The Friends of Israel in Action Jul/Aug 2026
Grit and Grace in Eastern Ukraine
When war comes knocking at our doors, how should we Christians live out our faith? Although most of us Westerners have never needed to ask ourselves this question, many believers around the world have, including some of our dedicated Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry (FOI) representatives.
People who live near the front of the war in eastern Ukraine are suffering terribly. Much of the civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. Curfews last for 20 hours a day. Few cities have basic utilities like heat and water, and almost none have constant electricity. “We live in the 21st century,” one of our Ukrainian workers lamented, “yet the living conditions in these cities are inhumane.”
Meanwhile, the death toll from the war mounts. Last year, Ukraine’s mortality rate was nearly triple its birth rate, casting doubt on the nation’s economic stability when the war ends. Schools are shut down for lack of students. Villages are empty, leaving abandoned homes. Manufacturing has virtually stopped. Many young adults are choosing not to bear children for fear of raising them in the midst of war. Ukrainians are wondering who will be left to rebuild when the fighting is over.
In the face of this destruction, Ukrainian Christians are living out their faith with grit and grace.
Our friend Pastor Pawel didn’t flee his town or his church in eastern Ukraine when the war began. He stayed to continue serving Jesus and his parishioners. Jesus’ words in Luke 12:42–43 motivated him: “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”
Supported by FOI representatives from Eastern Europe, Pastor Pawel preached God’s Word, provided food and medicine, and represented Jesus to his dwindling congregation in the city of Myrnohrad, the Ukrainian word for “peace.”
Pastor Pawel recently used the precious, brief time during the daily four-hour window between curfews to visit one of his congregants. On his way, he was secretly followed and targeted by a Russian drone. Our FOI team was heartbroken to learn that Pastor Pawel lost his life that day, a casualty of this war of aggression. In his life and death, this faithful man of God loved and served unreservedly, like his Savior, unhindered by the cost.
FOI workers and volunteers in Ukraine continue their ministry with the same indomitable and gracious spirit. The deaths of their friends, neighbors, and colleagues is heartrending; yet they persevere for the sake of Messiah Jesus and the needs of both Christian and Jewish communities in their country. As one of our workers in Kyiv stated, “My heart is filled with the words of the apostle Paul: ‘Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart'” (Gal. 6:9).
You can support our Eastern European teams or other FOI ministries around the world. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
Serving With AI and Availability in Israel
Vanessa, an FOI Tikvah Team volunteer from Taiwan, is shaped by her kindness, innovation, and a deep love for the Jewish people. (The Tikvah Team is FOI’s official volunteer network, with more than 100 trained volunteers who demonstrate their passion for God’s Word and compassion for God’s Chosen People by serving in Jewish communities and local churches.)
Vanessa’s expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) has opened doors for outreach across languages and cultures. During her recent season of ministry in Israel, she taught students about this advanced technology in colleges and universities.
In a land where dozens of languages and cultures intersect, Vanessa uses AI not as a novelty, but as a gospel vehicle. Her work displays the love of Messiah Jesus to people who may never have encountered a Christian who loves Israel and the Jewish people.
Yet Vanessa makes the greatest impact by simply being where the Lord places her. During a recent synagogue gathering, she met a Nigerian believer in Jesus whose family back home faces severe threats because of the nation’s violent persecution of Christians. Feeling the Lord compelling her to intervene, she devised a plan to help more than 10 members of his family relocate to Taiwan through educational pathways, securing legal student status where possible. Once they reach Taiwan, she intends to help them navigate the difficult process of resettlement—arranging housing, helping them adjust culturally, connecting them to church life, and providing hands-on support.
This is gospel-rooted humanitarian work—costly, practical, soaked in compassion, and reflective of the heartbeat of Jesus.
While traveling to Jerusalem one day, Vanessa’s bus broke down. She began speaking with an observant Jewish man from the United Kingdom and invited him to join her tour of the holy city that day. He thought he was simply tagging along, unaware that apart from the Western Wall, the journey’s locations—the Garden Tomb, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the traditional path of the cross—told the story of Jesus’ journey to His crucifixion.
At the Garden Tomb, Vanessa providentially met three of her friends. Together, they shared the hope of the gospel with the man. He asked thoughtful, searching questions: “So Jesus gave His body for humanity? He sacrificed Himself for the sins of mankind?”
The man later shared that as they conversed, he felt a release and a profound peace—something flowing from his head into his heart. It was an unmistakable reminder that God arranges every encounter for His purposes.
Whether teaching biblical truth through education on AI, rescuing persecuted believers, or sharing the Good News after an encounter on a broken-down bus, Vanessa remains faithful to God’s calling on her life. Her story testifies that God is at work, using His servants from every corner of the world. We are so thankful Vanessa has chosen to use her gifts to serve our Lord and to volunteer with FOI.
You can support Vanessa and other volunteers serving in North American Ministries. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
Photos: The Friends of Israel Archives
