening.
In Kupyansk, of course, the reality is horrible… There are almost no civilians, only military personnel. There is also no electricity, water, or telephone connection… only constant shelling and battles, since the front line is only 10 km away.
On the return trip, we spent the night in Lubny, and the next morning traveled back to Rivne. On Sunday, I spoke in two more churches, and late in the evening, took a bus to Krakow, Poland, and from there flew to the United States. Friends, please pray for Ukraine and for our ministry. God bless you!
-Peter Radchuk (President of SIA of Ministries “Good Samaritan”)
