Written by: FEBA Radio SA
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Imagine a young man saying to you, “I’m going to the frontlines the day after tomorrow. There’s not much chance of surviving, but I’ll fight to the end. I’ve done and seen so much in this war. I don’t know what will be left of me, even if I come back alive.” Or a woman who tells you, “I lost my beloved husband. We had his ‘funeral’ three weeks ago, but we just received what was left of his body. He died on the frontlines. Where do I get the strength to live on?” Or an 11-year-old girl texting, “I am afraid that my mom will be killed, just like my father was.” What would you tell them?
Hard pressed on every side
These are the phone calls and messages that FEBA Ukraine’s counselling team deal with every day. At the start of the war there were five counsellors; now there are more than 30. Hundreds of people contact the helpline each day in search of comfort/answers. The counsellors, like the rest of FEBA Ukraine’s staff, are exhausted. One team member’s mother recently passed away, while another had to undergo surgery, and yet another’s baby was born underdeveloped and is still in hospital at the time of writing. The various troubles of daily life are not put on hold when war breaks out. Several male staff members have been drafted into the army, some now serving as chaplains on the front lines. Igor, FEBA Ukraine’s programme director, says, “Times are very difficult right now. Everyone has experienced loss. And the constant bombardment has left everyone exhausted. Personally, I know that I could be drafted at any time. There is a real temptation to give in to fear. We also worry about our children whenever we hear the air raids, especially when they are at school.” To make matters worse, the team lost their third radio station, which was broadcasting into the occupied region of Donetsk, to Russian forces. The attacks on Kyiv are escalating – in March 2024, a rocket missile destroyed a building less than 1 km from FEBA Ukraine’s studio. Despite all of this, FEBA Ukraine keeps broadcasting, keeps praying, and keeps exchanging their fear for faith in God every day. How do they do it?
‘We have this treasure in jars of clay…’
“God has shown Himself to be faithful,” says Igor. Indeed, FEBA Ukraine’s ministry has grown like a flower amid the ravages of war. For years, the team prayed for a license to broadcast in Kyiv, and thanks to the war, they were given a temporary one. They began praying for a permanent one. The Ukrainian government invited the team to present their case. “When we started sharing the results of the work, several of the authorities were in tears as they heard the listener responses to our programmes,” shares Eduard, FEBA Ukraine’s director. “We were hoping to receive a seven-year license … instead, we received a ten-year license! This was much more than we even dreamt. We now have the opportunity to reach five million people in the greater Kyiv area with the Good News for the foreseeable future.” Sharing God’s love and peace extends beyond radio, though. The need in Ukraine is not only overwhelmingly large, but also complex. Soldiers and their families need help with PTSD, the divorce rate climbs higher, children are scared, and teenagers battle depression. It requires creativity to minister to each group, and God keeps opening doors to them all. While the help-line brings comfort to those in a moment of despair, FEBA Ukraine’s follow-up workers reach out to listeners who have contacted the station to keep the conversation going. They often put these listeners in touch with nearby churches, so that they can meet other Christians and find further answers to questions about Christ.
‘He took the children in His arms’
The war is taking a heavy toll on Ukraine’s youth. Teen suicide is on the rise and FEBA Ukraine’s counsellors often receive phone calls or messages from young people looking for a reason not to end it. FEBA Ukraine hosts gatherings for teens where they share their troubles, ask for advice, and learn to view problems from a Biblical perspective. “They really want to talk to someone, and that’s great, because we are there to help them deal with what they are going through and introduce them to Jesus,” says Iryna, FEBA Ukraine’s head of the counselling ministry. “This year alone we befriended hundreds of children, who in turn became the friends of Jesus. This is the most satisfying part of the ministry, to see these boys and girls discover Jesus.” In October 2024, the team also distributed stuffed toy lambs to the Pokrovsk region, where the fighting is heavy. When you press its nose, the toy switches on and plays any of the more than 100 children’s programmes and worship songs, as well as the New Testament for children, that FEBA has loaded onto it. One of the staff members says, “Instead of hearing [sirens and explosions] before they go to bed, our kids can hug this little lamb as a reminder of Jesus Christ being near to them.”
Not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, not destroyed
While FEBA Ukraine keeps shining the light of God’s Word into the darkness around them, they remain prepared for every eventuality. To this end, they recently received medical training so that they know what to do when someone is injured in an explosion. They keep praying and serving as poured out wine, bringing love and comfort to everyone who needs it. “We stand here as fragile vessels,” says Eduard, “entrusted with the most profound message: God made us and loves us. He knows what we’re going through. He has forgiven us for our sins and given us Jesus. Come to Him all you who are weary and heavy laden. Turn to Jesus.”
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This article is featured in the Feb/March issue of JOY! Magazine, which is now on sale nationwide! Pick up your copy from any leading supermarket, or read a digital version of this issue here: joygifts.co.za/product/joy-magazine-feb-march-issue-2025/
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Date published: 12/02/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
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