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July 13, 2026

Longer than WW1

How do you manage a somber milestone?

On June 11, 2026, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine officially surpassed the duration of World War 1. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has now outlasted the Great War, which ended after 1,568 days.

For our team of 30 full-time staff serving in Ukraine in the midst of aggression, nightly bombings and the sound of drones overhead have become a daily reality. Yet, most of their attention is focused on a different battle, the fight for the hearts and souls of young people.

Vitalii has a special heart for reaching boys whose fathers are absent or conscripted into the military. These vulnerable young men are growing up without a strong male influence in their lives, at a time when they need one the most. Since most boys enjoy activity and challenge, Vitalii teaches men in the church to father groups of boys in Wise Carpenter clubs. They build projects together and learn from Jesus, the great wise carpenter.

Despite the pressures of war and the difficulty of travel, Vitalii has launched 45 of these clubs in churches across Ukraine, reaching over 500 boys each week. One of the recent clubs they started was in a Baptist church that was targeted and destroyed in April by a Russian-guided missile. During the explosion, one man was killed, and several were hospitalized. There is no safe place in a war of missiles and drones, even for Wise Carpenter clubs.

In June, Vitalii gathered many of the boys for a Wise Carpenter camp featuring creative projects, fun events, and a clear proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many put their faith in Christ and experienced an environment of love and personal care that was medicine to their souls. While the somber war milestone was being passed in June, Vitalii was taking young people past a different milestone, the dividing line from spiritual death to life.

Lee and Katie are originally from California, yet they have chosen to remain in Ukraine with their two young children in the midst of war. Many nights are spent sleeping in the basement of their apartment building, which doubles as a bomb shelter. But rather than shrinking back, they are actively expanding the summer camps our JV team leads and will host 43 evangelistic camps in July and August.

Each of these camps is in partnership with a local church and will make it possible to share the gospel with nearly 3,000 Ukrainian young people this summer. One battle front seems locked in place, but this battle is pressing forward rapidly into enemy territory, rescuing young lives from the power of sin and darkness.

I’m so proud of the faith and courage of our Josiah Venture team. Thanks for making God’s milestones possible through your gifts and prayers.

Dave Patty
President, Josiah Venture

Dave Patty President

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