Let me introduce you to Victor. He was standing with his upper body out of a tank hatch when a Russian Lancet drone exploded just yards away. Shrapnel tore through his body, destroying one eye and leaving him with only 10% vision in the other. By all accounts, he should not have survived. But his comrades reacted quickly, stopping the bleeding and getting him to a nearby medical point. Skilled medical professionals were able to save his life.

Later, in a hospital in Odesa, Victor met another kind of rescue team—believers from Hope for People Church. They gave him something medical professionals could not: the hope of the gospel. “I always believed that God existed,” Victor told me, “but I never had anyone to tell me about Him—until now.”

Victor’s story highlights a powerful truth: just as trained medical workers are essential to saving lives in war, trained gospel witnesses are essential to bringing eternal hope in times of crisis. And in Ukraine, the need for training believers in evangelism has never been greater.

Challenges Facing the Ukrainian Church

1. Hopelessness and Trauma from War

The ongoing war has left countless Ukrainians struggling with grief, depression, and loss. They are asking deep spiritual questions: Where is God? Why did this happen? Can there still be hope? Believers must be prepared to give gospel answers that speak to these urgent realities.

2. The Influence of Western Culture

As Ukraine turns toward the West, new philosophies and ideologies flood in—relativism, atheism, LGBTQ ideologies, and pragmatic materialism. Many churches are not equipped to respond biblically to these cultural shifts, leaving believers unsure how to defend and present the gospel in this context.

3. The Rise of Paganism and Identity Searching

In their search for identity, some Ukrainians are returning to ancient roots—Orthodoxy, Catholicism, or even pagan traditions that worship the sun, moon, and stars. These are new and growing challenges that require thoughtful, contextualized gospel responses.

4. A Shortage of Leaders and Trained Believers

With millions displaced, many men at the front lines, and others hesitant to engage for fear of mobilization, the Ukrainian church faces a severe shortage of leaders. Pastors are often overworked and burned out, while churches rely too heavily on a handful of leaders to do the work of evangelism.

How The Gospel Today Is Responding

At The Gospel Today, we believe evangelism is not just the work of pastors—it is the calling of every believer. Our mission is to come alongside churches and equip ordinary Christians to share the gospel clearly, biblically, and effectively in the unique context of today’s Ukraine.

• We train believers through seminars, print resources, online media, and personal mentorship.
• We equip churches with tools and strategies to reach their communities with the gospel.
• We support pastors by mobilizing church members to share in the work of evangelism and discipleship.
• We prepare Christians to face cultural, spiritual, and personal challenges with gospel truth.

Our goal is simple: that every church in Ukraine would be filled with believers who are ready, skilled, and nearby—able to give eternal hope to people like Victor.

How You Can Help

The challenges are great, but so are the opportunities. Never before has Ukraine been more open to hearing the gospel. But the church must be equipped.

• Pray: Ask God to raise up gospel witnesses across Ukraine who will bring hope to the hopeless.
• Support: Partner with us financially so we can expand training, publish more resources, and strengthen churches.
• Share: Spread the word about what God is doing in Ukraine and the urgent need for gospel training.

Together, we can ensure that when someone like Victor reaches out for hope, there will be a trained Christian nearby, ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ.