Recognizing that many of the poorest people in the town were heavily affected by the virus, members of the Kazatin church organized and delivered food packages, basic medical and toiletry supplies, and school materials. Most importantly, they checked on the needs of these families. While similar projects were happening throughout Ukraine, the projects in Kazatin are a good example of partnership with new and particularly vulnerable families. 

THE REHABILITATION CENTER 

During COVID-19, quarantine restrictions made the work of the church’s rehabilitation center in Kazatin more difficult. The rehab program helps people who come to the center after being freed from addiction to drugs or alcohol, and the center serves as a hostel for those without housing and needing guidance. Spiritual, emotional, and physical counseling are the heart of the program.  

The residents in the first step of rehab continued with their in-house programs during the pandemic, but those in the second step transition house were often without work unless they had an essential job. Even though this was a very difficult situation, by God’s grace, all the men in the transition house have now resumed work, except for one on medical leave. Though not being able to work during quarantine was frustrating to everyone, they survived and are now thriving. Throughout the 16 years of the rehab center’s work, many men have experienced the transformative love of Christ with a future and now serve with their families in the Kazatin Church of the Nazarene. 

Olga is the administrator for the alternative kindergarten and school—the Marvel Kindergarten and Cleverland School—located in the Kazatin church. Currently, the school serves about 60 children from the community through their creative program that includes English training every day. All the teachers are Christians, and most of them are from the Kazatin Church. Often, the school children are invited to Kids Club—the field’s name for Nazarene holistic child development programs—events as well, forming a bridge between church and school programs. Through the school, church members and teachers were also able to identify families in need of food assistance.  

“This is a very difficult time for me,” one parent shares. “I am raising two children myself, and it’s always difficult for me. But last year, due to quarantine, I practically didn’t work and everything was simply unbearable. The food that the church gave us literally helped us through this terrible time.” 

Actually, COVID-19 served as a benefit for this school because during the six months of public school closings in Kazatin, many new students attended this private school when adaptive quarantine was in effect for four months, allowing private schools to operate with restrictions. Thus, many new families have discovered the witness of the church in Kazatin as a result of their experience with the school and its teachers during the pandemic. 

 “Thank you so much for the help that your church provides to our family during this very difficult period of quarantine,” another parent told the church. “I thank you for the school that you opened and for the opportunity to work, for taking care of my children and all the help that you provide to us.” 

A new law in Ukraine has recently made it possible for churches to provide educational opportunities. The Ukraine District dreams that someday it can provide excellent education for the community from kindergarten through college. 

GOD’S WORK CONTINUES 

God always has better plans than anyone can ever imagine; He used the difficulties of COVID-19 to provide paths for His work in Kazatin and throughout Ukraine. 

“It is impossible not to notice what you are doing in our city,” shares another person who was assisted by the church. “Likewise, now in the most difficult period of life, you provide tremendous support to many people. It so happened that in 2020 there was pregnancy and childbirth and it was not easy, but ... your participation in my life is a miracle.”  

Ronda Winderl is a professor emerita at Point Loma Nazarene University. She, along with her husband, Carl, is serving as a missionary for the Church of the Nazarene in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Taken from the latest issue of NCM Magazine.