Ukraine Update: Serving in Belarus

Children in Belarus gather around a radio to listen to TWR's children's programming. [image courtesy of TWR ministry contacts] 

The hardships inflicted by the war in Ukraine are affecting Russia and Belarus as well, reports Frank Stephenson, TWR Europe communications director. But our contacts in these countries continue to serve their populations.

The leadership of Belarus, which shares borders and a long history with Ukraine and Russia, has been aligned with Russia in the conflict. It served as a staging ground for some of the Russian forces invading Ukraine and as a refuge for some Russian soldiers who were injured or retreating, according to media reports. It faces Western sanctions similar to those imposed on Russia.

Worsening economic hardships are hurting Belarusians including TWR’s contacts, Stephenson reports, but they continue to minister to those around them.

“Their work includes visiting … orphanages and adult rehabilitation centers where they are able to share about their ministry work for children and adults and distribute radios with content on SD cards,” Stephenson writes. “It is quite popular and welcomed.”

As we shared last week, our contacts in Russia and Russian churches also are ministering in these difficult times, including to Ukrainian refugees from the war.

Meanwhile, TWR is adding two hours of Russian-language programming to its schedule. Beginning May 30, one hour of Russian-language content will be added to AM, or shortwave, 621kHz, and another hour to shortwave 13660kHz. The latter is broadcast from the island of Guam. This matters in Ukraine as well as in Russian, because Russian is the first language of many Ukrainians.

Will you pray with us?

• Please continue to pray on behalf of the TWR Ukraine staff, as well as for our contacts in Russia and Belarus, as they serve in conditions of increasing difficulty. Praise God that the Ukraine staff has been able to prepare all of its programming through the end of May.
• Pray for Rostislav, TWR Ukraine’s deputy director, who spends his weeks in Kyiv and then travels hundreds of kilometers to be with his family, who are living in a refugee camp. Rostislav’s son recently celebrated a birthday, for which the family baked a cake. With so many children on hand, it was the biggest birthday party in the child’s life, Rostislav said.
• Praise God for the Russian content that’s being added. Please pray that Russian speakers soon will be listening to quality, hope-filled gospel programs.

Thank you for giving to the TWR Ukraine-Russia Crisis Fund. The money enables us to continue expanding our broadcasts into the region from a variety of platforms and transmitters.