Ep. 150 - The War Became a Harvest: Hope and Church Planting in Ukraine ft. Sergey Lysak, Joe Sindorf, Jeremiah Weismann, Tryg Veker

In early 2022, almost no one believed war would come to Ukraine—but God warned one pastor to prepare.

In this episode, we hear the remarkable story of Pastor Sergey Lysak, founder of Father’s House Church in Kyiv, and how God used obedience, faith, and courage to bring hope in the middle of war. As Russian troops gathered on Ukraine’s border, God showed Sergey that invasion was coming and told him to prepare his church. He gave them a choice: leave now—or stay and commit to being a blessing to a suffering nation.

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the church was ready. They mobilized food, medicine, and supplies, bringing aid into Kyiv’s underground Metro stations where tens of thousands sought shelter. As homes were destroyed, they pioneered a solution—prefabricated tiny homes that could be delivered and installed in a single day, providing warmth and safety to displaced families.

After placing 100 tiny homes, God spoke again: “These people need a church.” What followed was extraordinary—four churches planted during wartime, all made up of mostly new believers who had never known Jesus. Churches now stand in devastated communities, on former front lines, and in areas of Kyiv with no prior gospel presence. Through year-end 2024 giving, Crossroads even funded the building of an entire church in Skybyn, one of these strategic new communities which is almost complete.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that even in war, the gospel advances—and the harvest is ready.