The following is copied and shared with permission and reflects a deeply personal  perspective forged amid the daily suffering and sacrifice caused by the war in Ukraine.  This update is offered to inform and encourage your prayerful support for all who are affected by this tragedy.

If you would like to help us with humanitarian aid efforts you can donate through our  website https://ipministry.org/donate/. The needs are growing as we keep helping thousands of people to move west within Ukraine and also helping those who want to leave the country temporarily. We need funds most of all for gas, but also for food and various supplies (medical, bed linens, mattresses, etc). Thank you.                        

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Kharkiv Update:

Pastor Sergei made a trip from Kharkiv to Cherkassy and back. He brought some humanitarian aid back to Kharkiv. He got a chance to visit with Sasha, pastor of one of Cherkassy chuRches. Sergei said that after ongoing bombings in Kharkiv it was surreal to be in a peaceful Cherkassy!

Distribution of food to those in need in Kharkiv.

Maia’s Update: 

The night is coming.
We keep hearing more and more about a possibility of russians getting ready to use chemical weapons. It seems evil has no boundaries.

Joe Biden was asked twice in a press conference on yesterday if Nato would respond with military action were Russia to use chemical weapons in Ukraine, a fear raised repeatedly over the past few weeks by the US, UK and others.

Western leaders have become concerned that Russia’s failure to achieve a quick victory in Ukraine means it could consider escalating the weapons it uses to avoid bloody urban warfare, which favours the defenders. We know the danger is real. Our hope for protection continues to rest on God.
Please, keep praying for us
.
Psalm 17:6-15
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
7 Show me the wonders of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10 They close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
13 Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down;
with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14 By your hand save me from such people, LORD,
from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu

And we do know for sure – there is light and there is hope!

Art by Kirill Zavadskiy

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Please share these updates with others. I have added direct links to our email, our website, and to the IP Ministry Journal on YouTube to the bottom of this page. Your prayers are precious to us. Thank you!

In Christ,
Brandy Ezzell
International Partnerships