This Closer Look features several Navigator families who have been heavily affected by the current conflict in Ukraine.
Tyler and Kelly Sanderford have lived in Kyiv, Ukraine for almost 17 years. They started out doing student ministry, but in recent years they have found themselves discipling families, many of which emerged from their initial work with students. They have even seen the Gospel flow upwards across generations from students to their parents and family members.
One recent example is in the family of Alina (a pseudonym), who came to Christ ten years ago as a student. For many years pre-Covid, Tyler and Kelly hosted a weekly gathering at their house to do Bible studies with Alina and other people in their ministry. The group attending the gathering eventually became quite diverse, ranging from current university students to middle-aged parents.
After Tyler and Kelly had discipled Alina for five years, she brought her mother Nadiya to the Lord. Nadiya was the oldest believer who regularly attended the weekly gathering at the Sanderfords’ house, and she brought her unbelieving boyfriend Petro along. He enjoyed participating in the group, but would often show up under the influence of alcohol and tended to derail the group’s conversations with his own stories and philosophies.
Many people in Petro’s generation have difficulty trusting Christ because they were indoctrinated into atheism during the Soviet period, but God continued to pursue Petro. Nadiya’s local church and the Sanderfords’ group persisted in loving him. After he had attended the group for about a year, God worked powerfully in his life. He repented and put his faith in Jesus. Tyler could see an immediate difference in Petro’s demeanor after that turning point; he became humble and began asking questions instead of offering his own worldly wisdom. Tyler helped Petro find a Bible and learn how to read it, and Petro began to hungrily devour the Word. Now Tyler and Kelly are walking with Petro and praying for him to grasp the vision of continuing to disciple his own family and relational network.
Please pray that the angel of the Lord will encamp around Alina, Nadiya and Petro and deliver them (Psalm 34:7). Pray for the peace that transcends understanding (Philippians 4:7) to guard the hearts and minds of the Sanderfords and the other expat Navigator staff who serve in Ukraine, but have all been evacuated with their families.
