FROM THE FIELD: Converting Fuel into Life

One of SALT Ukraine’s strategic partners is Hope to People, an organization in Ukraine led by Pastor Taras Prystupa. Pastor Taras is an incredible leader and has had his hand in the planting of hundreds of churches. Greg Gibson, SALT Ukraine’s Global Leader, calls Pastor Taras one of his “heroes in the faith.”

Since the war broke out, Taras’ church planting efforts have not slowed, but he added in the responsibility of facilitating the evacuation of hundreds of people from areas hit hardest by the war in Ukraine. Volunteer drivers risk their lives each day to make these evacuations possible.

Just this past week, Pastor Taras shared that one driver was navigating his van near the Donetsk region, where fighting is heavy. The driver was dealing with thunderstorms, missiles exploding in the sky, and low-flying military aircraft. The van went off the road and rolled over. By God’s grace, the van was empty of refugees at the time, and the driver, Volodya, a husband and father of two, was uninjured! Please pray for a quick and affordable repair of the van so that it can be returned into service, bringing more people to safety!

Why take these risks? Why endure exploding missiles in the sky and war zone driving when relative safety is only a few hundred miles away. The answer is simple: the power of the gospel. One volunteer driver, Georgy, described it this way: “As we are continuing to evacuate people, we are converting fuel into life.” Converting fuel. Into LIFE.

Each day, willing volunteers are converting fuel into life. Physical life for sure, bringing people away from the physical dangers of war. But spiritual life as well, bringing people towards the God who died for their sins.

We urge you – please pray for the protection of the drivers, for the damaged van to be repaired quickly, for all of the vehicles to keep working, and for the hearts of the refugees who are seeing God’s love in action.

To send Pastor Taras and Hope to People – or any of SALT Ukraine’s strategic partners – a note of prayer and encouragement.

Go here to give: RELIEF FOR UKRAINE