Enjoy this full ministry Spring update from Kremenchuk Evangelical Seminary.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5
Dear friends and partners in the Gospel,
We greet you with deep gratitude and joy from Ukraine. Your prayers and faithful support continue to make an eternal difference—even in these challenging times of full-scale war. Because of you, we are able to train pastors, chaplains, evangelists, and ministry leaders who are bringing the light of Christ into dark and hurting places across our nation.
Though the war has disrupted so much, the mission of the Church remains alive and unstoppable. The following are just a few highlights from recent months. We hope they inspire you as much as they’ve inspired us.
A New Generation of Chaplains Sent in the Field
On March 28, 2025, we celebrated a powerful milestone: the graduation of our one-year Chaplaincy Training Program. These courageous men and women are now equipped to serve in hospitals, among soldiers, and in areas devastated by war. The program combines biblical training, pastoral care, trauma ministry, and practical experience—all designed to prepare chaplains for real-life frontline ministry.
This graduation is not an ending—it’s a launch into the harvest field. Please pray for our chaplain graduates as they bring God’s presence and comfort to places of deep pain.
We are currently accepting students for the next chaplaincy cohort—pray that God calls and provides for those whom He has chosen. Read more
Healing the Wounds of War: Trauma Care Seminar
At the end of March, we hosted a powerful training session called “Healing the Wounds of the Soul”, focused on trauma care in the context of war. This was part of our chaplaincy program and led by instructors from the Trauma Healing Institute.
Chaplains, pastors, and volunteers came together to learn how to walk alongside those suffering from deep emotional wounds caused by conflict and loss. The training included both theological foundations and practical tools to provide spiritual and psychological support.
Participants were deeply moved and encouraged. This seminar reminded us again: God is using His people to bring comfort, healing, and hope to the brokenhearted.
Please pray for everyone ministering to those affected by trauma that they would be filled with compassion, strength, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Read more
Equipping Camp Leaders: "Camp is More Than Just a Week"
On March 22, we hosted a training conference called “Camp is More Than Just a Week” in partnership with the ministry team, Epoha.” These experienced leaders have been helping Ukrainian youth grow in Christ through camps since 2014.
Over 70 participants were trained in essential skills for youth ministry.
Camps are one of the most fruitful ways we reach youth with the Gospel. Please pray for the upcoming summer camps and the leaders who will pour into the next generation of disciples. Read more
Mobilizing Student Evangelists: "School of Disciples"
In late March, students from the 8th group of our School of Disciples-Evangelists gathered for their fourth training session in Truskavets, a peaceful city in western Ukraine. The focus was practical evangelism—four hours of classroom learning each morning, followed by over four hours of street evangelism every afternoon.
Throughout the week, students shared the Gospel with strangers, built new relationships, overcame fear, and grew bold in their witness. On Saturday, they ministered to youth who had fled the war from cities in eastern Ukraine.
Their faith and courage were strengthened not only by the training but by fasting, daily prayer, and intentional fellowship.
Please continue to pray for these students as they carry the Good News across Ukraine. Read more
Rebuilding Lives: "House on the Rock" Project for War-Affected Christian Families
War has displaced millions in Ukraine, including many faithful Christian families who lost their homes, churches, and communities. In response, the seminary launched a new initiative called “House on the Rock”, focused on the emotional and spiritual restoration of families uprooted by war.
We are currently working with two groups of 15 families each, all of whom have been forced to start over in a new city. These families are not just rebuilding houses—they are rebuilding their lives.
Each group has already completed two out of four training gatherings, with biblical counseling, trauma-informed care, and family-strengthening teaching. In June, we’ll host a family retreat in the Carpathian Mountains—the safest and most peaceful place in Ukraine. It will be a time of rest, recovery, and restoration for these weary families.
We believe this project reflects the heart of Christ. Please pray that these families will be renewed in faith, hope, and love.
Weekly Humanitarian & Spiritual Outreach
The war continues to push families from their homes, but God continues to draw them to Himself. Every Wednesday and Thursday, we host Bible study and prayer gatherings for refugees from cities like Bakhmut, Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Sloviansk, Lyman, and many others.
Over 100 people receive not only spiritual care and community, but also much-needed food packages and humanitarian assistance. These weekly gatherings are a lifeline of hope, fellowship, and faith.
Please pray for strength, resources, and spiritual breakthroughs among those attending.
How You Can Pray:
- Pray for our chaplain graduates and trauma care workers as they serve in war torn areas.
- Pray for the School of Disciple-Makers students as they grow in faith and boldness.
- Pray for summer camp teams preparing to reach teens with the Gospel.
- Pray for lasting peace in Ukraine and for the Church to remain strong in the face of suffering.
THANK YOU!
Dear friends, than you again for standing with us. Because of you, we are training leaders, bringing hope, healing wounds, and sharing the Gospel inone of the darkest moments of our nation's history.
We know that every prayer, every dollar, and every kind word is part of what God is using to build His Kingdom here in Ukraine.
With love and gratitude in Christ,
Ivan Ovcharenko & the Kremenchuk Evangelical Seminary Team
