IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KYIV SINCE 1998
As the war grinds on in Ukraine, we remember our sister church in Kyiv, Spring of Life UMC and their outreach programs. Donations provided by our church and greater community provides humanitarian aid, support for LightHouse Makariv, a free rehabilitation center for children living with disabilities, and resources for three refugee shelters in Western Ukraine run by Pavlo Osypenko. For over a quarter-century, our two churches have been in relationship. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ as they wait and work for an end to war, and give to our special collection to support Ukraine.
In Christ,
BUMC Kyiv ministry team
In Christ,
BUMC Kyiv ministry team
SHARING WITH SPRING OF LIFE / FOUR YEARS OF WAR.
We recently Zoomed with our Spring of Life friends. Here are the visuals they shared, which reveal the difficulties of living in a war zone.
Click below to see the PowerPoint presentation.
The Osypenkos. We have watched Pavlo and Oksana grow up, marry, and have a family. They have relocated to The Netherlands.
VIDEO UPDATE by Rev. Fred Vanderwerf
Check out this video update from December 2025.
View the Ukraine UMC Newsletter
Donate to ukraine
*When donating, be sure to notate that the donation is for Ukraine.*
Spring of Life Pastor Vladimir Habriko shares:
- the story of how our support helped a special family, the Lubovys. Read the Lubovy story here.
- the story of how our support helped a seamstress named Larisa. Read Larisa's story here.
- the story of how our support helped Olga, a psychologist and widow, and her autistic daughter, Anna. Read Olga's story here.
- a heartfelt letter of thanks, which says: “…our friendship remains alive – and for me, this is truly a miracle of God!” Read the letter here.
"Merry Christmas..." letter from Pastor Vladimir, Mila, and the whole Istochnik Church
Click here to read the Christmas tidings from Spring of Life!
Updates:
- In March 2026, 9 BUMC members met on Zoom with 11 Spring of Life members for a time of sharing in stories, prayer, and fellowship. Our group was touched that our overwhelmed Spring of Life friends want so earnestly to pray for us. They had produced video [make the word "video" a live link to the PowerPoint in the Google drive above, which will duplicate what replaces the Prayer Gathering] in case their electricity went out (they only have it about 3 hours a day).
- In February 2026, BUMC sent $21,525 for humanitarian aid to cover expenses like fuel, surgery, medical supplies, heat, educational tools, and other humanitarian assistance for Spring of Life members during the worst winter they have experienced since the war began.
- In December 2025, BUMC sent $23,000 to Spring of Life to provide Christmas gifts for children and aid for parishioners' immediate needs.
- In November 2025, Virginia Conference United Women in Faith gathered and blessed over 100 hand-knitted gloves, hats, and scarves to send to Spring of Life UMC to warm our Ukrainian friends through the winter months, made colder by heat shortages and power outages caused by the war. Viktoriya Yevdokymova in Kyiv said, "It is truly touching and humbling to know that our sisters from the other side of the world are thinking of us as we prepare for the winter. Your kindness and care mean so much to us!"
- In May of 2025, we sent to Ukraine gifts or $13,325 for humanitarian relief for members of Spring of Life UMC and $5,000 from a special gift to the Center for Children with Disabilities. Donations given in response to the Ukraine Celebration and as Ukraine-designated Lenten offerings totaled $59,174.16, with $27,147.16 for humanitarian relief for Spring of Life UMC members, $5,000 for the Center for Children with Disabilities, and $27,000 for scholarships to support Ukrainian students who are pursuing theological education in preparation to serve as pastors and church leaders in UMC in Ukraine.
- On March 2, 2025, there was a Ukraine Celebration at BUMC. All aspects of the worship services reflected Ukrainian culture and/or our church's partnership with Spring of Life UMC in Kyiv. Our guest speaker, Rev. Fred Vanderwerf of In Mission Together - Ukraine, spoke in worship and at a luncheon for about 100 people, sharing personal stories of his mission work, answering questions, and providing inspiration.
- Some money raised has been held back for future use. The plan was to employ it for rebuilding efforts, but none of us knew the war would go on so long and cause such devastation.
- We have received many expressions of thanks, including this note back from Spring of Life UMC: "People keep saying how awesome our Lord is that our American friends are helping out just when it's needed most."
Write a letter to our elected officials
One way people can support Ukraine is by contacting their elected officials. To that end, we have some sample letters prepared. Below, are links to the elected officials' websites where people can submit comment forms.
Sen. Mark Warner
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactPage
Sen. Tim Kaine
https://www.kaine.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion
Rep. Morgan Griffith
https://morgangriffith.house.gov/contact/contactform.htm
Sen. Mark Warner
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactPage
Sen. Tim Kaine
https://www.kaine.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion
Rep. Morgan Griffith
https://morgangriffith.house.gov/contact/contactform.htm
Archives:
- Pavlo Osypenko formed a UMC shelter in Ushgorod in response to the Russian invasion. Interview of Pavlo Osypenko (Pavlo's responses are in English Subtitles).
- Read the most recent Roanoke Times article on Blacksburg UMC's continued support of Ukraine.
- We received notes and pictures from members of Spring of Life UMC thanking us for our gifts and support.
- Learn more about how UMCOR is helping in Ukraine. See how donations to UMCOR are directly helping people from Ukraine and what is giving our partners hope. Hear how our partners are encouraged by the support they’ve received, where they see God in the midst of suffering, and what you can pray for right now.
- Here is the covenant between Blacksburg UMC and Spring of Life UMC.