As the war in Ukraine continues, the need for hope is more urgent than ever. Over ten million people have been displaced, 40% of the population has lost stable income, and vast regions are without food, water, or medical care. Amidst this devastation, the demand for God’s word continues to grow.
In February, a rocket struck a residential building in Poltava, killing 14 people and injuring 20 more. Over 250 apartments were damaged. Attacks like this are tragically common, with tens of thousands of buildings destroyed and lives lost.
In these desperate times, churches and Christian organisations have been on the frontlines—delivering food, medicine, and Bibles. Through the Hope Amidst Fear project, Bible Society Ukraine (BSU) has been equipping chaplains and volunteers with Scripture to bring comfort and strength to those overwhelmed by trauma.
Earlier this year, a small interfaith team of chaplains and volunteers visited wounded soldiers in the surgical department of a clinic in Kyiv. Among them was August*, a man in his fifties who had recently lost his right leg in battle.
August lay in a shared ward, silent and withdrawn. His roommate was talkative, eager to share his story, but August remained quiet—his eyes distant, his spirit heavy. One of the volunteers, Oskana*, felt a quiet prompting to speak with him. Gently, she asked how he was feeling. In response, August lifted his blanket, revealing his amputation. His eyes filled with tears. “How did this happen? How could this happen?” he murmured, again and again—words soaked in grief and guilt.
Despite the noise around them, Oskana sensed that August needed more than words. “May I hug you?” she asked. He hesitated, then nodded. As she embraced him, he clung to her hand and wept. The emotional wall crumbled. In that moment, something shifted.
When the team offered to pray, August couldn’t speak—his pain too raw—but he didn’t need to. Oskana began to pray aloud, thanking God for sparing his life and for being present in his suffering. August held her hand tightly, his tears flowing freely.
After the prayer, he began to open up. He spoke of his family—his wife, children, and grandchildren. His eldest son, now thirty, had volunteered for the army. Inspired by his son’s courage, August had followed him to the front lines. When asked what gave him strength to endure, his answer was simple and unwavering: “God gave me strength.”
The volunteers asked about the day he was injured. He shared that his comrades had survived, though wounded. This opened the door to a conversation about divine protection. August agreed—it had been God who preserved them.
Before leaving, the team gave him a Bible and an audio player with the New Testament in Ukrainian. As they said goodbye, August looked up and said, “I suppose many promise you that they will read it. But as for me—you can be sure. I definitely will.”
As they stepped out of the ward, one of the volunteers glanced back. August was holding the Bible, slowly turning its pages. His face, once clouded with sorrow, now bore a fragile but unmistakable smile—a smile lit by hope.
Throughout 2024, the Hope Amidst Fear project distributed over 238,000 Scriptures to people like August. Bible Society Ukraine continues to receive testimonies from injured soldiers, displaced families, and grieving communities who have found comfort in God’s word. This work is only possible through the faithful support and prayers of people around the world.
Please pray:
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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