Article provided by FEBA Radio
Originally published in JOY! Magazine June 2026
A 12-year-old girl phoned FEBA Ukraine’s counselling help-line. Her name was Masha. She lived in a city where FEBA’s radio station was the only one remaining, and she had just tried to take her own life. “I was so afraid,” she told the counsellor. “I just didn’t want to be afraid anymore. I just wanted everything to end.” During the conversation, she shared her burdens and surrendered her life to Christ, eager for the hope only He can give. “I want my life to be beautiful,” she said.
Children under pressure
For most children in Ukraine, Russia, and Moldova, life is not very beautiful. War has cast a long shadow over all three countries in different ways. In Ukraine, children must hurry to the nearest shelter when a siren sounds, whether they are at school or in bed at night. UNICEF reports that one in five children has lost a relative or friend. Their fathers, brothers, uncles, and cousins are fighting on the frontlines, and their mothers are overwhelmed by the burden pressing down on them from all sides. To make matters worse, power outages and energy shortages during 2025 meant they had insufficient heating during winter, when temperatures dropped as low as -20° C.
The cost of conflict
In Russia, public schools promote the war, causing a different kind of damage. FEBA Eurasia’s director writes, “There are celebrations where young children wear military uniforms and form ‘Z’ signs with their bodies in support of the conflict.” The “Z” sign was originally painted on Russian military vehicles for identification purposes, but it has since come to hold several meanings, the most common being za pobedu, or “for victory”. In Moldova, an estimated 40% of Ukrainian refugees are children, and Moldovan children live under the weight of their parents’ fear, addiction, poverty, and neglect.
Becoming friends with Jesus
“Let the little children come to me.” This is the vision the Lord has planted in the hearts of FEBA Eurasia’s youth ministry teams, who create radio programmes and video content to introduce children to Jesus and teach them how to become friends with Him. Children can contact the teams by phone or text message to ask questions or share their troubles. Each country’s children’s ministry looks a little different, based on their young listeners’ unique needs. Whatever the content or format, FEBA’s goal is always to remain close to the listener.
Hope for hurting hearts
In Ukraine, children need help and hope in dealing with the realities of war. “They really want to talk to someone,” says Iryna, head of FEBA Ukraine’s counselling ministry. “And that’s great, because we are there to help them deal with what they’re going through, and introduce them to Jesus.” Many children, like 11-year-old Tanya, even phone more than once. “When I called you the second time and you remembered my name and my story, I felt so special,” she told them.
“I now listen to your programmes every day, and I pray after each episode, just like you suggested. It really makes me feel good.”
Hearing the Gospel clearly
Children in Russia do not receive much exposure to the Gospel. FEBA Russia’s videos therefore explain it in simple terms and share how children can entrust their lives to Jesus. Its videos received more than one million views in a single year. “I now understand what it means to follow Jesus,” Vova, 9, wrote to the team. “Your programmes are so cool!” A girl from Moscow, 10-year-old Sofia, shared, “I asked my mom to get me a children’s Bible, and I am now reading it. Your programmes inspire me to think about God and about Jesus.” Some children are excited when they learn about prayer. “I never thought I could just talk to God like I talk to a friend,” Zhenya, a 12-year-old from Siberia, wrote. “I now talk to Him every evening.”
Loved and not forgotten
In Moldova, parental neglect is unfortunately common. Parents are often forced to work overseas and leave their children in the care of others, where they frequently suffer abuse. “The first time I heard that someone loves me was in your programme,” 12-year-old Roman told the team. “I hope what you are saying is true and that God truly cares.”
Teaching truth through song
FEBA produces video programmes co-hosted by children that teach viewers about Jesus, the Bible, and how to apply Biblical principles in everyday situations. In addition to these programmes, FEBA Moldova also creates Christian songs to teach children about the Bible. The songs have become so popular that even a secular children’s summer camp requested permission to play them. “The kids love the songs,” the camp counsellor said. “They already know most of them by heart. And we love playing them! It’s so nice to hear them singing Christian songs.”
Reaching beyond borders
The team recently learnt that about 70% of listeners and viewers are from Muslim countries, some of them places that are extremely hostile to Christianity. Parents often leave comments on videos, asking questions about the Christian faith and God. Parents in Russia and Ukraine similarly become interested in the Gospel through the programmes their children watch or listen to. FEBA Ukraine has created more than 100 programmes equipping parents to support their children and embark on their own journeys of faith. Many, like Svitlana, are now praying for the first time. “Saying words addressed to God out loud, with my two boys sitting beside me, was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in years.”
War, poverty, abuse, oppression – there is darkness everywhere. But the light of the Gospel shines in this darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
This article appears in the June 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine. Read the digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 25/05/2026
Feature image: Sourced from original article printed in JOY! Magazine June 2026
Photos provided by: FEBA Radio
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