Episode 102: Ukrainian refugees in their own words (Yulia Merchant, Liza Sharii-Yukabovska, and Oleksandr Voievoda)

This is a long one, but the stories (and the voices who tell them) are important.Since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, The Christian Chronicle has been especially active reporting how Church of Christ congregations started and grew in Ukraine. Over the last 30 years, many friendships formed and many stories (both good news and hard news) have come to The Christian Chronicle audience through Ukraine.Beginning with Russia's invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and second invasion and war in 2022, many Church of Christ congregations and members are suffering death and displacement. You can read The Christian Chronicle's extensive coverage here.Many Ukrainian refugees (Christian and non-Christian) found their way to Houston, Texas over the last two years. As their numbers increased, Memorial Church of Christ stepped up to meet some of their most pressing needs. Because of Memorial Church of Christ, and one Russian member in particular, many Ukrainian refugees are making do as they sojourn in Houston. More important, some of them are coming to faith in Jesus Christ. In this episode, you'll hear from Yulia Merchant, the Russian immigrant who is letting herself be a catalyst for Christ's ministry to his Ukrainian neighbors coming to Houston.You'll also hear from two Ukrainian refugees, Oleksandr Voievoda and Liza Sharii-Yukabovska, who tell their stories in their own words. Read Bobby Ross Jr.'s recent Christian Chronicle story on the Thanksgiving feast the Ukrainian refugees hosted for their Memorial Church of Christ friendsLink to a full archive of The Christian Chronicle's Ukraine coverageLink to Bobby Ross Jr.'s June 2023 story about the beginning of the Memorial Church of Christ ministry with Ukrainian refugeesLink to Christian Chronicle Podcast Episode 26 featuring Yulia MerchantClick here to donate to Memorial Church of Christ Urkaine ministry effortsFind more news and stories at christianchronicle.orgDonate to support this ministry of "information and inspiration" at christianchronicle.org/donateSend your comments, ideas, and suggestions to [email protected]