Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe

Dear Brothers, Partners and Helpers,

Here is a new update on the situation in Ukraine. This is our third week and we can hardly see the light at the end of the tunnel. The diplomatic efforts have had little impact on the ground, bringing no relief in the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Peace seems to be so far away. By now more than half of the country is directly affected by various military actions, and violent air strikes can occur anywhere.

One can easily follow the spreading of the armed conflict by tracking back the origins of the refugees. Last week for example, we had people coming from the Kiev and Zaporizhzhia region, this week we had refugees mostly from Winnitsa/Winnytsia and the Odessa area (check your maps for these cities). They were Baptist and Presbyterian brothers – we are welcoming all these Christian refugees. One interesting fact: some of these brothers are ethnic Russians – not ethnic Ukrainians – yet they are still leaving their motherland.

As we tried to extend hospitality to these people, we had several difficult moments as well. In the haste we had some miscommunication; we were less patient with each other; the tiredness and the constant “stand by” mode had a toll on us. To make a long story short: we felt Satan’s attacks or – as one of my friends likes to put it – “Sauron’s eye” was on us. This is his modus operandi: whenever there is an opportunity for some kind of ministry, an attack from our enemies is expected. As Paul has stated: „for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” (1Cor 16:9)

But we have experienced God’s grace and work with and through us as well. I was delighted to see how the “help chain” works. Let me explain: you helped us, we helped our brothers from Ukraine who had to move temporarily to Miskolc, now they went back to the Hungarian side of the border to help authorities (border guards, Red Cross) as translators, thus to help refugees themselves. Also by God providence, these two elders from Ukraine are interpreting for me too – since refugees arriving in Miskolc speak little or no English. By the way, this week we offered shelter to 23 new refugees here in Miskolc and over 30 or so in our congregation in Budapest.   

One other touching highlight from this week: we housed 11 orphans here with their foster parents; that is 13 persons in total. They were all squeezed in a minivan with 9 seats and barely escaped a bombardment. They stopped in Miskolc, then left for Italy. The husband – who is a pastor – has incurable lung cancer with metastasis in bones. But he was very cheerful and thankful, no signs of worry, self-pity or depression. He was the kind of person who gladly acknowledged that his “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3). Double and absolute safety! Do we need more?      

Finally, some prayer items. Please pray for those who are traveling and looking for a safe haven. Keep praying also for peace or at least a longer cease-fire. Pray for the divided families. Allow me to add one major prayer request. Over 80% of our church members are still in Ukraine. They hope to resist and survive there unless the situation becomes unbearable. However, everything can change dramatically in a day or two. This could lead to a sudden mass-evacuation – meaning that we have to pick up our people in a short time-span from the border. If panic infiltrates, things could become very chaotic. So please pray so that we could avoid a ‘Presbyterian Dunkirk’ situation at the border.

Hope to stay in touch with you. I will give you some directions on donations next week.  

In His service,

Rev. Imre Szoke

Miskolc/Hungary