Home of Hope: Ongoing Development of the Ministry Hub in Kharkiv Region

The charitable project “Home of Hope” continues to raise funds, recruit volunteers, and receive material support from caring people. The hub still needs a kitchen and a bathroom. This shelter was created for displaced locals and volunteers who share the Gospel and care for those in need in the remote areas of Kharkiv region.

Minister Serhii Turiikov from CITA Ministry and his team of volunteers from Rivne region shared updates on the current situation at the hub.

The “Home of Hope” hub is located in a district of Kharkiv region that borders Russia. The straight-line distance from the hub to the border is about 50 km.

“Our district is under more frequent shelling than at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The destruction in border villages has increased. We anticipate a new wave of displaced people. We want to be prepared so they don’t have to suffer discomfort but can take a shower, cook a meal, eat, and get proper rest after evacuation. Right now, the hub is still under renovation,” Serhii shared.

According to him, villages in Kharkiv region are dying out. Ten years ago, when he began his ministry, out of every ten houses, three were empty. Today, out of ten houses, only three are still occupied. He often has to walk long distances, “wear out many pairs of soles,” just so a few people can hear about Jesus Christ and receive material aid.

To support displaced people and those in need across 15 remote villages, Serhii needed a team of young, energetic volunteers—and he found them in Rivne region.

Ten young men and women travel to Kharkiv region for a month at a time throughout the year. Together, they share the Gospel, distribute humanitarian aid, and continue renovating the “Home of Hope” hub.

The volunteers distribute bread, clothing, Christian newspapers, calendars, and reading glasses for the elderly. They unload humanitarian aid trucks, sort supplies at the hub, and deliver wood-burning stoves. They also host children’s meetings, and organize holiday events for Easter and Christmas. They visit people with disabilities, the elderly, war victims, and those who survived occupation—all while sharing the message of Christ.

“I was mostly involved in the technical side of things, helping receive displaced people from Kharkiv. But I saw how devastated they felt, losing everything—both possessions and hope. Yet, after listening to Brother Serhii, they believed there is hope in God,” recalled Valerii, a volunteer from Rivne who has been serving in Kharkiv region for eight years.

The hub is attached to a House of Prayer, where the Rivne volunteers stay during their mission trips.

“We slept at the House of Prayer on one bed—six of us on the same bed! A bit cramped, but honestly, it was great. Since there’s no place to shower at the hub, we had to go two kilometers to Serhii’s house. There were eight of them plus ten of us, so the 80-liter water heater often ran out before everyone could shower,” recalled Stas, a volunteer from Rivne.

The volunteers started renovating the kitchen, but time ran out before they could finish.

Andrii, another volunteer from Rivne, shared that winters at the House of Prayer are tough. They often have to wake up at night to add firewood to the stove, yet it’s still cold in the morning.

“It’s inconvenient when you go to the kitchen in the morning to brush your teeth, but there’s no faucet. You have to go fetch water and pour it into the tank first,” Andrii said.

Right now, the hub is barely functional—it’s only good for having a quick meal and changing clothes. Valerii and his friends previously financed the construction of the bathroom area and did some painting work, but further renovations require funds to buy materials.

Minister Serhii now refers to the hub as a missionary-volunteer center and wants to make it more comfortable for the Rivne team.

“With young people, you can do anything! They are more energetic than the locals in eastern Ukraine and much sharper. We do group and personal evangelism with them—they go to every yard, every house, talk to whoever they see. When we have humanitarian aid, we preach in the villages. People gather to hear them sing about Jesus, salvation, and eternity. We also share the Word of God.

When I visit lonely seniors and people with disabilities, I bring them a loaf of bread and ask how they are doing. But when ten young people step into their home and start singing a beautiful psalm about Christ, I see hearts soften. Later, those same people ask us to return. They’re waiting for us.

And when it comes to construction and repairs, the sisters cook, and the brothers build,” Serhii said.

“Serhii works hard to bring more young people because, honestly, it’s far away and dangerous these days. He wants volunteers to come for Christmas and Easter to distribute Christian newspapers and calendars, serve in churches, and minister to the local people. His team is mostly older, and there aren’t enough young workers,” explained Valerii.

What motivates these young volunteers to travel 800 km from home to serve in Kharkiv region—where conditions are rough, and the frontlines are near?

“I keep going back to Kharkiv region because it recharges me. I love serving there—it feels like my second home now. I’ve grown attached to the place. Plus, I want to help, especially since it’s clear Serhii is exhausted. I feel for him—I see how hard it is,” said Stas.

“Kharkiv region is like my second home now. I want to serve there, preach the Gospel, surrender to God, and carry out my ministry. I know Serhii has a tough job, and I want to help him,” shared Andrii.

The “Christ is the Answer” Ministry has launched a fundraiser to equip the hub for displaced people in Kharkiv region. The goal is to raise 90,000 UAH (around $2,170 – ed.). The campaign began on January 27.

In the first month, 12,000 UAH was raised, along with a donation of a kitchen stove and a dish cabinet worth 35,000 UAH.

Anyone can contribute—not just financially, but also by donating necessary items for the bathroom and kitchen.

Current needs include:

• Shower faucet
• Urinal;
• Kitchen sink and faucet;
• Cooking stove;
• Microwave oven;
• Electric kettle.

To donate financially, please use the provided bank details.

CITA Ministry Press Center.