When Pastor Vitaly fled the violence of Kherson in 2022, he arrived in Odesa carrying far more than personal uncertainty. Like thousands of others displaced by Russian aggression, he carried grief, unanswered questions, and the heavy weight of a future suddenly torn from its foundations.

What he encountered in Odesa was not only safety, but opportunity—an open door for the gospel in the lives of people who had lost nearly everything.

Soon after arriving, Pastor Vitaly was introduced to The Story of Hope, a chronological Bible study developed to help people understand the message of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. What began as a single group among displaced believers and seekers has grown into a sustained gospel work that has now been running for three years.

Today, six Story of Hope groups meet regularly in one local church, involving 47 participants. Many of these men and women had never read the Bible before. Some had no church background at all. All of them, however, share one thing in common: they are refugees in need of hope.

A Hunger Born from Loss

War has a way of stripping life down to its essentials. For those displaced from Kherson and surrounding regions, the familiar markers of stability—home, work, routine, even community—were abruptly removed. In that vacuum, deeper questions surfaced: Why is this happening? Where is God? Who can be trusted anymore?

The Story of Hope does not offer quick answers or shallow comfort. Instead, it provides something far more enduring: a biblical framework that helps people understand who God is, how the world became broken, and how God has been working throughout history to redeem it through Jesus Christ.

One testimony captures this hunger well. A woman in one of the groups recently fell ill and considered staying home. Yet knowing that the group meets only once a month, she insisted on coming anyway. “How can I not come?” she said. “I really want to be there.” For her—and many others—these gatherings are not simply lessons. They are lifelines.

Scripture with Structure and Purpose

One of the great strengths of The Story of Hope is its clarity. Rather than presenting isolated Bible passages or moral lessons, the material walks participants through the entire redemptive story of Scripture, helping them see how creation, sin, promise, covenant, sacrifice, prophecy, and fulfillment all point to Christ.

For leaders like Pastor Vitaly, this structure is invaluable. The material does not leave teachers guessing where to go next or how to explain complex biblical themes. It guides leaders step by step, equipping them to teach confidently while remaining faithful to the message of the gospel.

Each lesson includes thoughtful questions that encourage participants to continue engaging Scripture at home. As a result, about 15 individuals—many still outside the church—are now carefully studying the Bible on their own. For people who once felt completely disconnected from Christianity, this is a remarkable transformation.

An Urgent and Narrow Window

The need for this work has not diminished. In fact, it is growing more urgent.

Russian aggression is now increasing even in Odesa. Air raids, infrastructure attacks have increased sharply in recent weeks. No one knows how long these groups will be able to meet in their current form, or how long pastors and leaders will have direct access to displaced people who are still open, searching, and asking questions.

This is a unique moment of gospel opportunity—one that may not last.

History shows that seasons of suffering often open hearts in ways comfort never does. Right now, refugees and displaced families are listening. They are open to conversations about God, meaning, and hope. The Story of Hope is meeting them at precisely that point, offering not political answers or human solutions, but the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

Seizing the Moment Together

The Gospel Today is deeply grateful for everyone who has helped make this ministry possible—those who prayed, those who developed the materials, and those who gave sacrificially so these resources could be printed and distributed across Ukraine.

But the work is far from finished.

As long as the door remains open, we must walk through it. As long as people are asking questions, we must be ready with biblical answers. And as long as there is opportunity, we must act with urgency and faith.

You can help us seize this moment.
Your support enables The Story of Hope to continue reaching displaced people with the full message of the gospel—clearly, faithfully, and compassionately.

Together, we can bring lasting hope in a time of deep uncertainty—and point people to Christ while there is still time.