Mock says the villages he went to were covered in craters from rocket and drone fire, and roughly half the homes were destroyed.

Nowhere to Go

(Photo courtesy of SGA)

“I encountered…an entire facility that was built underground with the capacity to teach over 500 children in an elementary school. The city administration headquarters, everything was underground, under reinforced concrete – in other words, like a bunker. This was their life,” Mock says.

“You may ask, ‘Why would anyone live there?’ Well, simply, the people that are there have nowhere to go. A majority are either elderly or single moms with children, and they literally have nowhere to go.”

Mock describes visiting one church building that expected maybe 30 people to show up. The room was instead filled with 70 Ukrainian grandmothers, all hoping to get some food and basic medications.

(Photo courtesy of SGA)

He says the elderly women “came up to me just flooded with tears, saying, ‘Please, thank the people. We are so hungry and in so much pain.’ They didn’t have simple medicines like Advil or Tylenol,…or simple foods to make it through the day. They were desperate.

“They wanted to know why. Why would someone help people that seem to feel there was no help? I said, ‘It’s because of God’s grace upon us. Nothing we have was not meant to be shared. But ultimately, it’s about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.'”

Monster Trucks and the Heart of a Child

When Mock left for Ukraine, he wasn’t just bringing supplies from SGA. His young grandson, Asher, also sent his favorite toy monster truck to be gifted to a child in Ukraine. Then, while Mock was distributing aid, he met a toddler named Danil.

Eric Mock giving Danil the toy monster truck. (Photo courtesy of SGA)

“He’s standing there dirty, and you could hear the explosions in the background, and you see the difficulty of his living. I knelt down and handed him this monster truck. He looked at me for a second in pure shock. But…in the midst of everything, he literally dropped down in the dirt, making engine sounds, and started playing with his truck in the dirt.”

Mock says, “He didn’t care about all the circumstances. He didn’t know what would come tomorrow. He just knew in that moment that he had been given a gift, and he wanted to have all of the gift and experience it. May we, too, be the same way with our Heavenly Father when He gives us these good gifts.”

Ask God to uplift Ukrainians’ hearts like young Danil.

“Do not lose sight of the needs that are there,” Mock urges. “The need is overwhelming in Ukraine…. The lives they live over there are stunningly difficult.”

You can support SGA’s relief efforts in Ukraine at their website.

He asks, “Pray that they would be faithful in the middle of these difficult times, and their witness would lead us in whatever we face to be faithful.”

Header photo courtesy of SGA.

Mission India regularly encounters adults who were trafficked as children and teens. Broken and abused, they are in desperate need of life skills and Christ’s love.

Mission India’s Raina Miller says, “In India, there’s not the hope of Christ, by and large. A lot of people don’t know who Jesus is. Ninety percent of the people groups are unreached by the Gospel. So if they’re living in hopelessness, they’re desperate.”

Nanya (Photo courtesy of Mission India)

That desperation often leaves children vulnerable. Miller shares the story of Nanya, a young woman who came out of bonded slavery.

“Her dad, who was an alcoholic and really struggling, he had sold her off into a bonded labor contract for two years,” Miller says.

“She was sent off to work for a family [with] crazy hours – like 5 am to 11 pm for two years straight. She just had no life outside of that…. When she was working, she earned none of the money. It all went to her dad.”

When Nanya gained her freedom at 18, she didn’t know where to go next and couldn’t read or write. Eventually, she joined a Mission India Adult Literacy Class.

“She learned, first of all, how to read and write,” Miller explains. “Second, she learned how to save and earn money in ways that had dignity and were something that she can be excited about.”

The best part? Miller says, “She also discovered the love of Jesus and received him as her Savior!”

Today, Nanya runs her own business as a beautician and shares her skills with other young women.

Adult Literacy Class (Photo courtesy of Mission India)

Miller says, “Adult Literacy Classes are meeting people in their hardest, deepest, scariest moments and helping them find a way out. Sometimes that’s trafficking; sometimes that’s other situations that they’re stuck in. But our Adult Literacy Classes also provide education around these issues to help prevent them in the future…. We’re really excited about that aspect of our Adult Literacy Classes and just the holistic impact that they make.”

This month, there’s an opportunity to help more people like Nanya.

Every donation to Mission India will be matched up to $300,000. Normally, $40 covers the tuition for one Adult Literacy Class student — but through the end of April, that same $40 will allow two students to enroll.

You can give today at missionindia.org.

Header photo courtesy of Deepak Kumar/Unsplash.

If you have a passion for spreading the Gospel, India is one of the most critical mission fields — and now is a key time to support Mission India as they touch kids’ hearts.

(Photo courtesy of Mission India)

Raina Miller with Mission India says, “Giving Tuesday falls during our 10-Day Children’s Bible Club matching challenge, so it’s a great time to take advantage of that…. Every dollar that you give to 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs is currently being doubled — so $1 is doubled to reach two children with the good news of Jesus!”

India is home to 1.4 billion people, and 96% have never heard the Gospel. Mission India works with local Christian partners for these Children’s Bible Clubs — even as believers face intense persecution.

“India is actually the 11th most dangerous nation in the world for Christians,” Miller explains. “There are people who are ostracized from their communities, they are facing violence, they’re facing intimidation in all different forms for following Christ…. And yet, we’re finding that the more persecution increases, the more the Church grows.”

(Photo courtesy of Mission India)

You can donate to Mission India’s 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs today at www.missionindia.org/double.

This Giving Tuesday, help make an eternal difference for children in India.

Miller also asks, “Pray that the kids who are reached through the Bible Clubs that are being sponsored during this match would have their hearts changed in a way that pushes them to lead others to Christ as well. [Pray] that it just creates a domino effect where the kids reached through this match then go on to reach entire communities!”

Header photo courtesy of Mission India.

Like many kids in India, she grew up in a home filled with idols and rituals. Worship was familiar — but Jesus was not. Still, something about the songs, stories, and kindness of her Bible Club leaders drew her in.

Rohitha’s life was changed forever at a 10-Day Children’s Bible Club. (Photo courtesy of Mission India)

“She loved hearing about Jesus healing the sick, and His sacrifice on the cross really resonated with her,” says Mission India’s Raina Miller. “So by day seven out of 10 at the Bible Club, she was reflecting on her life and the concept of forgiveness, and she couldn’t stop thinking about Jesus.

“On day nine out of 10, Rohitha invited Jesus into her heart, and she received Him as Savior — and on day 10, she declared her faith publicly!”

Now, Rohitha is part of a local church and prays daily for her parents to know the same hope she’s found.

Stories like hers are why Mission India continues to host 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs across the country — and why their matching challenge that launched today matters so much!

From now through December 31, a generous partner will match every gift toward Mission India’s 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs up to $1.1 million.

“Normally, one dollar lets one child attend a Bible Club,” Miller explains. “But through this match, one dollar reaches two children. So this is giving them the chance to attend a Bible Club where they can hear about Jesus — many of them, for the first time.”

Miller adds, “It’s just incredible to see what can happen in the span of only 10 days. You would think that’s such a short time, but kids’ lives turn around in that short amount of time, and they’re introduced to Jesus. It changes their lives forever, and it gives their parents the chance to have their lives changed as well.”

You can double your impact and help reach twice as many children with the Gospel at www.missionindia.org/double!

Header photo courtesy of Mission India.

This Easter, believers have a chance to give in a way that reflects the very meaning of the season: hope, new life, and redemption. Through World Concern’s One Village Transformed project around the globe, practical gifts become powerful tools to meet needs and build up communities in the name of Jesus.

Whether it’s a Bible in South Sudan, medicine in Myanmar, or a beehive in Kenya, each gift supports long-term ministry efforts led by local partners — not just charity, but transformation.

Allison Farstad with World Concern says this type of giving aligns closely with the Easter message.

“The idea of redemption and resurrection goes along with giving other people the opportunity for a new life and sharing with those in need.”

(Photo by Bernd Dittrich/Unsplash)

These aren’t one-time handouts. Each gift is intentionally chosen to serve a broader purpose — helping families generate income, equipping churches to serve, and giving children a future through education and health. And they all come through ongoing ministry relationships in places like Kenya, Laos, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“A bee farm isn’t the first thing you would think of when you want to help someone in need,” Farstad says. “But we think long-term — how can this provide food, income, and a way to contribute to the community?”

The impact is deeply personal. A bicycle becomes a way for an evangelist to reach distant villages. A small bundle of ducklings can start a family business. Clean water, parasite treatment, or school supplies can mean the difference between survival and thriving.

And while the gifts vary in size — from just $5 to several thousand dollars — they each represent an opportunity to share God’s love in practical, life-giving ways.

This Easter, consider a gift that brings lasting hope. Join the story of transformation by supporting World Concern ministry efforts in hard-to-reach places — and pray that more communities will experience the light of the Gospel and its redeeming power.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Ganta Srinivas/Pexels.

Turkish church planters supported by FMI provide humanitarian aid all over Turkiye after the earthquake nearly two months ago. They distribute meals, tents, and blankets to quake survivors in the name of Jesus.

Bruce Allen with FMI says, “Anytime that there’s a crisis, the sectarian [and] the religious boundaries evaporate. People just need help.”

Approximately 96% of the population in Turkiye is Muslim. There are only about 200 evangelical churches in the whole country of 85 million people.

(Photo courtesy of FMI)

Allen says some Muslims prefer to go to the Christians for aid because the Christians will take the time to sit with them and listen, and the goods are of higher quality.

“I am pleased that our partners are providing comfort, relief, guidance, counseling as necessary, but also reflecting the purposes of Jesus Christ so clearly the people that many Muslims are now turning in faith to Jesus Christ.”

One of FMI’s partners, Pastor Enver, was distributing relief supplies to a quake-affected area. He travels 700 miles each way to supply aid to this area.

Allen explains, “The fact that other Muslims would prefer to get help from Christians rather than their fellow Muslims was putting the Islamic foundations to shame and they wanted to stop that. They wanted to stop the Christians.”

“In one area where Enver and his team were serving 150 people a meal, the police came up and pressured them saying, ‘We are carrying out the orders of the district governor commanding you to stop what you’re doing.’”

“The Christians are saying, ‘Why are you stopping us? Who’s going to help these 150 people?’ And the police said, ‘It’s no matter. Just stop. These people can take care of themselves. You leave this place immediately.’

“So we know in some instances, people are being very drawn to the Christians. But because of that, more radical elements in society are saying, ‘We must stop Muslims from making these connections with the Christians.’”

(Photo courtesy of FMI)

Thankfully, Allen says it was one isolated incident. “But it does remind me of the spiritual dynamic that is at play here. Yes, we’re taking care of people’s physical needs, but there’s a spiritual war being waged for people’s souls too.”

Please pray for wisdom and creativity as pastors and church planters work with authorities.

Now more than ever is a critical time to give to FMI’s quake relief in Turkiye.

This month, a generous donor is matching every dollar donated to FMI’s Hope Stands campaign, up to $50,000.

The matching grant campaign is called Hope Stands. Allen says, “As these people have had their world shaken, they’re finding that hope still stands and it’s in Jesus Christ.”

You can give any time now through the end of April to have your gift doubled.

(Image courtesy of FMI)

“If a Mission Network News audience member can make a $250 donation, it automatically gets doubled to $500. If someone’s saying, ‘Yeah, I want to help a family, provide them with a tent, provide them with meals,’ now, their gift to help a family actually gets doubled. They’re helping two families,” Allen says.

“We’ll be able to provide some good resources and facilitate our partners and their relief teams from their churches as they go into the spring and the summer.”

Click here to donate to FMI’s Hope Stands campaign!

Header image courtesy of FMI.

Mission India operates 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs across India, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with kids who have never heard of Him.

Now is a critical window of time to get involved! Starting today through December 31st, Mission India is featuring a $540,000 matching challenge for donations to their 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs.

(Photo courtesy of Mission India)

With Giving Tuesday tomorrow in the United States, maybe you’re trying to think of where to send your financial gift that will make a significant Gospel difference. This is it!

Normally, just $1 will send one child in India to a 10-Day Bible Club. But during Mission India’s matching challenge, every donation will be matched by a generous donor up to $540,000. So $1 would cover attendance at a 10-Day Bible Club for two kids!

Bartholomew* with Mission India says, “With these 10-Day Bible Clubs, it’s basically Vacation Bible School on steroids. We want to hit this matching challenge of $540,000 because if we do, over 1 million kids will be able to attend a Children’s Bible Club coming up next summer.”

The 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs are operated by local Indian believers who pour into these kids with God’s love — teaching them Bible stories, singing Gospel songs, and providing a safe place for fun and friendship.

Every year, more and more Indian kids are starting relationships with Jesus Christ through these 10-Day Bible Clubs.

(Photo courtesy of Mission India)

But it doesn’t just change the life of that child. “The more kids that will be allowed to go to these 10-Day Bible Clubs, the generational change that you are giving the opportunity to in the nation of India is…just amazing,” Bartholomew says. “They go back to their families and tell their families about Jesus. As they grow up, they lead their families in the ways of Jesus.”

If you want to support Mission India’s 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs during the matching challenge this Giving Tuesday, click here to donate!

Whether or not you are able to give, now is also a critical time to pray for the nation of India. So please, pray for these kids!

Bartholomew says, “India is one of the youngest nations in the world…. So we would just ask that people would pray over these children as they go through struggles of poverty, lack of education, lack of really a home life, that you would just lift them up in prayer that they would find peace and confidence and support and grace through the love of Jesus.”

*Last name omitted for security purposes.

Header photo courtesy of Mission India.

One Indian father, Danesh, is a day laborer and he noticed many of his coworkers had an alcohol addiction. At first, he didn’t join their excessive drinking. But eventually, Danesh gave in to alcoholism and his life spiraled out of control from there.

(Photo representative, courtesy of Mission India)

Bartholomew* with Mission India says, “He ended up spending a lot of what he earned on alcohol, leaving little for his wife and his son. Unfortunately, he would just get drunk to the point where he would fall asleep whenever he fell. He was drunk to the point he didn’t know where he was when he would pass out.

“That would also heap shame onto his family’s name. Obviously, drunkenness is a sin, and it really heaps shame on his wife and his son and on himself to a point where his wife didn’t feel like they could actually go out in public.”

A church planter with Mission India named Vimesh began building a relationship with Danesh.

“Vimesh over time asked to meet with him, and Vimesh just continued to encourage him to give up alcohol. Vimesh prayed over him and for him [and] he shared the Gospel,” Bartholomew says.

“Over time, Jesus freed Danesh from that addiction and recently he received Jesus as his Savior.”

This father went from being an alcoholic who shamed his family to a spiritual leader pointing his family to Jesus.

“Now his family attends a church, they pray together, and they can go out in public and not be embarrassed. So just that [life change] of Danesh now is also [impacting] his family.”

This father went from being an alcoholic who shamed his family to a spiritual leader pointing his family to Jesus.

An Adult Literacy Class with Mission India. (Photo courtesy of Mission India via Facebook)

“We as an organization love working with fathers and encouraging fathers to come to know Jesus and be changed by the love of Jesus,” Bartholomew says. “Through that change, those fathers then are changing the lives of their kids, the lives of their families, and really, in some cases, changing the entire direction of the family name going forward for generations. So it is quite powerful to see.”

To give a gift to Mission India in honor of your own father, grandfather, or a father figure in your life, click here!

Your gift will help advance the Gospel among dads in India and lead to new Christ-following legacies that can be passed down for generations.

Bartholomew says, “You can pick any of the programs. I would recommend Adult Literacy Classes or Church Planter Training as those are two programs that deal specifically with adults. Go give a gift of any amount and write, ‘In honor of my father’ in the comment section, and then let your dad know or your granddad know that you’ve done that — that you supported a potential life change of a father or father-to-be in India.”

*Last name omitted for security purposes.

Sustained giving director Pixie Christensen says, “The catalog is a magazine-style format and it covers a wide scope of Bible translation work, from projects that feature very first Scripture in a language group to audio Scripture [and] oral Bible storying. And we have several children’s projects, children’s Bibles, which is really exciting for us.

“So really, it gives you an opportunity to see not only the full work of Bible translation, but just areas around the world where we have projects from 16 countries [in] four different regions of the world.”

(Photo courtesy of Wycliffe USA)

Have a specific country, project, or people group on your heart? With the Gift Catalog, you can find a Bible translation project to support through Wycliffe USA.

“We have a search feature this year where if you want to know if there’s a project about oral Bible storying, you can find it easier. Also, we have the projects gathered together by category.”

Donating to a Bible translation project in honor of someone on your list can be a life-altering event.

For example, because people gave to the Rwandan Sign Language project, men like Muhire found new purpose.

“He suffered such shame and isolation, being deaf and not being able to understand what was said in churches,” Christensen says. “He (Muhire) lost his hearing during the years of violence in Rwanda and it was a tough road for him. He got a job as a translator for the Rwandan Sign Language project and he started realizing how much God loved him. His whole life changed.”

Still want something tangible to put under the tree or in a stocking?

Christensen says, “If someone goes to the website, they can see downloadable cards to print that say ‘in honor of’ or ‘in memory of.’ So if you are giving a gift in honor of someone, that person opens that gift under the tree on Christmas morning and sees, ‘Wow, a gift was given in my honor to give the Yamdena people in Indonesia a Children’s Bible. How wonderful because that’s a gift that’s going to last forever!'”

(Photo courtesy of Wycliffe USA)

Check out Wycliffe USA’s Gift Catalog here!

“It’s just an amazing blessing to say, ‘Wow, that group is getting the gift of hope.’”

Header photo courtesy of Wycliffe USA.

This month only, every dollar donated to Mission India’s 10-Day Children’s Bible Clubs will be doubled up to $490,000 through their Christmas Hope Matching Challenge.

Because it only costs $1 to send one kid to a 10-Day Children’s Bible Club, literally every single dollar makes an eternal difference.

(Photo courtesy of Mission India)

Bartholomew* with Mission India says, “On top of that, it’s matched during the month of December so every dollar you give will double. If you give $1, two kids get to go hear the good news of Jesus at a Children’s Bible Club…. I don’t know where else you could find that kind of investment.

If Mission India meets their goal of $490,000, Bartholomew says that “980,000 children in India will have the opportunity to attend a Children’s Bible Club next year. I think that’s fantastic.

“Just under one million kids will have the ability to experience Jesus all because of this one month of giving.”

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has obviously complicated things for their Bible Clubs. But they’re taking precautions with social distancing and masks when possible so the Gospel can still reach kids in India.

“Where we’re able to safely do so, we’ve launched our programs and specifically our Children’s Bible Clubs around India. And where we’re not able to do so, we don’t. If it’s a COVID[-19] spike in a certain area, we don’t release those Bible Clubs.”

(Photo courtesy Mission India)

Even they can’t launch a particular 10-Day Children’s Bible Club, the Bible Club leaders still check-in with families and see if there is anything they need.

Either way, kids are feeling the love of Jesus.

Donate to the Christmas Hope Matching Challenge with Mission India!

Header photo courtesy of Mission India.

*Names changed for security purposes.