Ukraine Update: The Barbanels are now seeking refuge in Moldova

The Brabanels on their arrival in Moldova - please continue to pray for them and their Jewish contacts

Dear praying friends,

I am writing to give you a further update on our missionaries based in Ukraine, Igor and Galyna Barbanel. Their situation is extremely challenging and they desperately need your prayers and support.

When war broke out in the Ukraine Igor and Galyna had a difficult decision to make. They had the option to flee the country, along with countless others — including their daughter and her family — or remain and continue their ministry to their Jewish contacts. They chose to remain.

For much of that time, eleven warships sat in the bay of Odessa, awaiting the command to attack the Barbanel’s home city. Eventually, as a strike on the city looked imminent, the Barbanels made the difficult decision to leave Ukraine in the early hours of Monday morning.

Igor has written to tell us more...

Dear friends

Earlier this week, we travelled by car from Odessa to Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. We made this decision because President Zelensky announced there would be a missile attack on Odessa.

We would have been hiding in a bomb shelter with no internet or telephone connection and our lives would still be under direct threat. Our children urged and begged us to leave Odessa.

To get to Chisinau, we drove 500 kilometres by car and passed through at least ten military checkpoints. We literally squeezed through the anti-tank barriers and concrete blocks. We then got lost on the road to the Moldavian border because all the road signs had been taken out to disorientate the Russian invaders. As a result, we had to make our way through very rural and off-road areas. Almost all petrol stations in the Odessa region were closed. Thanks only to God, we made it to Chisinau.

We continue to be in touch with those Jewish contacts still in Odessa and we plan on holding our next Zoom Shabbat from here. Galyna and I are so thankful to you for all your prayer support and care for us at this difficult time.

YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS ARE NEEDED

Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying, and sending gifts of support and messages of concern for the Barbanels. They continue to be in need of our support as they find themselves in an unfamiliar country, having left all they own behind.

Please continue to pray for the Barbanels, particularly as they seek more permanent accommodation in Moldova while continuing to bring the comfort of the gospel to those around them. If you would like to contribute to their financial support needs please click here — it will be a great encouragement and help to them.

Rev Joseph Steinberg
CEO