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March 3, 2022

At War

Dear Friends,

As I write this, the nation of Ukraine is at war, with young people being sent to exposed battle lines to defend their country, and refugees flooding the surrounding borders. The situation is unfolding so fast that it is hard to predict what we will be facing by the time you get my letter.

Our team has been serving in this precious country for over 15 years now, with 36 Ukrainian, Czech, Polish, and American staff. Some of our team members have now relocated to surrounding countries, serving those who have fled to Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Others remain in Ukraine and are working tirelessly in key locations, caring for needy refugees and families and coordinating relief efforts.

Not long ago, our team was training youth leaders and equipping local churches to reach young people. Now, they are ferrying medicine and food across a chaotic border, assisting our Ukrainian church partners as they respond to the unfolding crisis, and coordinating busloads of women and children as we transport them to staging areas at our facilities in Poland, Czech, and Slovakia. As the apostle John said, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

Believers around the world are responding with a wave of compassion and care that is beautiful to behold. Please know that your prayers and engagement are making a real difference. Since you are already connected to Ukraine through your partnership with Josiah Venture, here are some specific ways you can join our team in responding to this pressing need:

Pray

Up to date prayer requests from Ukraine can be found in our online prayer room website or in our mobile phone prayer app, which can be downloaded to both Apple and Android phones by searching “prayer room” in the app store or google play.

You can also find a list of recent prayer requests on our Josiah Venture Facebook page, or follow our Josiah Venture Instagram account. Please use these lists to personally pray for our team and the people of Ukraine; pass them on to your friends, your church, or small group Bible studies with the challenge to stand with Ukraine in prayer.

Give

A special Ukraine Crisis Fund has been set up by Josiah Venture and is being used to care for the refugees we are personally assisting, to finance evacuation efforts through our partner churches in Ukraine, and to pay for supplies and food that is being distributed by these Ukrainian believers. Go to this link to give.

The night before the invasion began, Ukraine’s President Zelensky sent Putin these words: “When you attack us, you will see our faces. Not our backs, but our faces.” As we engage in both physical and spiritual warfare, may this be true of all of us who believe.

Not our backs, but our faces,

Dave Patty President

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