Logos International Center

Fall 2022 War UPDATEs...

 

Messages from Father Nicolas:

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Dear Friend,

"We must constantly find ways to do something to comfort those who are in grief and trouble." These are the words of wisdom from a pastor who helps the needy in the Mykolayiv region.  He is a Baptist pastor in Ukraine who was there recently as part of our "Help for Life" ministry.  Help for Life is a ministry of "The Logos Rehabilitation and Social Assistance Center, that is providing food products (rice, pasta, cookies, legumes, ready-made food); hygiene products (diapers for children and adults, wet wipes, etc.), as well as medicine for the elderly.  Also, as part of the project, it has been possible to send aid to the village of Bakaivka and the Ichnyan territorial community in Chernihiv region.  

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At the beginning of hostilities, all these territories were occupied and devastated with damaged homes and burned property.  As they have been liberated, life continues and we do our best to provide for those who remain.  We have been able to provide furniture (tables and beds), various clothes, toys for children, and medicines (pills, masks, bandages) for medical centers. Since there are women in the communities who will soon give birth, kits with everything necessary for newborns and mamas (hygiene items, special food, diapers, etc.) were created for them.

 

We are so thankful to God for the aid given to Ukraine. This is how a Christian in a practical sense embodies the virtues of Benevolence and Mercy here on earth. In the depths of the human heart, the question is resolved: "Am I partnering with God? and if so,  What am I doing for my neighbor?"  In these difficult and tragic circumstances in which the Ukrainian people find themselves, it is a real challenge to provide for so much need!  This is where we need your help.  Please pray and consider a donation to help this cause.  No enemy will defeat the Ukrainians as long as we stand united together!

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Blessings,

Father Nicholas

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Summer 2022 War UPDATEs...

 

Messages from Father Nicolas:

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Dear Friend,

The following words have survived in ancient wisdom: "Generosity is not only to help but to help in time! People often say that it is necessary to do good things and then the world will be better”. And this is true, because charity is a property of the human soul, and charity is the limit of human life. In our time, when everyone values only his own, his time, emotions, achievements, and deeds of charity, obviously now become the privilege of those who seek it in the name of Jesus. After all, in charity, a person realizes the highest gift of his vocation - the gift of Love. The history of the Logos Center confirms the fact of a unique interfaith mission that the Lord has been giving for decades to those whom we serve in the Logos and who have become partners in our ministry. After all, many American churches long supported the mission of the Logos, and those who are within the walls of this building, those who have found refuge and have learned that the Lord is Alive. The support announces the implementation of the highest principles of charity - "Charity as Paradise, full of blessings. "It is so important to preserve this interfaith election of the Logos and to show to other denominations that serve in spiritual isolation that the Lord Jesus Christ is one body for all Christians! And then the world will really get better, and the voice of those we can help together will reach Heaven.

The tragic events of February 24 in Ukraine changed not only the course of life and life of every Ukrainian but also the course of world history. In a few days, from a prosperous and beautiful country, Ukraine has become a country of tears, grief, and terrible pain. It was scary when rockets flew and bomb blasts were heard everywhere, sirens sounded around the clock, sounding the air alarm, and the occupying forces were 1.5 km from our Logos center, and now it seemed to break into Kotsyubynske. The Logos Center did not stop its ministry. There were 150 people from the beginning of March who needed our help and now we have 70. We continue to provide the Logos with everything we need, including a 24-hour hot water supply to ensure our livelihood. In the first weeks, with our partners from the United States, we organized assistance primarily in our village Kotsyubynske. Assisted in the construction of bomb shelters: provided beds and mattresses, and chairs, as well as provided the necessary medical minimum, which could help wounded defenders: bandages, drip systems, and more. The Lord has blessed our work with you! During one of the rocket attacks on our village, a "racist" rocket-propelled grenade hit the territory of our warehouse, a truck standing nearby burned down, and our windows just flew. These are the realities we live in. When the occupying forces were pushed back from Irpen, Gostomel, and Bucha, we began to form powerful aid to the east of the country. Together with volunteers from the Union of Baptists of Ukraine (see photos) in early and mid-April two minibusses shipped (maximum load) assistance (clothing, footwear, crutches, walkers, hygiene products, diapers, etc.) for the needy from the Dnieper, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia, Kramatorsk, Novomoskovsk and  Kharkiv. Thanks to the professionalism of drivers and knowledge of the area, part of the aid fell into the occupied territories, bypassing Russian checkpoints.

In Zaporizhia, volunteers of the "Coast of Hope" teams were able to organize coordination centers for refugees from Mariupol, Kherson, and Energodar. They sent clothes, crutches, wheelchairs, and medical supplies. Thanks to volunteers from Poland, they had the opportunity to provide food and medicine. In early May, aid was sent to the Cherkasy Regional Children's Hospital, which has a large number of children from eastern Ukraine. Logos volunteers also delivered crutches, walkers, and orthopedic walking sticks to the Dymer Hospital in the Vyshhorod district of Kyiv region (the hospital continued to operate for almost two months under occupation). We have requests for help from different cities and towns. For help from Kharkiv and Kharkiv region (request for more than forty wheelchairs for soldiers who lost limbs). As well as 1,500 refugees cared for by local church volunteers (clothing, food, hygiene items, crutches, walkers, anything we can help with). Also, cities and towns need medicines, diapers, medical supplies materials, children's clothing, hygiene products, etc. Gostomel Military Hospital, which is currently in condition reconstruction after partial destruction requires medical beds and medical supplies. Dnipro and Mykolayiv expect support and assistance.
"Who has a gracious eye will be blessed because he gives his bread to the poor"

 

Blessing

Father Nicolas

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Dear Friend,

We now live in a time when everything is changing so quickly, and it seems to me that the Earth began to revolve faster around the Sun. There was a time when so many Ukrainian cities were beautiful and flourishing, today they have turned into ruins. There was a time when we heard the joyful laughter of our children in the streets but today a mother is crying for a lost child and nothing can console her.
From the first days of the war, the Logos Center began a special service called “Help to save lives" for people who suffered from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Life is the most valuable gift from the Lord, and everything must be done to save people's lives for the sake of victory. Basically, our assistance is directed to the most important areas of the fighting.  Zaporozhye, Mariupol, Energodar, Bolshaya Dymerka, Cherkasy and other cities of Ukraine.  We have sent aid to cancer patients, stroke patients, and women.  In general, we send food, diapers, hygiene medicines, etc. Our people are incredibly kind and indestructible! We will win! Glory to Ukraine!

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Blessings to you,

Father Nicolas

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Spring 2019 UPDATE

 

Testimonies from our residents:

The event that led us to the "Logos" center was not a war in the Donbass where we live, but a terrible illness of my husband, sarcoma. I contacted with "Logos"  in despair, after six months of ordeal in Kiev hospitals and hospices, I did not know what to do next.   Kolya, my husband, could no longer walk and serve himself, we had no place to live, and the money for treatment was ending.  Here the Lord extended us a helping hand - and this was the “Logos” rehabilitation and social assistance center.  I told our story to the head of the center, father Nikolay, and he said that we could come.  In the center, we were greeted warmly and with sympathy, many people showed initiative and tried to help us. They settled us in a separate room, Kolya even had a special bed and a wheelchair. The brothers from the center made a ramp so that it would be more convenient to take my husband out to breathe some fresh air.  They gave us everything we needed.  We had shelter, food, clothes and medicines for Kolya. Father Nikolai supported and encouraged us a lot, helped fight the hospital system and find money for Kolya’s treatment.  We met wonderful people who also helped ys: Pamela, Natasha (Lola), Father Nikolai.   Our son, Maxim, came to the center and we were together again: me, our son, Kolya’s mother and Kolya. Our story ended sadly. But these last months of Kolya’s life we ​​spent together with the whole family, in warmth, support and care.  And on his last journey, Fr Nikolai helped Kolya, spiritually and financially. Thank you !!!  Thank you Lord!  This happened in 2015, but to this day we do not lose touch with the center, my beloved friends are always ready to lend a helping hand, advise and support.

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Another Testimony from our residents

It is always difficult to leave something precious for you and start all over again.  Our family was in such a situation.

  At the beginning of the war, we immediately left our city and I, a single pregnant mother with two minor children, remained on the street, which led us to this center.  At that time, government’s support for displaced people was minimal at best, and real assistance was provided by charitable organizations and Christian communities, which unfortunately were few.  One of these organizations was the Christian community Social Rehabilitation "Logos".  In this place we were given shelter and all the necessary things to live.  For almost 4 years, we have received stable support in the center: clothes and toys, school supplies, personal hygiene products and food, entertainment and recreation for children.  But not only material assistance became the assistance for us - here we received psychological support, as well as the base for development and personal and spiritual growth.  Having lived here this period of time, faced with many difficulties and completely changing the vision of our lives.   We learned to accept life as it is and to trust the Lord, because the Bible says: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you, do not be embarrassed, because I am Thy God;  I will strengthen you, and I will help you, and I will uphold you with My righteous.  (Isaiah 41:10).

 At the moment we still live in the center, because we have no means for renting another dwelling.  The only support for us now is the Lord, this center and the people in it.  It is here that we have experienced God's mercy, true love and understanding, and we believe that God will bless the Logos rehabilitation center and provide an opportunity to help more and more people in need.

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July 2017 UPDATE

 

In May there was another seminar held for Christian Nurses and Volunteers at the Logos center.  The event was sponsored by The Association for Christian Nurses and Volunteers-Welfare organization.  The event had guest lecturers from the Medical academia, Christian Psychologist, local priest, local missionary and local physician with specialty in palliative care.  The teaching sessions were seasoned with theory, practical, thought provoking challenges and finally an opportunity to give back to the community that which was learned.

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On the final day of the seminar there was a “family day” at the Logos center in which families from the neighborhood were invited to come and participate in games, laughter, fun, songs and short bible lesson.  The parents were given practical information about health for the family.  All of the participants were happy and expressed gratitude for the time spent together.

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JUNE 2016 UPDATE

 

AS A RESULT OF GENEROUS gifts from many people last summer we still have meat in the freezer from last years Poultry Project.(see below) THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

 

A lot has changed over the last year:

• The building and infrastructures are finished.

• Some families have moved on.

• Many have found jobs.

• Logos is helping invalids, widows, single moms, orphans and homeless from across Ukraine, but especially in Kotzubinskoe/Kiev region

• Challenges continue to make the place run smoothly, but people are healing and moving on in life.  

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WHAT'S NEW AT LOGOS?

 OCTOBER 12, 2015 

 

As we enter our second year of housing internally displaced people (refugees) from Eastern Ukraine, we realize that we cannot rely entirely on the generosity of others for everything.  Therefore, we are raising poultry in the form of ducks, geese, turkeys and chickens. We hope to have eggs and meat for all our residents this fall and winter.

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A WORD FROM FATHER NICOLAY    

 

"We now have 180 people in our Logos Center, says founder, Father Nicolay.  We have 4 pregnant women who will be delivering their babies soon.  The men are looking for work, and the women are keeping busy. We have English classes for kids, and local parishioners from an American church are coming to play with the kids, too.   We have corporate prayer together each evening.  Many of the people here are believers..."

 

 

COMMENTS FROM OUR RESIDENTS FROM THE EAST

     

About the war zone: "They knew we were believers and were watching our apartment.  They broke in, took nothing but knew that we were for a United Ukraine."

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About Logos: "We were so grateful to find a facility where we would not only be safe, but would be cared for by believers who love the Lord."  

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All 5 pregnant moms are having boys...the reason according to them:  “We've lost so many men; God is blessing us with replacements for our future."

 

"I came out from Donetsk for a long weekend with my 13-year-old daughter to visit with my oldest daughter who is expecting our first grandchild.  My husband and mom are still in Donetsk.  Shortly after we arrived to Logos, where my daughter and son-in-law are living, they closed the roads.  We can't get home and now my teen daughter has to go to school here.  Thank God we can stay at the Logos Center."  

                   

"I was quite jealous of the freedom I saw in Odessa and Kyiv (Kiev).  If we said anything good about Ukraine or had a flag hanging from our windows, we could be shot.  I'm thankful that we found this place through a friend who arrived a few days before us."

           

 

In May there was another seminar held for Christian Nurses and Volunteers at the Logos center.  The event was sponsored by The Association for Christian Nurses and Volunteers-Welfare organization.  The event had guest lecturers from the Medical academia, Christian Psychologist, local priest, local missionary and local physician with specialty in palliative care.  The teaching sessions were seasoned with theory, practical, thought provoking challenges and finally an opportunity to give back to the community that which was learned.

On the final day of the seminar there was a “family day” at the Logos center in which families from the neighborhood were invited to come and participate in games, laughter, fun, songs and short bible lesson.  The parents were given practical information about health for the family.  All of the participants were happy and expressed gratitude for the time spent together.