August 2026

Superintendent Oleg

& Bishop Knut

Report

Signs of Hope in a Difficult Season

A Conversation with Oleg Starodubets, Superintendent of the United Methodist Church in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine continues to shape nearly every aspect of daily life—and the life of the United Methodist Church is no exception. Yet amid uncertainty, displacement, and the prospect of another difficult winter, there are also unmistakable signs of hope.

I recently spoke with Oleg Starodubets, District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church in Ukraine, about what he is seeing across the church, the fruit of this summer's Relationship Camp, new ministries that are developing, and how United Methodists around the world can continue to pray and support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

Camp Is Bearing Fruit

One of Oleg's greatest sources of encouragement is what has happened since this summer's Relationship Camp.

Oleg described it as one of the most fruitful camps he has experienced in many years, particularly because of its evangelistic focus. On the final Friday evening, a number of young people made commitments to Christ. Even more encouraging, those commitments did not end when camp did.

At the Lighthouse youth center in Uzhhorod, 13–17 young people are now regularly participating in Sunday worship. Many of these young people are relatively new to the church. Sixteen quickly signed up for a trip to Lviv to attend a Christian concert together.

For Oleg, that is the real measure of the camp's success: young people are not simply having a memorable week. They are becoming connected to Christian community.

As he put it, young people have begun to "receive Christ and start participating in church, and start attending youth ministry."

Preserving the Church—and Building Its Future

The larger picture across Ukraine is more complicated.

Oleg spoke candidly about the toll the continuing war is taking on church leaders. Some people he once believed would certainly remain in Ukraine are now considering leaving because of the war, mobilization, and fears about the coming winter.

In that environment, Oleg sees one of his primary responsibilities as helping sustain the United Methodist presence in Ukraine.

"My main task," he said, is to "save churches in Ukraine" while continuing to help them grow. And for Oleg, growth means investing especially in young people. "The future for church is youth," he said.

There are encouraging signs. He pointed particularly to youth ministry in Kamianytsia, Lviv, and the Lighthouse in Uzhhorod, as well as growth in the United Methodist congregation in Perechyn. The Perechyn church remains small, but Oleg says it is growing—slowly and steadily.

A New Purpose for the Shelter Ministry

The United Methodist shelter ministry is also entering a new chapter.

The shelter in Uzhhorod remains full, currently housing 47 people. In fact, families from places such as Kyiv and Kharkiv are already contacting Oleg about the possibility of relocating to western Ukraine during the winter, but there is presently no additional room.

At the church's social and spiritual center (aka Under The Castle) in Kamianytsia, however, the ministry is changing.

Rather than continuing exclusively as long-term housing for displaced people, the center is beginning to host groups of chaplains, soldiers, veterans, and women affected by the war for periods of rest and rehabilitation.Participants will receive psychological support, physical rehabilitation, opportunities for rest, and other forms of care.

These are people, Oleg explained, who live with tremendous stress—some serving near the front lines and others ministering in hospitals to people who have lost arms or legs. The hope is to give them a place where both body and spirit can begin to recover.

The program is expected to continue throughout the year.

Preparing Ukraiinka for Winter

Another encouraging development is taking place in Ukraiinka, near Kyiv.

The United Methodist congregation there continues to grow under its local leadership, and funding has been secured to help complete the roof on its church building.

But the building may soon serve a purpose far beyond Sunday worship. Oleg is deeply concerned that Russian attacks on Ukraine's electrical infrastructure could leave communities without electricity or heat this winter and (Ukraiinka is home of Ukraine's lagest and most powerful electricity and heating generation facility). The Ukraiinka church building is therefore being prepared as a place where people could find warmth, hot food, electricity to charge phones, and shelter during outages.

There are also plans to develop a new youth outreach in Ukraiinka modeled after the Lighthouse ministry in Uzhhorod—something Oleg informally described as "Lighthouse 2.0."

The goal is not simply to create another church program, but to establish a place where young people who currently have few opportunities for Christian community can gather and build relationships.

"Pray for This Winter"

When I asked Oleg how United Methodists around the world could pray for Ukraine, his first answer came immediately:

"Pray for this winter."

He expects the coming months to be extremely difficult.

Families are already considering leaving Kyiv and other heavily targeted cities for western Ukraine. Some parents tell him their children cannot sleep because of the nightly attacks. Oleg believes churches need to be prepared not only to care for their existing congregations but also for another wave of displaced people.

The Lighthouse and other United Methodist ministries are preparing to provide meals and safe, warm gathering places if electricity and heating are disrupted.

Oleg also asked for prayer for new leaders. The war has depleted churches and communities, and Ukraine needs a new generation of Christian leaders who can carry the church forward.

And, of course, he asks us to continue praying for peace and an end to the war.

Glimmers of New Life

It would be easy to look at the United Methodist Church in Ukraine only through the lens of war—buildings, budgets, displaced people, shrinking congregations, exhausted leaders, and an uncertain winter.

But that is not the whole story.

Young people who encountered Christ at camp are showing up at youth group on Sunday.
A small congregation in Perechyn is growing.
A church building in Ukraiinka is becoming both a place of worship and a potential refuge for its community.
A retreat center is finding a new calling caring for people carrying the physical and emotional wounds of war.
And United Methodists in Ukraine continue to dream about new ministries even while living through extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

There are parts of the church that remain fragile. But there are also glimmers of hope, signs of new life, and evidence that God continues to work through faithful people in difficult places.

As our conversation ended, Oleg and I expressed our shared gratitude for United Methodists around the world who continue to pray, give, visit, build relationships, and stand alongside the people of Ukraine.

Thank you for being part of that partnership. Your prayers and support continue to matter.

-This article was generated from a recent zoom interview by Fred Vanderwerf with Oleg Starodubets.

Bishop Knut on Ukrainian Independance Day

24 August – Today, Ukraine celebrates its National Day, marking the country’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. This day honors the Ukrainian people’s aspiration for freedom, self-determination, democracy, and national dignity.

This year’s celebration takes place under the shadow of a devastating war that has brought immense suffering to millions of people. Families have been torn apart, countless lives have been lost, and communities, homes, schools, and places of worship have been destroyed. The Ukrainian people continue to demonstrate remarkable courage, resilience, and hope in the face of hardship and uncertainty.

On this National Day, we remember in our prayers all those who have suffered because of the war: those who have lost loved ones, those forced to flee their homes, those living in fear, and those working tirelessly to bring relief and support to others. We also pray for the wounded, the bereaved, and all who carry the heavy burdens of conflict.

As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and to uphold the dignity of every human person. We therefore renew our hope and prayer for a just and lasting peace, one that respects human rights, safeguards freedom, restores security, and enables reconciliation. True peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, truth, and respect for the God-given dignity of every person.

May the people of Ukraine be strengthened in hope, comforted in suffering, and blessed with the gift of a future marked by peace, freedom, and stability.

I am in Italy today, at the Synod of the Waldensian and Methodist Churches, and in my greeting to the Synod, I used the opportunity to encourage all delegates and guests to continue to pray and work for a just peace in Ukraine.

On the National Day of Ukraine, let us keep Ukraine and its people in our prayers and continue to work for a world where peace and justice prevail. Slava Ukraini!

The picture (above) shows Dariia Zhukovska and me. Dariia, from Lviv, is also a guest at the Synod. She celebrates the day wearing her vyshyvanka, the traditional Ukrainian costume.

by Bishop Knut Refsdal of Nordic-Baltic-Ukraine Episcopal Area

Children of the King: Planting Seeds for the Next Generation

From August 19–22, Kamianytsia United Methodist Church welcomed around 80 children for its annual summer day camp, “Children of the King.” The camp was open to children throughout the village, including displaced children who now call the community home. A few children even traveled from neighboring communities and Uzhhorod specifically to participate.

For many local children, the camp has become an eagerly anticipated summer tradition. Church leaders shared that children begin asking about the camp and looking forward to it long before it arrives.

The theme, “Children of the King,” was built around a simple message: God is our King, and each of us is His beloved child with a place in His Kingdom.

Throughout the four days, children explored three biblical stories. They learned about David, an ordinary young man whom God chose to become king. They heard the story of Queen Esther, who discovered that her position as queen also came with a calling to courageously serve God and others. But the central story was Jesus Christ, our true and eternal King.

Jesus showed the children a very different picture of kingship. He did not come to earth demanding recognition, respect or power. Instead, He came to live among us and to serve. The message throughout the week was clear: Jesus is our King, and we are His children.

Bringing the Kingdom to Life

Each day began with the camp leaders gathering early to pray and prepare before the children arrived. From 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., the church was filled with music, laughter, learning and activity.

Children rotated through several stations. At the sports area, water games, water balloons, sponge relays and other competitions were especially popular. At the music station, children learned Christian songs and motions and had opportunities to play simple musical and percussion instruments.

Arts and crafts gave children a chance to create something of their own, including decorating mugs, making pencil cases and creating bracelets connected to the camp theme.

Bible stories came alive at a special history and theater station, where actors dressed in period costumes portrayed David, Esther and Jesus. The setting and costumes helped children enter into the stories rather than simply hearing them.

Throughout the first three days, children also worked with their leaders on team projects, discussing, planning and creating together. On the final day, each team had the opportunity to present its project to the larger group.

And, of course, there was plenty of food! Children enjoyed pastries, snacks, hot dogs, watermelon, ice cream and other treats throughout the week.

Young People Serving the Next Generation

Around 23 young people and volunteers from the Methodist churches in Kamianytsia, Uzhhorod and Lviv gave their time, energy and talents to make the camp possible.

Those who watched them serve were struck by the spirit they brought to their work. They were not simply completing tasks because someone had asked them to help. They understood their service to the children as service to God and gave their best with joy, creativity and love.

The entire camp—including activities, supplies, food and refreshments—was organized and funded through the resources of the Kamianytsia Methodist Church.

But perhaps the most exciting part of this story is what happens after the four-day camp ends.

This year, the church is beginning a new ministry for young people ages 11–14. Two young adults, Karina and Maks, have agreed to lead it. What makes their leadership especially meaningful is that both of them once attended this very children’s camp.

They grew up participating in the camp, later became involved in the church’s youth ministry, committed their lives to God, and now are ready to serve another generation of children.Their story is a beautiful example of the long-term impact of ministries like this.

And this is not the first time the church has seen this kind of fruit.

Years ago, following one of these children’s camps, the church started a teenage club led by Alyona. Over the years, those teenagers grew up and moved on into the church’s youth ministry. Today, Alyona continues to invest in the next generation as a Sunday school teacher.

These stories offer a beautiful picture of how ministry that begins with a children’s camp can continue to bear fruit for many years.

Church leaders say that if you asked many of the 20- to 25-year-olds in their community today whether they ever attended a children’s camp at the Methodist church, there is a good chance they would answer, “Yes, I did.”

That is why the church sees this ministry as much more than four fun days each summer.

Every Bible story, song, game, craft, meal and relationship is an opportunity to plant a seed. The church may not immediately see where those seeds will lead. Some may take years to grow. But the hope is that one day a seed planted in the heart of a child will take root, grow into faith, and eventually bear fruit.

Karina and Maks are reminders that sometimes we get to see that happen.

“Children of the King” is more than a summer camp. It is an investment in the next generation—and an opportunity to plant seeds of God’s love that can continue growing for many years to come.

-Article generated from a conversation with Kamyanetsya leader Katya Vuksta