(UKRAINE) Kyiv UBF Fall Conference: Shining as the Light of the World Amid Difficult Times

 
By Jacob Patriiuk
 
From October 24–26, we held our Fall Bible Conference on the theme “You Are the Light of the World.” Due to the war, some of our brothers and sisters have gone abroad. Some potential Bible students have left us, and our church has decreased by half. This reality, as well as general fatigue and exhaustion from the war, which has been going on for four years now, and the chaos in the country, has led to despair and discouragement. 
 
This time, we gathered to renew our identity, to remember who we are and what we are called to do. We reflected on two passages from the Bible: Matthew 5:13–16 “You are the light of the world” — about our identity and mission and Galatians 6:7–10 “Do not give up” — about not giving up in the face of difficulties and setbacks. Through this word God spoke to us especially through verse 9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Our community is going through a period of discouragement when it seems that nothing is changing. But this is a time when God is shaping us and purifying us from what is unnecessary. We realized that, in the end, God does not call us to “success,” but He calls us to faithfulness in doing good. Like a sower, we do not see fruit immediately, but every prayer, every word of encouragement, and every hour of serving is a seed that will grow in its appointed time. We lack nothing for ministry.
 
During the conference, we also held elections and renewed our church leadership. Our chapter director is Jacob Patriiuk (term extended until October 25, 2027) and our elders are Peter Kim (representing the missionaries), Jonathan Saliuk, and Oleksandr Tiutenko.
 
At the conference we shared about how much God has actually given us, from Bible teaching experience to having our own church building. And above all, the Lord Himself cares for His church. Prayer, the Word of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and unity among brothers and sisters — this is the kind of strength that no budget or technology can provide. We understood that even a few faithful hearts praying together can change everything. We were reminded that now is the time to do good. People around us are in desperate need of goodness, God’s love, healing, and support, especially now, when “rains of death” fall on our country every night, and so many have lost everything: property, their former life, health, or loved ones. We realized that today is the time to sow, and if we do not give up, we will reap. Please pray that the Lord may help us in this. 

 

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