Considering the war in Ukraine, our first prayer is that there will be peace. Our second prayer is that our brothers and sisters in Christ will persevere and continue to grow in their faith while they offer the Good News to their countrymen. Below Jesus’ words give us one more prayer to focus on,
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?...” (Matt. 5:44-46b)
We are instructed by Christ to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. This is our third prayer. For many of us, we might have to stop and think about who our enemy could be. For people in Eastern Europe, this is a glaring reality. If Christ be in us, we must go further than our minds tell us to. We must pray for people far from God, no matter what they have done or are doing to us.
We talk about being part of the Summit community at our mission. That community encompasses individuals, churches, local businesses, volunteers, Eastern European workers, and more. As a mission community, if we humble ourselves and pray for our enemies, we believe that God will answer. As we lift up the name of Jesus, and pray for those who are far from Him, He will draw people to Himself (John 12:32). As people receive His grace, God gets glory (Rev. 4:11).
In God’s economy, His forgiveness leads to increased love. The person who has received forgiveness will love God proportionately to the amount of sin forgiven them (Luke 7:41-48). As we seek our own forgiveness in prayer, Jesus told us to also “forgive those who trespass against us” (Matt. 6:12-15). This is the way of Christ. As we consider Matthew 5, we see why it is so important to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors.
The Summit community is at work doing the Father’s business. Please read more in our Stories from the Field about the eternal impact that Summit Missions is having. Together, we are making a difference in Eastern Europe!
May God bless you as you give and receive forgiveness!
David Windham
Executive Director
Supporting and Investing in Ministers
Amber Schafer
8/18/2025
Maybe It's True That God Loves Me
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7/31/2025
A New Church Reaching Internally Displaced People in Ukraine
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6/25/2025
War Weary Pastors in Ukraine
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6/24/2025
Meeting Vyacheslav in Kyiv
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5/13/2025
Ukrainian Refugee Students in Germany
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5/5/2025
Package of Hope
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4/23/2025
The Church: A Place of Help and Hope
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4/17/2025
Ukraine: The Number One Task in Ministry
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2/13/2025
Marina: Finding Hope in Christ After Losing Everything
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1/29/2025
Maria: A Ukrainian Refugee Finds Peace
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12/19/2024
Yulia: I am Grateful for the Path I’m Going Through
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11/14/2024
Nadezhda: Thank You for Your Support at this Difficult Time!
Amber Schafer
11/14/2024
Many Young People are Dedicating Themselves to the Service of the Lord!
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11/14/2024
Julia: A Mother Grateful for God’s Goodness in Hopelessness
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11/6/2024
Practical Help a Conduit for Spiritual Hope
Amber Schafer
9/16/2024
Preaching the Gospel and Providing Support
Amber Schafer
9/4/2024
A Ukrainian Church Plant Provides Practical Help and Spiritual Hope
Amber Schafer
7/1/2024
Ministry on the Frontlines of War
Amber Schafer
6/24/2024
Reaching Ukrainian Youth with God’s Word
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5/23/2024
Three Prayers
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5/20/2024
Belief Through Curiosity in the Local Church
Amber Schafer
4/30/2024
Hope Amid Destruction
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2/29/2024
Ministry and Growth During War
Amber Schafer
2/28/2024
See the Smiles You Brought to Kids in Ukraine!
Amber Schafer
2/8/2024
Nelya’s Story: Lord, Have Mercy on Me!
Amber Schafer
1/15/2024
A Gift You Can Share
Amber Schafer
12/11/2023
Snapshot From the Church Network in Ukraine: Helping Those Who Have Left Occupied Territories
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12/6/2023
Sharing the Bread of Life
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11/29/2023
Church Growth During War in Ukraine
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11/21/2023
Larisa’s Story
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10/23/2023
Halyna’s Story
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10/23/2023
Smiles are on the way to Ukraine!
Amber Schafer
10/12/2023
Snapshot From the Church Network in Ukraine: Growing Young Faith
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9/6/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Fervent in Spirit and Serving the Lord in Ukraine
Amber Schafer
8/28/2023
Flooding in Kherson Compounds the Devastation of War
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8/17/2023
Last Hope
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8/11/2023
Bring Help and Smiles to Ukrainian Children
Amber Schafer
8/1/2023
Skepticism Erased
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8/1/2023
Natalia's Story: Attention Drawn to God Through Difficult Circumstances
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7/25/2023
Greater Sports Camp for the Gospel
Amber Schafer
7/17/2023
Simplicity and Faithfulness
Amber Schafer
7/12/2023
Mila Finds Meaning in Life
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6/26/2023
Bringing Refugees Back to the Path of Hope
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6/20/2023
Ukraine War Update
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6/1/2023
Karina’s Family Finds Help and Friendship at a Church in Ukraine
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5/30/2023
The Russian Invasion: A Catalyst for Drawing People Into a Restored and Redeemed Relationship with
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5/24/2023
Simple Things Bring About Great Change for Displaced Ukrainians
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5/16/2023
Like the Sun Shining in My Heart
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5/8/2023
Vika Finds Hope Through Church Without Walls
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3/30/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Strength to Serve
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3/20/2023
A Review of Ministry in 2022
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3/7/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: The Lord is Touching the Hearts of People
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3/6/2023
A Nebraska Grandmother Helps Bring Joy to Ukrainian Refugee Children
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3/1/2023
Elena Finds Hope in an Unfamiliar Place
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2/22/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Salt and Light
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2/16/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Thank you for your continued remembrance and support
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2/9/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: We Sincerely Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve
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2/2/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Precious Contributions
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1/17/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: God is touching many lives through your help!
Amber Schafer
1/5/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: The Darker it is, the Greater the Need for Light.
Amber Schafer
1/4/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: When We Care for God's Kingdom, He Cares for Us
Amber Schafer
12/19/2022
Jesus Was a Refugee Too
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12/19/2022
Loving and Helping Ukrainian Refugees this Christmas
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12/15/2022
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: The Lord is Working Miracles
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12/14/2022
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: You Helped Us Expand Our Boundaries
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12/13/2022
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Maintaining Relationships
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12/6/2022
Snapshot from the Church Network in Ukraine: Sharing Spiritual and Physical Food
Amber Schafer
11/29/2022
Snapshot from the Church Network in Ukraine: Thank You for Your Encouragement!
Amber Schafer
11/28/2022
She Saw it as a Miracle!
Amber Schafer
11/10/2022
Backpacks for Refugee Children
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11/8/2022
Olga: A Refugee Sharing Faith
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11/3/2022
Serving and Helping Together
Amber Schafer
10/19/2022
Zinaida and Ruslan: At First They Were Skeptical
Amber Schafer
10/5/2022
Tanya: A Ukrainian Refugee Finds Support Through the Local Church
Amber Schafer
9/22/2022
Andrey: A Refugee Boy’s First Step on the Path of Spiritual Awakening
Amber Schafer
9/22/2022
Thank You for Responding to the Needs of Ukrainians
Amber Schafer
9/14/2022
Zhanna: She Did Not Want to Hear Anything About the Church
Amber Schafer
9/14/2022
A Refugee Family Thanks Our Partner in Transnistria
Amber Schafer
9/14/2022
Alla: This Church Has Become Like Family to Us
Amber Schafer
8/10/2022
Olena: This Is My Story!
Amber Schafer
7/27/2022
Your Support Helped Refugee, Zlata, Receive a Food Package!
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7/12/2022
Katya's Family Receives Shelter and Support from Help The Children
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7/7/2022
Reaching the Hearts of Children and Refugees
Amber Schafer
6/28/2022
Seeking Hope and Security
Amber Schafer
6/22/2022
Refugees Receive Care and Support
Amber Schafer
6/7/2022
Refugees Experience the Care of the Local Church
Amber Schafer
5/31/2022
Your Care Makes a Difference in Wartime
Amber Schafer
5/19/2022
Fear to Faith
Amber Schafer
5/13/2022
A Seed Planted
Amber Schafer
5/2/2022
Opening Arms to Help Hurting Neighbors from Ukraine
Amber Schafer
4/26/2022
Practical Help to Refugees of War
Amber Schafer
4/12/2022
Refuge from War is Found at Churches in Ukraine
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4/4/2022
Helping Refugees from Ukraine Through the Help The Children Charity
Amber Schafer
3/31/2022
Transnistrian Partners Serve Like “The Good Samaritan”
Amber Schafer
3/30/2022
The Ukrainian Church is Serving in a Time of War
Amber Schafer
3/28/2022
Maybe There is a God!
Amber Schafer
3/17/2022
Help the Children is Providing Women and Children a Haven from the War
Amber Schafer
3/11/2022
