Nelya’s Story: Lord, Have Mercy on Me!

Nelya’s Story: Lord, Have Mercy on Me!
Monday, January 15, 2024 by Amber Schafer

“My name is Nelya. I am 75 years old and have been a widow since 2009. Until 2015, I lived in Novokalynove, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. My house was bombed in the conflict. At the time of the explosion, I was lying on the floor and prayed, “Lord, have mercy on me!” as four shells flew into my yard. God kept me alive! I then moved to Ocheretyne. Now, I am running away from war again. I lived in a shelter for three weeks, then evacuated from Ocheretyne to a town near Pokrovsk. I thank God for the kind people who helped me and others to survive!”

Since the beginning of the war, the Generations Church Network (nearly 50 churches across Ukraine) has stepped in to provide practical help and spiritual hope to people like Nelya, who have been displaced from their homes.

“I had difficulties with my finances and didn’t have enough to eat,” Nelya said. “I went to the church to ask for something to eat.” This church serves not only the town of Pokrovsk, but neighboring towns in the Donetsk region. Nine volunteers from the church have been working to provide evacuation, distribute food and hygiene products, and prepare hot meals for those in need. While helping people, they talk about Jesus Christ, and offer Christian literature. Through their ministry, 1800 people have heard the good news of Jesus, sixty people have come to faith and started attending church meetings, and four new small groups have been started in four towns.

“Since initially going to the church, I have connected my life with God,” says Nelya. “I believe in Him and was baptized.” Through this church serving others in Pokrovsk, and the Generations Church Network, God indeed has shown His mercy, love, care, and provision to Nelya.

To carry out ministry during the war, the church in Pokrovsk and other churches in the Generations Church Network rely on support. The leaders and volunteers from the church in Pokrovsk say, “Thank you! We are grateful for your prayers and financial support. May God bless you richly!”

About the Generations Church Network

Generations Mission Association, founded by our Mission Partner, Rustam, has prepared numerous church-planting teams in the Russian-speaking countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia since its inception in 2015. The Generations team coaches pastors and Christian leaders in Eastern Europe as they develop strategies and methods for creative approaches to practical and meaningful ministry. Summit Missions International is involved in the work of Generations Mission Association through funding, sponsorship of church planters, training of Christian leaders by providing speakers, support and equipment for conferences and workshops.

When the war began in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, nearly 50 churches, part of the Generations Network, were prepared and ready to respond. Together, the churches in the network across Ukraine have provided practical help through evacuation, temporary shelter, food, clothing, and other resources. The volunteers from the Church Network are sharing spiritual hope and giving emotional support as people face some of their darkest and most difficult seasons of life. Through your support, Summit Missions International can continue to provide resources so these churches can be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing His love and care to the suffering.