LYNCHBURG, Va. (BP) – Andrew Moroz, teaching and vision pastor at Gospel Community Church, said he is communicating with his loved ones in Ukraine every day as well as assisting his church with Ukraine-related relief efforts.
Although Moroz permanently moved with his immediate family to the United States in 1999, much of his extended family and friends still lived in the country before the invasion began. Gospel Community Church is supporting its pastor and Ukrainians during this time of crisis both “spiritually and tangibly.”
“I’m grieving with the people of Ukraine,” Moroz said. “I’m grieving with them because I can’t not grieve. I feel it in my body. I feel it in my heart, and in my mind. A lot of my attention and emotional energy on a daily basis is in Ukraine.
“The way I am dealing with that is taking it to God in prayer and inviting others into that with me in community.”
The church has set aside specific times during services to pray for the crisis in Ukraine, raised financial support for Christian ministries in Ukraine and even sent a missions team from the congregation to Poland to minister to fleeing refugees.
Moroz said that in addition to the support he has received, he is thankful for the unity that has resulted from the crisis in Ukraine amongst both his family and fellow believers in the country.
“There is encouragement to be seen in the way that Ukraine has come together,” Moroz said. “Times of crisis end up bringing people closer together and that is happening in Ukraine.
“If the Russian government wanted a quick invasion and to divide people and the government, they did not accomplish that. The people have actually come closer together, and they’re more resolved to fight for their freedoms.”
Before the crisis, Moroz would communicate with his extended family periodically and visit the country from time to time. However, since the crisis began he has been communicating and receiving updates from his relatives every day.
