Mercy In The Midst Of Turmoil
Since Ukraine was invaded in February 2022, citizens have been living in war and chaos every day. Although the most severe area has been in the eastern part, the whole country is in a state of panic and great fear. Able-bodied Ukrainian males have been pressed with the task of desperately fighting for the country.
According to current statistics, more than 140,000 people were killed or injured, and millions of civilians were forced to flee their homes and become refugees escaping to foreign lands. It is believed that globally, this war has been a matter of concern in recent years. Yet it is no longer the headlines in the news media and newspapers while Ukrainians continue to suffer the loss of lives in this war every day, and their families are left to face the pain of losing their loved ones.
CIM Canada has been working in western Ukraine in a district called Uzhgorod starting 2017 by carrying out ministry to contact the Roma people. "House of Mercy” is the base and meeting point for our short-term mission teams with years of cooperation that have removed cultural barriers, and with years of prayer and serving together bringing hearts closer to each other and to our Lord Jesus. When the war broke out, CIM has been reporting how we have been looking for the various ways and channels to keep in touch with the brothers and sisters in Ukraine through praying, teaching, sharing the words of encouragement, and transferring donations raised in Canada.
Pastor Vlad Matvieiev (left) and Pastor Vasyl Fenchak (right)
Thanks to our Lord’s leadership, this coming September 14 to October 2, we have invited two Ukrainian pastors to join us in Canada for sharing sessions around multiple churches in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. They come to bring us a wealth of first-hand information, sharing in their own words their personal experiences, witnessing the cruelty of human nature, and at the same time see God's miraculous hand still working in the midst of darkness.
Please come and hear the amazing real-life stories from Ukraine. You’ll be showing your support as a sign of encouragement to the oppressed victims of this devastating conflict.
Pastor Vlad Matvieiev
Pastor Vlad Matvieiev and family
One pastor we are expecting is Pastor Vlad Matvieiev, our CIM Ukrainian mission worker for the Roma ministry in Ukraine. Here are some details from Vlad:
We as a family live in the village of Baranyntsi, Uzhhorod district. My wonderful wife's name is Dianka. God blessed us with 4 children: the eldest is called Denys, 16 years old, the second Misha, 15 years old, the third Vladik, 11 years old, and a beautiful daughter Emilia 3 years old. My wife works as a dentist. My eldest son has finished school and is preparing to enter the university.
I serve as a pastor in the village. Solomonovo is near the Hungarian and Slovak border. I believe that every pastor is called to grow through learning to better understand the Scriptures and faithful teaching. That is why I am studying at UBTS (Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary) in the master's program.
Pastor Vasyl Fenchak
Pastor Vasyl Fenchak and family
Pastor Vasyl Fenchak who is also coming shares these words about himself:
I am 43. Married Olya in 2004. We have 5 kids and 1 granddaughter.
Youngest – Elina (3), Olivia (7), Timothy (14), Anna (18),Yana and her husband Ivan and their daughter Emilia.
For 3 years, I became a pastor of the First Baptist Church in Uzhgorod.
I have started and been leading the House of Mercy Foundation since 2003.
My education – Uzhgorod State University. A specialist in foreign Philology.
Graduated from Bible school in Rivne (Central Ukraine. The school of Biblical preaching). Entered the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary right after Rivne (in Lviv. Finishing my 2nd year there now)
Please pray for the visit of these two pastors, and ask the Lord to grant them a safe journey, strength in body, mind, and spirit to testify for the Lord, so that everyone who hears it will glorify and praise God! We are fundraising for these upcoming September Ukraine sharing sessions. Expenses include air tickets (round-trip between Ukraine and Canada as well as flights between different provinces in Canada), accommodation, meals and local transportation, etc. Please consider supporting the September events by donating to our Roma Ministry Fund.
Please remember the House of Mercy in Ukraine. They continue to play an important role in the war providing the refugees with food, medications and shelter. At the same time, they will share the love of the Lord Jesus and the powerful gospel of redemption. But to continue the work, they really need financial support to keep going. I urge everyone to pray earnestly for their needs and consider being generous and continue to donate to Ukraine through CIM's Ukraine Crisis Fund. With your support, we can make it possible to deliver the food, clothes, medications, beds, and daily need supplies.
On behalf of CIM Canada, we thank you very much for being involved in ministry through prayer and financially. In fact, this is not only the ministry of CIM Canada, nor the ministry of the short-term mission team, but your ministry as well. May we work together to fulfill the great commission entrusted by the Lord Jesus.
Thank you!
May Financials 2023
1. General Fund - for general and administrative purposes, such as staff salaries
2. Designated Fund - for specific ministries in different field locations as designated (cannot be transferred between funds)
*All financial figures are in Canadian dollars and rounded to the nearest dollar
Pray With Us:
Pray for the sharing sessions in Canada for Pastor Vasyl and Pastor Vlad from Ukraine. They will be with us from September 14 to October 2, and together we will go to multiple churches in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver for the sharing sessions. Pray for the traveling mercy, and financial need of September events.
Continue to pray for peace in Ukraine. The invasion rages on and innocent lives are lost each day. Pray for House of Mercy as they take care of refugees, physically and spiritually. Pray that there will be donors for our Ukraine Crisis Fund as there are tremendous needs for the refugees.
Pray for the pastors and teachers that we support in Ghana and Togo. Inflation is still greatly affecting their lives. Pray that there will be donors for our benevolent fund so we can help with some of their physical needs. Pray for the formation of STM teams this summer and for 2024.
Pray for our International Worker, Janice, who is now back in Canada for maternity leave. Pray that her husband, Enoch, will be able to obtain a visa and travel to Canada for the birth of their child this month.
Pray for Pastor Isaac who is now traveling in Australia to speak at a number of churches for CIM Australia.
Pray for CIM USA as they are still looking for an Executive Director as well as a Director of Ministry.
Pray for Rev. Douglas Wu, a missionary of CIM USA in South Africa, who has resigned from CIM USA effective August 2023 due to health issues. Click here for more about Rev. Wu.