Denis is a tall man, and with his white hair and ever-serious expression, he somehow commands respect. Before he became involved in the relief work supported by the donors of the Danish European Mission, he worked in the Ukrainian equivalent of the Christian Students' Union in Denmark. Here he was sent to Central Asia as a missionary and ended up becoming deputy leader.
During a breakfast in Chirnivtsi, Ukraine, I interviewed Denis about why it is important for refugees to receive not only food but also pastoral care. He had just been involved in organizing four courses in biblical counseling, where 450 people participated.
Why is pastoral care important?
A few weeks ago I visited some refugee centers where many internally displaced families live. They were not hungry, because we give them food in the emergency project. They had a roof over their heads and lived in a warm room, but they were all emotionally devastated. The only thing they tried to show were pictures of their destroyed homes. I met one girl and asked her how old she was. She answered three years. The father said: "No, she's four. We planned to celebrate her birthday, but the Russians bombed our city, so she was not celebrated. That's why she thinks her birthday is ruined and she hasn't turned four yet."
How do bombings and shootings affect a person?
It's a question of safety. Some people start to feel that they are always in danger after experiencing bombings. Especially women, who are more connected to their homes than men. Home is a safety net, also for children. In our training, we don't just talk about parents, but also about children, so they can rebuild their safety and trust together. There are so many traumas. Food and shelter are good, but we need to understand how we can help refugees spiritually.
Some people start to feel like they are always in danger after experiencing bombardments
- St. Denis
What does this mean for the church?
Trust in churches in society has increased a lot during this time. People are asking: Why are you doing this? We answer: "We are Christians - that's why we do it". The Soviet Union tried to crush the church, but today it is rising up and doing good. The Church today is rebuilding what the USSR tried to destroy.
The war has brought unbearable pain to us and our families. Outwardly, many things still seem to be working in Western Ukraine, but inside it hurts. Our economy is being destroyed. We are losing territory. But society is becoming more consolidated. People are helping each other. The Ukrainian people are definitely more united now.
The church is rising from the ashes and mobilizing all resources to help. If we can eliminate the military threat, we have a great opportunity to rebuild the country, Denis concludes, before rushing off to the morning meeting of the relief team.
