February-March Team Update
This February, our Renewal Initiative team had the privilege of serving in Ukraine during a deeply significant moment—the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In a time that often feels heavy and uncertain, we witnessed steady courage, growing collaboration, and a deep commitment to care for people in the midst of ongoing war.
Training and encouraging those who serve
Our team of U.S.-based chaplains and trainers led a week-long intensive seminar in Kyiv focused on equipping Ukrainian civilian and military chaplain trainers.
Approximately 40 participants joined in person
Additional participants joined online from across the country
This gathering was part of the International Scientific and Practical Conference: “Church and State: Challenges and Prospects of Chaplain Service.”
The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. What is emerging in Ukraine is not just a chaplaincy model—it is a developing framework for whole-person care amid national trauma.
Pastoral care is now deeply integrated into:
Military support
Medical environments
Care for families navigating loss and displacement
Chaplaincy in Ukraine is becoming a structured system of human support and a vital contributor to national resilience.
In addition to formal training, the Renewal Team spent time with pastors and spiritual leaders in the Kyiv region.
Many of these leaders continue to serve under immense pressure:
caring for displaced families
supporting grieving communities
leading churches with limited resources
Yet their faithfulness remains steady.
Our role was not to listen, encourage, and remind them that they are not alone.
We concluded our trip in Kharkiv, a region that has borne some of the war's most intense impacts.
There, we met with:
Veterans
Social workers
Those providing ongoing trauma care
The weight of the war is especially visible here.
We saw people who are not just surviving—but actively working to rebuild lives, restore dignity, and care for others who are hurting.
A Defining Moment
Being in Ukraine during this anniversary was sobering.
The situation, in many ways, feels darker than it did a year ago. Fatigue is real. Resources are stretched. The future is uncertain.
And yet—
Good people are still doing really great work.
Leaders are stepping up, and care is becoming more intentional and sustainable.
This is where Renewal Initiative is committed to serve:
strengthening leaders
supporting systems of care
walking alongside those on the front lines of both visible and invisible battles
