Mission Eurasia Ministry Center blown up in Ukraine, hundreds of Bibles destroyed: ‘God will provide’
By Ryan Foley – Christian Post Reporter
The head of a nonprofit organization working to minister to Ukrainian refugees has expressed devastation after one of the ministry’s buildings was destroyed in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Field Ministries Training Center was a “nerve center for new innovations, mission, strategic planning, [and] training” where “many, many young leaders went through training,” said Mission Eurasia President Sergey Rakhuba.
In an interview with The Christian Post, President Rakhuba said that his organization’s Field Ministries Training Center in Irpin, Ukraine, was destroyed by Russian troops. “Russians took it over, and we’ve heard they used it as headquarters for their special forces.” “We’re very saddened by the loss,” he added. “Buildings can be replaced but we were reprinting hundreds and hundreds of copies of new Scriptures to be available for the young evangelists we train. The Scriptures help to equip these young volunteers as they continue reaching out to people who are in need.” Hundreds of Bibles were demolished in the process. Russian troops used burned Scripture piles as shields during their shooting battles.
Rakhuba stated “there were lots of tears shed after we got the news” of the building’s destruction but he remains confident that “God will continue providing.” He vowed to continue bringing the Gospel to “thousands of devastated refugee families.”
Part of Mission Eurasia’s response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been to provide “spiritual comfort.” The group launched the Ukraine Crisis Prayer Initiative, which consists of a network of people who pray about the situation in Ukraine daily. “Once a week, we have a Zoom meeting,” Rakhuba stated, and we are taking prayer requests, encouraging people to get connected, to continue praying, praying for all the needs related to … hardships due to this continued invasion, continued war.”
We are also working to provide humanitarian relief and have established refugee assistance centers in Warsaw, Krakow and Moldova in addition to “four large food distribution hubs in major locations in western Ukraine.” Rakhuba said food is the greatest need facing Ukrainian refugees at this time because “food supply is totally blocked or paralyzed by the war activity.” He was so thankful that the effort to provide food to Ukrainian refugees has received such great support from nearby countries: Poland, Hungary, Romania as well as organizations in the U.S., Canada and other countries that share resources.
Rakhuba praised the churches in Ukraine and surrounding countries, for working to accommodate evacuees in need of shelter. He said church sanctuaries turn into shelters on weekdays, but on Sunday, continue to serve as places of worship.
Rakhuba said medical assistance is another need facing Ukrainian refugees. Please continue praying
Mission Eurasia, a church-planting organization, that “trains, equips, and mobilizes national Christian leaders throughout the former Soviet Union and Israel,” is one of several charities working to provide relief to Ukrainians displaced after Russia began its invasion.
Mission Eurasia operates 17 Schools Without Walls in Ukraine, which are designed for “training the next generation” to get to the front line of the crisis … as volunteers … in their communities.”