Battling For Ukraine in Edmonton – Extreme Community Engagement
Russian troops poured into Ukraine from the north, south and east in February 2022, sending shock waves all the way to Edmonton. The fall of Ukraine was predicted by the media to be within 72 hours of the invasion. Pastors Yaroslav Kurpita and Nick Kucher immediately called a prayer meeting at Mill Creek Christian Assembly (MCCA) to intercede for Ukraine. The congregation of MCCA is primarily Ukrainian immigrants, and Pastor Kurpita rallied them with the words, "We need to fight this battle together as one family, on our knees. 'I will say, salvation comes from the LORD.'" (Jonah 2:10)
God heard their prayers.
Nearly six million people fled Ukraine to Europe, USA, and Canada in the following months. Many moms with children arrived in Edmonton with only the clothes on their backs and a few travel bags; most did not have friends or families in the area. Volunteers at MCCA, led by Luba and Pasha Shevchuk, responded by setting up a Help Centre on March 29, where the congregation and community could bring necessities and household items that would enable families to get a start with life in Canada. Over twenty volunteers helped ten to fifteen families each day in the first weeks, and a few months later, the number grew to over forty families a day. Amigo Relief Missions, led by Dennis and Maureen Scraba, delivered food for refugees three times each week for months. Pastor Joe Battiston and volunteers from The Park Church showed up to help, manage donations and show love and support in practical ways. They started and continue to operate the Free Ukrainian Store in a warehouse secured by Dennis Scraba.
MCCA became like a family to refugees. Congregants opened their homes in 2022 as more and more displaced families arrived. The church collected kitchenware, mattresses, basic necessities, and toiletries. Furniture came from the Ukrainian Newcomer Furniture warehouse. Pastor Kucher arranged for employment for 300 people in Nisku as well as many more with the City of Edmonton Public Works Department. It was no easy task to secure apartments because owners would only rent with a rental history. It took up to five days of relentless searching to find one family an apartment. Leaders from the church made themselves available to listen and pray each week.
One woman's story is reflective of the plight of the refugees. Her husband and family members were killed in Ukraine, leaving only her, two daughters, and two grandchildren. They arrived in Edmonton with nothing and found their way to MCCA. Helpers arranged an apartment for them complete household furniture, kitchen supplies, and food. Each time Pastor Kucher met with her, she was speechless, quietly crying, overwhelmed by tragedy and generosity.
The last two years transformed the congregation of MCAA. They grew from a Sunday average of one hundred in 2022 to over three hundred people packing into the facility to worship in 2024. Translations of English preaching are offered in Ukrainian and Russian. Following every Sunday service, there is a fellowship time over coffee and sweets in the lower hall. A worship service in Ukrainian is held in the afternoon on the last Sunday of each month. The ESL classrooms at the church are both packed every week. They facilitated meetings with immigration lawyers for over 500 people each month. The wear and tear on the facility over two years created a need for repairs. If you or your congregation would like to help financially or offer donations in kind, please connect with Pastor Kucher at stylebuilthomes@gmail.com.
Pastor Kucher became the new lead pastor of MCCA in February 2024 when Pastor Kurpita retired from a job well done.
Bob Jones is the founder of REVwords.com, an author, blogger, and coach with 39 years of pastoral experience. Bob is also an Advance Coach with the ABNWT Resource Centre. You can connect with Bob here.