December 11, 2024 • 64 mins
This is a long one, but the stories (and the voices who tell them) are important.
Since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, The Christian Chronicle has been especially active reporting how Church of Christ congregations started and grew in Ukraine. Over the last 30 years, many friendships formed and many stories (both good news and hard news) have come to The Christian Chronicle audience through Ukraine.
Beginning with Russia's invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and second invasion and war in 2022, many Church of Christ congregations and members are suffering death and displacement. You can read The Christian Chronicle's extensive coverage here.
Many Ukrainian refugees (Christian and non-Christian) found their way to Houston, Texas over the last two years. As their numbers increased, Memorial Church of Christ stepped up to meet some of their most pressing needs. Because of Memorial Church of Christ, and one Russian member in particular, many Ukrainian refugees are making do as they sojourn in Houston. More important, some of them are coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
In this episode, you'll hear from Yulia Merchant, the Russian immigrant who is letting herself be a catalyst for Christ's ministry to his Ukrainian neighbors coming to Houston.
You'll also hear from two Ukrainian refugees, Oleksandr Voievoda and Liza Sharii-Yukabovska, who tell their stories in their own words.
Read Bobby Ross Jr.'s recent Christian Chronicle story on the Thanksgiving feast the Ukrainian refugees hosted for their Memorial Church of Christ friends
Link to a full archive of The Christian Chronicle's Ukraine coverage
Link to Bobby Ross Jr.'s June 2023 story about the beginning of the Memorial Church of Christ ministry with Ukrainian refugees
Link to Christian Chronicle Podcast Episode 26 featuring Yulia Merchant
Click here to donate to Memorial Church of Christ Urkaine ministry efforts
Find more news and stories at christianchronicle.org
Donate to support this ministry of "information and inspiration" at christianchronicle.org/donate
Send your comments, ideas, and suggestions to podcast@christianchronicle.org
Make a monthly donation to support The Christian Chronicle's ministry to inform and inspire. https://christianchronicle.org/donate/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
O God, jesus Christ is, and the day of resurrection
(01:03):
of our God.
We will support all those whoare doing.
We will lead all those who aredoing on the earth.
Our faithfulness will give thema solution instead of crying
for joy between the dead hand.
The main clothing.
Jesus Christ, o God JesusChrist, oh Jesus Christ.
Holly Linden (01:55):
Welcome to the Christian Chronicle Podcast.
We're bringing you the storyshaping Church of Christ
congregations and members aroundthe world.
Here's our host, BT Irwin.
BT Irwin (02:07):
Family and friends, neighbors and, most of all,
strangers.
Welcome to the ChristianChronicle Podcast.
May what you are about to hearbless you and honor God.
If you're a listener in theUnited States, how was your
Thanksgiving celebration thisyear?
I think we had one of the bestever when we gathered with my
wife's side of the family backon November 28.
(02:27):
The food was excellent, and sowas the football game for us
Detroit Lions fans up here inthe Motor City where I live.
And best of all was family time.
We ate, we talked, we told oldstories, we played ticket to
ride and we were thankful forour health, our prosperity and
the people in our lives.
What about you?
What will you remember aboutThanksgiving 2024?
(02:49):
Well, a couple of weeks beforemost of us in the United States
marked the holiday, theChristian Chronicle's Bobby Ross
Jr went down to Houston, texas,to report on a very special,
very unique Thanksgiving feastat the Memorial Church of Christ
.
You could argue that it wasperhaps the most unique
Thanksgiving celebration in theUnited States this year.
That is because it was aThanksgiving feast featuring
(03:12):
customs and food from Ukraine.
But even that is not what madethis Thanksgiving remarkable.
What made it remarkable is thatthe hosts were Ukrainian
refugees who insisted onlavishing their own hospitality
on their American friends atMemorial Church of Christ.
If you follow the ChristianChronicle, you know that we've
(03:32):
been reporting on how Russia'sinvasion and war in Ukraine is
affecting the Church of Christand its members in that country.
We've also reported on howChurch of Christ congregations
and members here in the UnitedStates are coming alongside
Ukrainians of all faiths and nofaith who are suffering because
of the war.
That includes Memorial Churchof Christ, which has been one of
(03:56):
the leading sources of aid forthe many Ukrainians taking up
refuge in Houston, texas.
Memorial Church of Christ didnot set out to start what we
might call, in typical churchspeak, a quote-unquote Ukraine
ministry.
Rather, a ministry withUkrainian refugees found
Memorial Church of Christ.
Long story short, and in theshow notes we'll post the links
(04:19):
to all of our reports so you canget the full story.
The folks at Memorial Church ofChrist knew they had to do
something.
After all, the Bible says thatthe people of God are to quote
love the alien as yourself, endquote.
That's from the book ofLeviticus, chapter 19, verse 34.
In a remarkable twist, all ofthis love for Ukrainian
(04:39):
neighbors started with threeRussians.
In 2022, a Russian couple,alexei and Milana Kuzhevnikov,
found their way to Houston afterthey fled their home country
for speaking out against theirgovernment's invasion and war
against Ukraine.
Once in Houston, theKuzhevnikovs reached out to
Memorial Church of Christ to askfor help studying the Bible.
(05:01):
David Duncan, the minister withMemorial Church of Christ,
tapped the shoulder of YuliaMerchant, a member of the
congregation who was born andraised in Russia but married an
American.
Yulia did start studying theBible with Alexei and Milana and
a friendship formed.
That's when they told her aboutthe many Ukrainian refugees who
lived nearby.
They told Yulia of the verygreat struggle these families
(05:24):
faced as they tried to survivein a strange new city, in a
strange new country.
Yulia began to enlist the helpof her fellow memorial members
to meet needs wherever theycould.
Once word got out among theUkrainian refugee community that
Memorial Church of Christ couldhelp, things took off.
Over the last two years, thecongregation has provided
clothing, food and furniture,english lessons and help with
(05:47):
enrolling kids in schools andnavigating public assistance.
To this day, the congregationstill gives out welcome boxes to
new Ukrainian families arrivingin Houston every week.
What's more, the Bible studywith two Russian refugees that
started.
The whole thing turned intomultiple Bible studies for
dozens of Ukrainians who come toMemorial Church of Christ every
(06:10):
week.
It is now common to find 40 ormore Ukrainians gathering at the
church building on any givenday to study the Bible in
Ukrainian.
That brings us back toThanksgiving.
As the holiday approached,memorial Church of Christ
decided to host a Thanksgivingfeast for their Ukrainian
members and neighbors.
A lovely gesture, right?
But the Ukrainians declined.
(06:32):
In essence, they said no, thankyou, memorial Church of Christ,
it's our turn to host you.
And that is what they did.
The Ukrainians came together toput on a Thanksgiving
celebration like nothing thefolks at Memorial Church of
Christ ever experienced before.
The celebration featuredUkrainian clothing, customs and
food.
(06:52):
In other words, the hostedbecame the hosts, which is the
kind of reversal thatcharacterizes the gospel of
Jesus Christ and the kingdom ofGod.
In this episode, we want you tomeet some of your Ukrainian
family and to hear their storiesfor yourself.
As Christmas approaches, weneed to remember that the child
(07:13):
Jesus and his parents werethemselves refugees who fled
their home country because atyrant wanted to kill them.
It is Jesus, the refugee, whogrew up to become the defender
and savior of all refugeeseverywhere, it is Jesus, the
homeless man, who was almostnever the host, but was most
(07:35):
often himself hosted by others.
If you're looking for Jesusthis Christmas season, might I
suggest looking for him amongthose around the world who have
been displaced by famine,violence and war.
He is not only ministeringamong them, he is one of them,
starting with the Christiansyou'll meet today.
(07:56):
We were not able to record theseinterviews at the same time, so
you'll hear them one afteranother.
First, you'll hear from YuliaMerchant, who is the
Russian-born, russian-raisedmember of Memorial Church of
Christ.
She answered the call to studythe Bible with two Russian
refugees.
The congregation's ministrywith the Ukrainian community
started there.
Yulia was on the show back in2023, so you may recognize her
(08:18):
by the light and warmth sheexudes, even through an audio
medium like a podcast.
Yulia, welcome back.
Yulia Merchant (08:24):
Thank you so much for having me again.
BT Irwin (08:25):
Happy to have you again.
I can't believe it has beenwell over a year since you were
first on the show to talk aboutyour ministry to Ukrainian
refugees in Houston, Texas.
How has both the refugeesituation and the scope of the
work changed since then?
Yulia Merchant (08:40):
In September 2023, but then they restarted
the benefits, and when I saybenefits, it is a medical
insurance, very, very basic.
It's a food stamps and one totwo months of rent assistance.
After that they're on their ownabout the rent.
(09:02):
So right now, there is nofederal help for food stamps or
medical insurances and verylittle for the rent assistance.
And that's where we arestepping in as a memorial Church
(09:25):
of Christ family and shiningthe light of Jesus, and we have
food bank rides for theUkrainians.
We have grocery assistance.
We provide families withemergency funds if they are
(09:45):
facing the with the apartment,with the rental difficulties.
So we right now have afull-time ministry at Memorial
Church of Christ for theUkrainians and Lisa, who you
interviewed recently, she is ourtranslator.
(10:06):
She translates our services andthen we have ladies Bible
classes on Thursdays.
We have Wednesday night classesfor Ukrainians who are taught
by our elders, and we also havelike a small group for the
Ukrainians that we meet usuallylike every other Sunday night.
(10:29):
Unfortunately it is.
We do have to sometimes find theright words and, you know,
really, really support peopleemotionally how to adjust to
this new reality, because notmany of them speak good English
(10:51):
and English usually is afoundation for you to land a
good job, good paid job.
So usually people who don'tspeak English, they start with
$11, $12 an hour jobs and canyou imagine to support your
family paying rent, you know,support kids and many of them
(11:15):
have multiple kids on $11, $12an hour.
So that's why they have to pickup other jobs and it's been
very difficult for many of them.
And it's very good when youhave a full family where husband
and wife works.
If that's the case, then it'svery doable.
(11:36):
However, we have a lot ofsingle moms whose husbands are
fighting for the Ukraine, orthey're just single moms who
come here and they work a lot.
They work a lot and we'retrying to help them as much as
we can as well.
You know, just financially,physically, anything that we can
(11:58):
do as a church to kind of easethat burden.
BT Irwin (12:04):
One of the things that occurred to me today when I was
preparing for these interviewsis when we think about war and
we think about the cost of war.
We may think of casualties on abattlefield or people displaced
out of their homes, but you areseeing firsthand the cost of
(12:25):
war.
I mean the, the, the peoplethat are with you and are your
neighbors now and that you'recaring for.
Yulia Merchant (12:32):
They're not dying, but it seems like the
costs that they're paying areare painfully high yeah, oh,
absolutely, absolutely, yeah, oh, absolutely, absolutely, and
just it's, it's a lot ofemotional burden as well, you
know, leaving everything,leaving businesses behind their
(12:53):
homes, everything that theyworked all their lives, living
their retirements, they're,living their pets, they're
living their pets there, leavingtheir families there and just
coming to United States hopingto, you know, have a better
future and starting your,starting your life brand new,
(13:13):
completely, completely fresh,new.
And that's absolutely it's.
It's challenging and I thinkthat's where a lot of people
finding hope and that's where Ithink we have such a special
honor to offer Jesus's love, toshow them the light of Jesus,
(13:39):
and that God still cares forthem, Despite, you know, in the
midst of the war.
They're still being loved andtaken care of.
And we, when we, with every boxthat we deliver to the new
refugees, we do include aUkrainian Bible and we include
(14:00):
invitation to our church.
It will always include somescriptures that you know, that
should uplift and support therefugees.
And it's so wonderful when theycome back to our church and they
(14:23):
say you know, I've never readthe Bible, ever.
I've never had a chance to readthe Bible and you had give me
this.
It was included.
Is that for me?
Yes, that's for you to read it.
And some people say I read itand it's so, so beautiful.
How can I learn more about it?
(14:44):
We did have a few families whoreturned to our church because
they were so thankful and theywanted to learn more about what
was written in the bible.
And two, two of the families,two of the girls who received
the welcome box that werebaptized last year, and that was
(15:05):
, oh, that was so wonderful yesand I always tell my team, uh,
who are working right now inwelcome boxes, because we're
giving out about three to fourwelcome boxes a week okay and
it's um, it's a lot of stuff.
It's about $300 to $400 per boxbecause it includes a vacuum
(15:32):
cleaner, it includes dishes,kitchen, bathroom things, so it
includes basically everything.
A starter kit for a new house.
BT Irwin (15:43):
Wow, I got to ask you this.
I noticed back in July 2023,when we first had you.
You were using a pseudonym backthen, but you're using your
real name now.
What's the reason for thechange?
Yulia Merchant (15:58):
I think simply is.
I think I was a little bitnervous at the beginning of the
security ministry how it wouldaffect my family back in Russia,
and I was very nervous if Iwould ever have to go back to
Russia.
Will the, will the governmenttry to look me up?
(16:21):
Will they try to, you know,because I do have American
citizenship and Russiancitizenship, so they always been
very picky about thosesituations.
Are they trying to, you know?
Look for my Instagram orFacebook to find if I'm been
supporting the war, becausethey're trying to do that right
now.
(16:41):
And then, the more our ministrygrew, there was I could no
longer hide behind, you know,behind behind the team, behind
the refugees, because theUkrainians would share, you know
, share my name, share the nameof Immoral Church of Christ, and
I'm representing Christ, christand I'm representing Christ,
(17:03):
and I thought if I would have tosuffer for for his name, he
will take care of it, he willtake care of me and he's been
taking care of me no matter what.
So I, I, um, um, explained,explained to all the refugees
and to my team that, um, I'mgoing.
(17:27):
I would say I'm going public,going public.
I would say that no, there isno reason for me to hide anymore
and, um, I am not planning togo back to russia for any
reasons anytime soon, so I justmade my peace with that and, uh,
my heart is very calm because Iknow that my God is my saver,
is always on my side and he willalways protect me and I'm doing
(17:50):
for his name, so I'll justleave it at that is there a
chance that you'll never seeyour family in Russia again?
If the Putin's regiment willstay and the people in charge of
the government, I accept that apossibility.
I have my dad still back inRussia, my brother, my
(18:16):
grandmother, my grandpa.
I have a lot of relatives backin Russia.
If the regiment stays the sameand it's not going to improve, I
accept the possibility thatprobably will not be able to
come and see them in Russia.
BT Irwin (18:32):
How does that I mean?
How do you carry the weight ofthat realization?
Yulia Merchant (18:37):
That hurts, that hurts a lot, but I think
disciples and apostles sufferedso much for Jesus and and so
much persecution, so I cannotcompare that to them.
So, um, if I will not see myfamily in russia, because I
think we can always meet, likein some neutral countries, um,
(19:00):
if, if.
To that point, however, ifsomebody passes away back in
Russia, I don't think so I willbe able to make it, and I think
that's what kind of like givesme a little.
My throat gets a little tickled, but in the same time I pray
(19:21):
that my family will know Jesusand I will see them again.
BT Irwin (19:25):
Yeah, Well, I'll pray that with you as well.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (19:31):
Thank you.
BT Irwin (19:33):
You didn't choose this ministry and of course we've
told your story in the ChristianChronicle and we interviewed
you last year and we'll linkthat episode in the show notes
so people can go back and listento it.
You didn't really choose thisministry, it chose you.
So how do you think God wantedto form you and what do you
think God wanted to teach youthrough all of this so far?
Yulia Merchant (19:55):
That's a very deep question.
I never really had a chancejust to slow down and look back
and your question was a littlebit like awakening to me.
I didn't, I wasn't reallyquestioning, I was on a go go,
go moment for almost two yearsalready.
So to me it was a very good um,like a reflection, um, um
(20:23):
moment.
I think that, uh, that it'sdefinitely was not something I
planned.
I never planned to be afull-time mom.
I'm working full-time as anurse practitioner and have a
full-time ministry.
It was never on my plan orto-do list and God said Yulia,
(20:48):
you can do it.
I'm going to send you thehusband who can tolerate all
your situations when you'reconstantly on the phone, when
you're maybe not sleepingbecause you're trying to
translate it to somebody.
I'm going to give you the mostpatient husband who can help you
(21:09):
with children and who couldn'ttake that.
So my husband, rob Merchant hehas been my number one in this.
He is a silent warrior in thiswhole because, if not my husband
, I think that's like this verystressful time in our lives was
(21:29):
brought by God to.
I think maybe bring us togetherSometimes bring us apart,
because it sometimes was toomuch, but in the end.
This ministry definitely madeus stronger as a family, as our
marriage.
It's so amazing to serve Rightnow.
My husband is one of theteachers who are teaching Sunday
(21:51):
classes.
It took him a while to get intothis ministry because we were
not sure how long it would last.
We were not sure, like, what isthe ultimate goal, like where
do we go from there?
So God taught me patience.
God taught me love andacceptance of any people who are
(22:15):
asking for help.
But in the same time, itteaches me discernment and um
wisdom because, as I said, weunfortunately cannot help
everybody and um we have to bejust very wise, um and very
loving at the same time.
And, as I said, if we we cannothelp 100%, we're gonna find the
(22:39):
way in the community how we canum connect this person for help
and also just sharing Jesus andbe on fire for Jesus.
I don't think so.
I was so much on a holy like,high on the Holy Spirit, I would
say, because it just keepmoving and moving, and it was
(23:02):
not me.
A lot of people say, oh, youlay your ministry, your ministry
, this your ministry, that thisis God, this is all the Holy
Spirit working, not me.
A lot of people say oh, yulia,your ministry, your ministry,
this, your ministry.
That this is God, this is allthe Holy Spirit working through
me and I was like, how do youhave all this energy?
Like, what coffee are youdrinking?
I'm drinking regular coffee,only one cup a day.
But this is just the HolySpirit working through me.
(23:23):
It's God gives me energy tomaintain and not, you know, not
going crazy.
And of course, it is the church.
It is the church right nowstepping up, stepping in and
taking a lot of load off of alot of me.
And now we have structure, wehave team when a new family
(23:46):
arrives, where they go, who helpthem spiritually, who help them
with the physical needs.
Now we still have ways forimprovement, absolutely.
We're working on mentorshipprograms right now.
We're working on starting,hopefully with Lisa's help, esl
classes.
Starting, hopefully with Lisa'shelp, esl classes.
(24:08):
We just, you know, praying toGod to bless us with funds so we
can start that.
Because language, as I said,it's a cornerstone for people's
success.
BT Irwin (24:18):
Yes.
Yulia Merchant (24:18):
They have good English, they will be able to
have a better career.
So we want to focus in um helppeople to learn English faster,
so so, yeah, that's if peoplewant to support that do.
BT Irwin (24:35):
Do they still make a donation to Memorial Church of
Christ?
Yulia Merchant (24:39):
Yes, so if you would go to
memorialchurchofchristorg andselect donate button, you can
choose benevolence tab and youcan write as a note Ukrainian
ministry fund.
So Ukrainian ministry fund.
It goes directly to theUkrainians.
It goes directly to supporttheir physical needs and then
(25:04):
their spiritual needs.
BT Irwin (25:05):
Good, we'll put a link in the show notes as well.
So, if you want, to support thework you're doing.
They can.
They can do that.
People, I'm sure, are lookingfor places to give their money
during the holiday season.
So, I think we just gave themone.
Well, yulia, thank you forupdating us on all the goings on
with our Ukrainian neighborsand guests, and with yourself,
(25:29):
and I hope it's not a year and ahalf before we hear from you
again.
Yulia Merchant (25:34):
Amen, thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
BT Irwin (25:37):
It's always a pleasure .
Yulia Merchant (25:38):
Thank you, have a good day.
BT Irwin (25:40):
Next we have Alexander Voivoda.
Alexander, his wife Inna andtheir four-year-old son, arter,
arrived in Houston in latesummer 2023.
At the time, inna was 39 weekspregnant.
A little more than three weeksafter arriving, she gave birth
to a son, Mark.
Imagine having a newborn babyin a new city where you can't
speak the language, you don'tknow where you're going to be
(26:01):
able to stay and you don't knowhow you're going to make enough
money to support your family.
It's Christmas time, so thatought to sound familiar to all
of us.
Well, their situation broughtAlexander and Inna into contact
with Memorial Church of Christ,where they received the help
they needed to make it throughthose first hard months.
Alexander is the Ukrainian whofirst told his fellow Ukrainians
(26:23):
that they would host MemorialChurch of Christ for
Thanksgiving, not the other wayaround.
Alexander is here with us now.
Alexander, thank you for makingtime to visit with us today.
Oleksandr Voievoda (26:34):
Thank you, sir, for inviting me.
BT Irwin (26:36):
First of all, congratulations to you on the
birth of your youngest son, Mark.
How is he, and how is the restof your family?
Oleksandr Voievoda (26:44):
Well, thank you.
We are great, thank you.
Mark is growing and developing.
He is a year and two months old.
This seems to be the mostexciting period of a child's
life, when he is interested ineverything, when he explores
(27:05):
everything, when he learns to domany new things.
So we are enjoying this time ofhis childhood.
BT Irwin (27:15):
He was born just after you arrived in Houston, is that
right?
Oleksandr Voievoda (27:20):
Yes, sir, in three weeks after we went to
Houston.
BT Irwin (27:27):
Wow, three weeks.
How old is your?
You have another child.
How old is your other child?
Oleksandr Voievoda (27:34):
He is five years old, five years old.
BT Irwin (27:37):
So take us back to Ukraine.
Where are you from in Ukraineand what is the story of how you
came to Houston Texas?
Oleksandr Voievoda (27:47):
in Ukraine and what is the story of how you
came to Houston, texas?
We arrived in Houston on August22nd.
It was 2023 year, that is, ayear and two months ago.
I'm originally from the city ofManitoba.
It's, unfortunately, stilloccupied by Russian troops.
(28:09):
We have lived in Kiev for thelast eight years.
During the first years of thewar, we were in Ukraine.
In the fall of 2022, theRussians began attacking the
(28:31):
energy infrastructure and ourcities were without electricity,
water and all the amenities ofcivilized life.
There was no internet, nomobile phone service.
It was impossible to work, andthen we left for Poland.
(28:53):
I believed that in three monthswe would be able to return home
, but the war is still going on.
We realized that we need tosettle down for the long term
and decided to go to the UnitedStates.
On the day of the flight, mywife's pregnancy was 36 weeks
(29:19):
and six days this is the maximumperiod allowed for flights and
24 days after I arrived, ouryoungest son, mark, was born.
So this is the story how wemoved to Houston.
BT Irwin (29:37):
Texas.
Wow, so what have you beendoing in Houston?
How have you been adjusting tolife there in Houston?
How have you been adjusting tolife there?
What kind of challenges haveyou had since you landed in
Houston?
Oleksandr Voievoda (29:53):
It's going slower than I imagined.
I continue to improve mylanguage skills and look for
better opportunities to providefor my family.
BT Irwin (30:04):
Did you know English before you came to the United
States?
Oleksandr Voievoda (30:08):
I learned English in the school, but it
was rarely.
We had only one lesson.
It was 35, 35 minutes per week.
So have you understand, it'snot enough for life in United
(30:33):
States.
And when I arrived it wasdifficult to catch the words
which I knew before, which Iknew before, because people say
fast and my ears wasn't used tohear and understand this
(31:03):
language.
BT Irwin (31:04):
Yes, yes, I think we can all understand that.
Any of us who have beenoverseas, somewhere else where
they don't speak English at all,I think we can all understand
what you're going through.
How hard was it to find a placeto live and to find work.
Oleksandr Voievoda (31:23):
It was hard.
We spent the first three weeksto find some apartments where we
can live.
Sponsors help us with alldocuments, and I spent more than
(31:53):
three months before I found myfirst job, my first workplace.
BT Irwin (32:02):
I reckon most people who are listening to this are
not refugees and have never evenimagined that they will be a
refugee and what it would belike if it came to that.
Oleksandr Voievoda (32:21):
What do you think people don't know or
understand about your life rightnow?
Good question, thank you.
I want to note that there's adifference between immigration
(32:52):
and refugee.
Immigration being in hishomeland is in his souls and in
his new dreamland.
A refugee on the country findshimself physically in a new land
and his thoughts and dreams anddesires are connected with home
, his homeland.
An illustration that seems aptto me is as if, after I became
deaf, dumb and also cannot fullyuse my hand, this is due to the
(33:16):
fact that my education, someknowledge and skills are not
relevant for the new country dueto different standards and
rules.
BT Irwin (33:30):
How are your kids doing with this?
I mean, obviously Mark was bornhere.
So Mark is a United Statescitizen because he was born here
.
How is your five-year-old doing?
Oleksandr Voievoda (33:41):
He's doing awesome.
I was surprised how fast hetakes English language and now
he's lot of time with hisAmerican friends and at once,
(34:12):
when I tried to speak with himin English, he said to me Daddy,
I will speak in English withAmericans, let's speak Ukrainian
.
So it was interesting for meand I was surprised because of
his language.
So he seems happy here.
BT Irwin (34:37):
So we reported a story about a Thanksgiving feast, a
very special Thanksgiving feast,at the Memorial Church of
Christ.
It seems like the church wasplanning to host a Thanksgiving
feast for its Ukrainianneighbors, but you said no, we
want to host a Thanksgivingfeast for the church.
(34:59):
How did that idea come to youand why was it so important to
you to do this idea?
Oleksandr Voievoda (35:07):
come to you and why was it so important to
you to do this?
Yes, sir, I expressed this idea, but when I saw the enthusiasm
which the members of ourUkrainian groups responded, I
realized that this idea was kindof hanging in the air.
It reminds me of the scripturethat God, according to His will,
(35:30):
works in us to act and desire.
Organizing a gratitude dinner,an appreciated dinner, for the
volunteers and sponsors of theUkrainian refugee ministry was
important to us because wewanted to show our gratitude to
these people we reallyappreciate for their support.
(35:52):
I see how much this ministrydoes for Ukrainian refugees, for
my people, for them, so we veryappreciate about it.
BT Irwin (36:09):
What do you miss the most about home?
Oleksandr Voievoda (36:15):
Most of all, we miss our family in Ukraine
Of course, our parents, brothers, sisters with their families
and children.
We miss our friends and churchand, of course, we miss our
apartment where we lived andwith which so many pleasant
memories are associated.
BT Irwin (36:37):
What gives you hope these days?
Oleksandr Voievoda (36:39):
Of course we hope about finishing this war,
we pray about it, we dream andwe pray about finishing this war
and we hope so much to see ourfriends who are on the front
(37:02):
line now.
We hope to see them alive andwe worry about it.
BT Irwin (37:24):
Well, so many people in so world are praying for you
and your family, for your entirecommunity there in Houston, and
for Ukraine and Ukrainianseverywhere around the world.
Thank you for sharing yourstory with us today, alexander,
and thank you for everythingyou're doing there for your
community in Houston.
Oleksandr Voievoda (37:42):
Thank you, sir.
We very appreciate it for allof you and for your support us
for Ukraine, for us for Ukraineand for Ukraine.
Thank you.
BT Irwin (37:56):
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Last up, we have LizaShariukabovska, a single mother
of a teenage daughter, sophie.
She fled Ukraine soon afterRussia invaded in 2022.
When she left, she hoped toreturn within a few months.
However, as the war dragged onand intensified, she made plans
to stay away for longer to keepher daughter safe.
(38:17):
That led her to Houston andMemorial Church of Christ.
Lisa grew up Orthodox, but thislast summer she and her
daughter both asked to bebaptized at church camp.
Lisa, thank you for talking tous today.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (38:28):
Thank you for having me.
It's a pleasure.
BT Irwin (38:31):
Okay, so the most important question is where are
you from in Ukraine and what isthe story of how you came to
Houston Texas?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (38:40):
So I'm from a little town in the center
of Ukraine.
It is called Poltava.
It's actually the cradle ofmodern ukrainian language,
really.
So, yes, ivan katlerovsky is afamous writer who wrote in the
yida.
He wrote it on popularukrainian language and he's from
(39:02):
my city, so I'm kind of proudof that.
My city is a city, so I'm kindof proud of that.
My city is a car like culturalcradle of Ukraine and it's very
beautiful, green city.
But I lived in many places inUkraine.
I'm a little bit from Kyivbecause I went to university
there.
I went to Shevchenko University.
(39:22):
I lived in Crimea for some timeand that's why the war started
for me in 2014, when I had toleave my first place of living
in Sevastopol in Crimea.
BT Irwin (39:40):
Yes.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (39:42):
And I've been to US two years and five
months.
I know exactly until this dayhow much time I stay here,
because I guess all this timeI'm praying so much for water to
stop and I'm waiting that maybeI can come back home.
BT Irwin (40:05):
Yes, yes, so you came here two years and five months
ago.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (40:11):
Yes.
BT Irwin (40:12):
And what was it that made you decide that you had to
leave?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (40:17):
You had to come here.
So on the 24th of February thewar started.
I woke up at five o'clock inthe morning when my relatives
called me saying that they'rebombing us and first of all I
couldn't believe because all myAmerican friends were telling me
(40:41):
this from the beginning ofDecember that something is going
to happen.
But I have relatives in Russiaand my grandmas were born in
Russia, and I couldn't believethat.
I couldn't believe thatsomething like this can happen.
I spoke Russian all my life.
I went to Russian school, eventhough Ukraine was independent.
(41:03):
Back then I lived in Crimea andin Sevastopol, the city that is
called the mother of Russiancities.
So I couldn't believe thatsomething like this could happen
.
And then I saw people fleeingfrom Kharkiv, which is 100 miles
(41:24):
away from my city.
All the roads were blocked andwe were sitting in shelter
because we had air raid alarms.
And I had a 13 year old childback then and I was worried
about her safety and I decidedto get evacuated.
BT Irwin (41:51):
How have you been adjusting to living in Houston?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (41:57):
I remember the first week of
adapting was interesting becauseAmerica was always a dream.
Everybody was talking aboutAmerican dream.
I wanted that American dream tohappen and then after a couple
of weeks I understood that youneed a car.
You can't walk like in Europe.
(42:18):
This was the first big shockbecause, we were used to walking
, I wanted people around, Iwanted people to smile to me and
I guess, my neighbors.
They were not aware that theyneed to say hi to people and to
smile.
Yeah, so that was a culturalshock.
And then you need to tell allthe time.
(42:41):
Excuse me, I'm sorry, youcouldn't walk very close to
people because they were lookingstrange at you.
BT Irwin (42:52):
Yes.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (42:53):
Yeah, so we are not like this in Europe.
It was a little bit different.
BT Irwin (42:58):
Americans are used to having their space, that's for
sure.
So you've been in Houston fortwo years now, yes, so obviously
you have adjusted.
What kind of work did youeventually find, and how did you
get on your feet?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (43:19):
It's still difficult.
I guess I was expecting formore because I was a
simultaneous interpreter.
For more because I was asimultaneous interpreter.
I speak six languages fluentlyand I thought that right away I
will find a wonderful job.
I will work for oil and gascompanies, being a personal
(43:40):
assistant to CEO or being asimultaneous interpreter, and
the money will fall from the skyin abundancy by law, by god's
grace.
But I understood that to makeyour way up you need to have
three jobs at the time and thatit's hard.
(44:00):
And first, when I heard that mydirector does deliveries after
her work being a director ofinstitute, For me it was a shock
.
But then I understood that tosurvive in the United States you
need to work hard.
And now I'm working withrefugees as well.
(44:23):
Now I'm a job developer forYMCA International.
BT Irwin (44:44):
Now I'm a job developer for YMCA International
.
So I do you think people who,what do you think people don't
know or don't understand aboutyour life right now?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (44:57):
I was shocked and surprised myself
first, that all your life canenter one backpack, because I
thought you need the fur coat,maybe not the only one.
You need many shoes to survive.
You need a car.
And then I understood that Ican ride a bus, even in Houston,
(45:18):
even if it's dangerous.
I can survive with onetracksuit during a long period
of time until somebody candonate clothes to you.
Of course, this is, I guess, thehardest thing that your life
don't shift it.
(45:39):
And when your child, the firstwords that my daughter was
telling me that Mom, are we poornow?
Words that my daughter wastelling me that, mom, are we
poor now?
So that was the hardest thingfor me that you had to survive
in a new country.
You don't have your own homenow, so you need to pay rent and
I guess that is the mostdifficult part, because you are
(46:02):
working to pay your rent and, byGod's grace, back in Ukraine,
by the age I was 30, I managedto buy my wonderful apartment,
to buy a car and like toestablish my life.
So this thing that your lifewas erased and you need to start
(46:23):
from scratch, from beginning,and you need to prove who you
are.
You need to prove what youdeserve.
That's the hardest thing.
BT Irwin (46:33):
I think one of the things you said in the article
that Bobby Ross Jr wrote.
He came down and met you andwrote the story.
when you go from your homecountry where you, you, you are
well-educated, you arewell-employed, you're doing very
well for yourself and yourfamily and suddenly you're in a
(46:54):
new place where you, you knowyou speak the language, right,
but it's, it's all new, it's alldifferent, and you've had to
work multiple jobs.
From the sound of it, it soundslike it.
It take a hit to your identity,right?
And do you ever want to say topeople here in Houston you know,
(47:19):
hey, I am somebody, right?
Like I'm well-educated, I'm a,know I would.
I'd much rather be back home.
You know, doing what I did thenbe a refugee.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (47:49):
I guess I'm trying not to be depressed
because I believe in God and Godis my hope.
But so there are such days,yeah, and every month I tell
myself no, I'm packing my bags,I'm going back home, like let
the bomb fall on my head, but Iwant to be home, I want to be
with my family, because all myfamily is back there.
And every day I think will Iever see them?
(48:10):
Because, according to ourhumanitarian parole, we're not
allowed to go out of unitedstates.
And yeah, you know all thisindecisiveness, like you think
that is your life, temporary now, or you still need to establish
, or maybe if I go back home Iwill have that better life I had
, or if I work hard here and Ishow myself and I can achieve
(48:36):
something better here, like inthe US.
So all these doubts, they arekilling you sometimes.
And then I guess when you needto start praying, when I need
God to give me wisdom, god giveme hope, god show me the way.
(48:57):
I guess that's what I do.
BT Irwin (49:01):
Well, speaking of God, lisa, you grew up Orthodox, but
when you were baptized atchurch camp, I think would you
be willing to tell us that storyand how you came to the
decision that you wanted to bebaptized.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (49:15):
So I started going to Memorial Church
of Christ one and a half yearago.
It was written in the article,but maybe those who are
listening to this podcast theydon't know.
So we have Ukrainian ministry,and one day Ukrainian ministry
(49:37):
organized a job fair forUkrainians.
I went there to see whatproposals I might get and I
heard Julia and Jeremy so ourchurch members praying and it
really touched my heart that Istarted crying.
And when I got back home onSunday, it was on Saturday, and
on Sunday morning I woke up andlike holy spirit, god, I don't
(49:58):
know some something was tellingme you must go to that church.
But I didn't know anyone'sthere and I didn't have a car.
So I took I took uber and I gotto church.
I listened to their sermon andevery time I have some struggles
or doubts I go to church andthe sermon that day gives a
(50:20):
scripture that opens my eyes.
I don't know how it works.
It's only the Holy Spirit, Iguess.
So it shows me the way.
And that day I met our pastor,david Duncan, and they said they
need an interpreter forUkrainian kids to go to the camp
(50:42):
and I said, ok, I'm not workingright now, I want to volunteer
and I went for one week.
I'm not working right now, Iwant to volunteer and I went for
one week for this summer churchcamp and it was the best week
of my life.
I guess I love I guess the bestpart of it is worship, so the
way we were worshiping it mademe feel so close to God, I guess
(51:06):
.
And so when we got back fromchurch, my daughter got baptized
and we started learning moreabout jesus.
We had bible class with churchmembers every wednesday, every
tuesday with brenda dickinson.
She invited us for dinner andbible study every every tuesday
and I learned more about god,because I guess an Orthodox
(51:27):
church say make you readdifferent books, but not Bible.
And so I really got into it andbut, knowing how the baptism
goes in camp, I wanted to waitfor summer, even though
everybody was telling me are youready to get re-baptized?
Because in Orthodox churches Iwas little, I was four years old
(51:52):
, I still remember that but youjust get sprinkled.
So I wanted to feel thatfeeling in the river, this like
transparent water, like bluewater, like an Indian ocean, I
guess, in that river, and thisfeeling when everybody gathers
and when you are in camp, youare totally separated from this
world, from mundane problems,and you feel the Holy Spirit so
(52:17):
present.
And I wanted to do it onlythere.
And after we got back from campthe same day, hurricane started
in Houston, but I said nothingwill happen to me because I just
got baptized and Holy Spirit iswith me and I had light during
all the week and the internet,yes, and everybody was laughing
(52:40):
at that.
BT Irwin (52:41):
Amen to that.
Thank you for sharing thatstory.
You shared something else withBobby when he was down there.
When you were at church camp,you said that some of the kids
asked you if they should forgiveVladimir Putin for all of the
death and suffering andcrippling damage that his
invasion is doing to yourcountry.
How hard is it for you topractice Jesus's principle that
(53:04):
we must forgive those who harmus and pray for our enemies?
How did you answer theirquestion?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (53:09):
Oh, it's so hard, and I question this
every Bible study we have withany person who teaches.
I ask why innocent children die.
BT Irwin (53:24):
Yes, why do they deserve that when?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (53:26):
is the love of Jesus, of God, why there
is such unfairness in thisworld and it's so difficult.
But I always remember thecommand that Jesus gave us love
your neighbor.
And, like one of my friendsfrom church said, let's not have
(53:50):
hatred.
Let's pray for putin's heart.
So it feels with so much loveto people that he feels so bad
for everything he did.
I guess I add maybe this is notreally christian, but I add I
want his heart to fill with somuch love that he can't live
(54:13):
anymore so it bursts but burstsfrom love I hear you.
I'm sorry I guess that's notchristian I hear you, but very
human, very human I guess we'retrying to be both love and like
Jesus, half man, half saint,half God.
BT Irwin (54:33):
That's true.
You said your grandmothers areRussian.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (54:36):
Yes, they were born in Russia.
BT Irwin (54:38):
Okay, and you have family in Russia.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (54:41):
Yes, I do.
I have my cousins, my distantcousins live there.
BT Irwin (54:45):
How much contact do you have with family back home
or any of your family, Russia,Ukraine?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (54:51):
Uh, I guess, like we're, we're more
close to my Ukrainian family.
Uh, my mom died, unfortunately,but my dad, my aunt, uh, uh, my
, my niece, my cousins, theystill stay in ukraine.
My cousin and my nephew they're, uh, both in military, so they
(55:12):
can't leave ukraine, and theirwife chose to stay with them.
That's hard, because every dayyou are worried for them.
The war still continues, eventhough they don't show it much
in the news right now, because Iguess people get tired of wars
(55:33):
and there are more than 126military conflicts right now in
the world.
But I pray for them, I prayevery day.
We pray for them every Sunday.
We pray for them every Bibleclass we have, so I get God
every Sunday.
We pray for them every Bibleclass we have, so I get God.
Saves them for me to see themone day.
BT Irwin (55:54):
We will all join you in those prayers.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (55:56):
Thank you.
BT Irwin (55:57):
We have an audience around the world, and they will
join you in those prayers.
Lisa, what do you miss the mostabout home?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (56:04):
Oh, my family, my family, to hug them.
Also, our family celebrations,because we are very close and we
celebrate christmas together.
I have birthday on new year'seve uh, so I'm a new year baby,
so it's my birthday.
That is always a bigcelebration and I just miss my
friends.
(56:24):
I miss to go to our favoritecoffee cafe to drink coffee
every morning with them.
Now we're getting together likeand just.
I want to touch everything thatis my apartment.
I want to sleep in my bed, Iwant to have the smell of my
pillow, I have a fur coat that Iwant to wear and all my life my
(56:47):
mom was telling me that I wasborn in the wrong country
because I don't like cold, butliving in Houston now, and it
was my dream to live in thecountry where it's always warm,
but now I guess I miss snow, butonly for a couple of days.
So I can change my wardrobe.
BT Irwin (57:04):
So what gives you hope these days?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (57:10):
You know , when I started learning bible,
uh, my favorite maybe uh versefrom scripture was psalm 23 lord
is my shepherd and I will lacknothing.
So I guess he gives me hope andI believe, even though I don't
have a job or it can be hard, Iknow that he promised that I
(57:35):
will like nothing if I'm withhim and I get.
All this love keeps me goingand the hope.
And so sometimes, when in thisadjustment to life as a refugee,
every time I go to church andlisten to sermon, it tells me
(57:58):
the fruit of the spirit or onlygod is our hope.
So, and when he's your hope,you don't care about material
things, you don't care about ifyou have a job or not, you don't
care because he will provide.
So I believe in him and Ibelieve in everything he gives
(58:20):
me and I'm surrounded bywonderful church family right
now and I have new friends andelders of my church.
They tell me maybe he broughtyou here, so you need to show
jesus to other people and I'mtrying to do that even to my
orthodox family back in ukraine.
(58:41):
Now I'm preaching and alsobecause, like women don't preach
in our church.
So according to the Bible, wetry to stay with the laws of the
Bible.
But because I interpretsimultaneously, so I guess I'm
preaching to all the Ukrainians.
(59:04):
Back with my earphones andmicrophone.
BT Irwin (59:09):
I hear your testimony now and so does everyone
listening to this.
So, liza, thank you for tellingyour story, sharing it with us,
and, like I said last time Ichecked, people in 117 nations
and territories listen to thisshow, and so, wherever your
voice is heard right now aroundthe world, including the Russian
Federation, I'll add prayingfor you and your family and your
(59:34):
church, and we will all bepraying for you.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (59:39):
Thank you so much.
BT Irwin (59:41):
Thank you.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (59:41):
Thank you for that, god bless.
BT Irwin (59:44):
God bless you.
Thank you for listening tothese stories today and thank
you once again to Yulia Merchant, alexander Voevoda and Liza
Sharyukovska for sharing theirstories with all of us.
Around the world, we pray forthe end of the war in their
country and for their safereturn home, but even more we
pray for the return of ourChrist, the Prince of Peace, who
(01:00:05):
will forever do away with thepowers and principalities that
cause the suffering of billions.
Come Lord Jesus.
Come Once again.
Listener.
Check the show notes for linksto the Christian Chronicles
coverage of how the invasion andwar in Ukraine are affecting
Church of Christ congregationsand members around the world.
You'll also find links for howyou can help those in need if
(01:00:27):
God gives you a cheerful heartand so moves you.
We hope that something youheard in this episode encouraged
, enlightened or enriched you insome way.
If it did, please pay itforward.
Subscribe to this podcast andshare it with a friend.
Recommend and review itwherever you listen to your
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(01:00:47):
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(01:01:08):
Christian Chronicle atchristianchronicleorg.
Until next time, may grace andpeace be yours in abundance.
Holly Linden (01:01:17):
The Christian Chronicle Podcast is a
production of the ChristianChronicle Inc.
Informing and inspiring Churchof Christ congregations, members
and ministries around the worldsince 1943.
The Christian ChroniclesManaging Editor is Audrey
Jackson, editor-in-chief BobbyRoss Jr and President and CEO
(01:01:38):
Eric Trigestad.
The Christian Chronicle Podcastis written, directed, hosted
and edited by BT Irwin and isproduced by James Flanagan in
Detroit, michigan.
And.
Edited by BT Irwin and isproduced by James Flanagan in
Detroit, Michigan, usa.
O God, jesus Christ is, and the day of resurrection
(01:03):
of our God.
We will support all those whoare doing.
We will lead all those who aredoing on the earth.
Our faithfulness will give thema solution instead of crying
for joy between the dead hand.
The main clothing.
Jesus Christ, o God JesusChrist, oh Jesus Christ.
Holly Linden (01:55):
Welcome to the Christian Chronicle Podcast.
We're bringing you the storyshaping Church of Christ
congregations and members aroundthe world.
Here's our host, BT Irwin.
BT Irwin (02:07):
Family and friends, neighbors and, most of all,
strangers.
Welcome to the ChristianChronicle Podcast.
May what you are about to hearbless you and honor God.
If you're a listener in theUnited States, how was your
Thanksgiving celebration thisyear?
I think we had one of the bestever when we gathered with my
wife's side of the family backon November 28.
(02:27):
The food was excellent, and sowas the football game for us
Detroit Lions fans up here inthe Motor City where I live.
And best of all was family time.
We ate, we talked, we told oldstories, we played ticket to
ride and we were thankful forour health, our prosperity and
the people in our lives.
What about you?
What will you remember aboutThanksgiving 2024?
(02:49):
Well, a couple of weeks beforemost of us in the United States
marked the holiday, theChristian Chronicle's Bobby Ross
Jr went down to Houston, texas,to report on a very special,
very unique Thanksgiving feastat the Memorial Church of Christ
.
You could argue that it wasperhaps the most unique
Thanksgiving celebration in theUnited States this year.
That is because it was aThanksgiving feast featuring
(03:12):
customs and food from Ukraine.
But even that is not what madethis Thanksgiving remarkable.
What made it remarkable is thatthe hosts were Ukrainian
refugees who insisted onlavishing their own hospitality
on their American friends atMemorial Church of Christ.
If you follow the ChristianChronicle, you know that we've
(03:32):
been reporting on how Russia'sinvasion and war in Ukraine is
affecting the Church of Christand its members in that country.
We've also reported on howChurch of Christ congregations
and members here in the UnitedStates are coming alongside
Ukrainians of all faiths and nofaith who are suffering because
of the war.
That includes Memorial Churchof Christ, which has been one of
(03:56):
the leading sources of aid forthe many Ukrainians taking up
refuge in Houston, texas.
Memorial Church of Christ didnot set out to start what we
might call, in typical churchspeak, a quote-unquote Ukraine
ministry.
Rather, a ministry withUkrainian refugees found
Memorial Church of Christ.
Long story short, and in theshow notes we'll post the links
(04:19):
to all of our reports so you canget the full story.
The folks at Memorial Church ofChrist knew they had to do
something.
After all, the Bible says thatthe people of God are to quote
love the alien as yourself, endquote.
That's from the book ofLeviticus, chapter 19, verse 34.
In a remarkable twist, all ofthis love for Ukrainian
(04:39):
neighbors started with threeRussians.
In 2022, a Russian couple,alexei and Milana Kuzhevnikov,
found their way to Houston afterthey fled their home country
for speaking out against theirgovernment's invasion and war
against Ukraine.
Once in Houston, theKuzhevnikovs reached out to
Memorial Church of Christ to askfor help studying the Bible.
(05:01):
David Duncan, the minister withMemorial Church of Christ,
tapped the shoulder of YuliaMerchant, a member of the
congregation who was born andraised in Russia but married an
American.
Yulia did start studying theBible with Alexei and Milana and
a friendship formed.
That's when they told her aboutthe many Ukrainian refugees who
lived nearby.
They told Yulia of the verygreat struggle these families
(05:24):
faced as they tried to survivein a strange new city, in a
strange new country.
Yulia began to enlist the helpof her fellow memorial members
to meet needs wherever theycould.
Once word got out among theUkrainian refugee community that
Memorial Church of Christ couldhelp, things took off.
Over the last two years, thecongregation has provided
clothing, food and furniture,english lessons and help with
(05:47):
enrolling kids in schools andnavigating public assistance.
To this day, the congregationstill gives out welcome boxes to
new Ukrainian families arrivingin Houston every week.
What's more, the Bible studywith two Russian refugees that
started.
The whole thing turned intomultiple Bible studies for
dozens of Ukrainians who come toMemorial Church of Christ every
(06:10):
week.
It is now common to find 40 ormore Ukrainians gathering at the
church building on any givenday to study the Bible in
Ukrainian.
That brings us back toThanksgiving.
As the holiday approached,memorial Church of Christ
decided to host a Thanksgivingfeast for their Ukrainian
members and neighbors.
A lovely gesture, right?
But the Ukrainians declined.
(06:32):
In essence, they said no, thankyou, memorial Church of Christ,
it's our turn to host you.
And that is what they did.
The Ukrainians came together toput on a Thanksgiving
celebration like nothing thefolks at Memorial Church of
Christ ever experienced before.
The celebration featuredUkrainian clothing, customs and
food.
(06:52):
In other words, the hostedbecame the hosts, which is the
kind of reversal thatcharacterizes the gospel of
Jesus Christ and the kingdom ofGod.
In this episode, we want you tomeet some of your Ukrainian
family and to hear their storiesfor yourself.
As Christmas approaches, weneed to remember that the child
(07:13):
Jesus and his parents werethemselves refugees who fled
their home country because atyrant wanted to kill them.
It is Jesus, the refugee, whogrew up to become the defender
and savior of all refugeeseverywhere, it is Jesus, the
homeless man, who was almostnever the host, but was most
(07:35):
often himself hosted by others.
If you're looking for Jesusthis Christmas season, might I
suggest looking for him amongthose around the world who have
been displaced by famine,violence and war.
He is not only ministeringamong them, he is one of them,
starting with the Christiansyou'll meet today.
(07:56):
We were not able to record theseinterviews at the same time, so
you'll hear them one afteranother.
First, you'll hear from YuliaMerchant, who is the
Russian-born, russian-raisedmember of Memorial Church of
Christ.
She answered the call to studythe Bible with two Russian
refugees.
The congregation's ministrywith the Ukrainian community
started there.
Yulia was on the show back in2023, so you may recognize her
(08:18):
by the light and warmth sheexudes, even through an audio
medium like a podcast.
Yulia, welcome back.
Yulia Merchant (08:24):
Thank you so much for having me again.
BT Irwin (08:25):
Happy to have you again.
I can't believe it has beenwell over a year since you were
first on the show to talk aboutyour ministry to Ukrainian
refugees in Houston, Texas.
How has both the refugeesituation and the scope of the
work changed since then?
Yulia Merchant (08:40):
In September 2023, but then they restarted
the benefits, and when I saybenefits, it is a medical
insurance, very, very basic.
It's a food stamps and one totwo months of rent assistance.
After that they're on their ownabout the rent.
(09:02):
So right now, there is nofederal help for food stamps or
medical insurances and verylittle for the rent assistance.
And that's where we arestepping in as a memorial Church
(09:25):
of Christ family and shiningthe light of Jesus, and we have
food bank rides for theUkrainians.
We have grocery assistance.
We provide families withemergency funds if they are
(09:45):
facing the with the apartment,with the rental difficulties.
So we right now have afull-time ministry at Memorial
Church of Christ for theUkrainians and Lisa, who you
interviewed recently, she is ourtranslator.
(10:06):
She translates our services andthen we have ladies Bible
classes on Thursdays.
We have Wednesday night classesfor Ukrainians who are taught
by our elders, and we also havelike a small group for the
Ukrainians that we meet usuallylike every other Sunday night.
(10:29):
Unfortunately it is.
We do have to sometimes find theright words and, you know,
really, really support peopleemotionally how to adjust to
this new reality, because notmany of them speak good English
(10:51):
and English usually is afoundation for you to land a
good job, good paid job.
So usually people who don'tspeak English, they start with
$11, $12 an hour jobs and canyou imagine to support your
family paying rent, you know,support kids and many of them
(11:15):
have multiple kids on $11, $12an hour.
So that's why they have to pickup other jobs and it's been
very difficult for many of them.
And it's very good when youhave a full family where husband
and wife works.
If that's the case, then it'svery doable.
(11:36):
However, we have a lot ofsingle moms whose husbands are
fighting for the Ukraine, orthey're just single moms who
come here and they work a lot.
They work a lot and we'retrying to help them as much as
we can as well.
You know, just financially,physically, anything that we can
(11:58):
do as a church to kind of easethat burden.
BT Irwin (12:04):
One of the things that occurred to me today when I was
preparing for these interviewsis when we think about war and
we think about the cost of war.
We may think of casualties on abattlefield or people displaced
out of their homes, but you areseeing firsthand the cost of
(12:25):
war.
I mean the, the, the peoplethat are with you and are your
neighbors now and that you'recaring for.
Yulia Merchant (12:32):
They're not dying, but it seems like the
costs that they're paying areare painfully high yeah, oh,
absolutely, absolutely, yeah, oh, absolutely, absolutely, and
just it's, it's a lot ofemotional burden as well, you
know, leaving everything,leaving businesses behind their
(12:53):
homes, everything that theyworked all their lives, living
their retirements, they're,living their pets, they're
living their pets there, leavingtheir families there and just
coming to United States hopingto, you know, have a better
future and starting your,starting your life brand new,
(13:13):
completely, completely fresh,new.
And that's absolutely it's.
It's challenging and I thinkthat's where a lot of people
finding hope and that's where Ithink we have such a special
honor to offer Jesus's love, toshow them the light of Jesus,
(13:39):
and that God still cares forthem, Despite, you know, in the
midst of the war.
They're still being loved andtaken care of.
And we, when we, with every boxthat we deliver to the new
refugees, we do include aUkrainian Bible and we include
(14:00):
invitation to our church.
It will always include somescriptures that you know, that
should uplift and support therefugees.
And it's so wonderful when theycome back to our church and they
(14:23):
say you know, I've never readthe Bible, ever.
I've never had a chance to readthe Bible and you had give me
this.
It was included.
Is that for me?
Yes, that's for you to read it.
And some people say I read itand it's so, so beautiful.
How can I learn more about it?
(14:44):
We did have a few families whoreturned to our church because
they were so thankful and theywanted to learn more about what
was written in the bible.
And two, two of the families,two of the girls who received
the welcome box that werebaptized last year, and that was
(15:05):
, oh, that was so wonderful yesand I always tell my team, uh,
who are working right now inwelcome boxes, because we're
giving out about three to fourwelcome boxes a week okay and
it's um, it's a lot of stuff.
It's about $300 to $400 per boxbecause it includes a vacuum
(15:32):
cleaner, it includes dishes,kitchen, bathroom things, so it
includes basically everything.
A starter kit for a new house.
BT Irwin (15:43):
Wow, I got to ask you this.
I noticed back in July 2023,when we first had you.
You were using a pseudonym backthen, but you're using your
real name now.
What's the reason for thechange?
Yulia Merchant (15:58):
I think simply is.
I think I was a little bitnervous at the beginning of the
security ministry how it wouldaffect my family back in Russia,
and I was very nervous if Iwould ever have to go back to
Russia.
Will the, will the governmenttry to look me up?
(16:21):
Will they try to, you know,because I do have American
citizenship and Russiancitizenship, so they always been
very picky about thosesituations.
Are they trying to, you know?
Look for my Instagram orFacebook to find if I'm been
supporting the war, becausethey're trying to do that right
now.
(16:41):
And then, the more our ministrygrew, there was I could no
longer hide behind, you know,behind behind the team, behind
the refugees, because theUkrainians would share, you know
, share my name, share the nameof Immoral Church of Christ, and
I'm representing Christ, christand I'm representing Christ,
(17:03):
and I thought if I would have tosuffer for for his name, he
will take care of it, he willtake care of me and he's been
taking care of me no matter what.
So I, I, um, um, explained,explained to all the refugees
and to my team that, um, I'mgoing.
(17:27):
I would say I'm going public,going public.
I would say that no, there isno reason for me to hide anymore
and, um, I am not planning togo back to russia for any
reasons anytime soon, so I justmade my peace with that and, uh,
my heart is very calm because Iknow that my God is my saver,
is always on my side and he willalways protect me and I'm doing
(17:50):
for his name, so I'll justleave it at that is there a
chance that you'll never seeyour family in Russia again?
If the Putin's regiment willstay and the people in charge of
the government, I accept that apossibility.
I have my dad still back inRussia, my brother, my
(18:16):
grandmother, my grandpa.
I have a lot of relatives backin Russia.
If the regiment stays the sameand it's not going to improve, I
accept the possibility thatprobably will not be able to
come and see them in Russia.
BT Irwin (18:32):
How does that I mean?
How do you carry the weight ofthat realization?
Yulia Merchant (18:37):
That hurts, that hurts a lot, but I think
disciples and apostles sufferedso much for Jesus and and so
much persecution, so I cannotcompare that to them.
So, um, if I will not see myfamily in russia, because I
think we can always meet, likein some neutral countries, um,
(19:00):
if, if.
To that point, however, ifsomebody passes away back in
Russia, I don't think so I willbe able to make it, and I think
that's what kind of like givesme a little.
My throat gets a little tickled, but in the same time I pray
(19:21):
that my family will know Jesusand I will see them again.
BT Irwin (19:25):
Yeah, Well, I'll pray that with you as well.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (19:31):
Thank you.
BT Irwin (19:33):
You didn't choose this ministry and of course we've
told your story in the ChristianChronicle and we interviewed
you last year and we'll linkthat episode in the show notes
so people can go back and listento it.
You didn't really choose thisministry, it chose you.
So how do you think God wantedto form you and what do you
think God wanted to teach youthrough all of this so far?
Yulia Merchant (19:55):
That's a very deep question.
I never really had a chancejust to slow down and look back
and your question was a littlebit like awakening to me.
I didn't, I wasn't reallyquestioning, I was on a go go,
go moment for almost two yearsalready.
So to me it was a very good um,like a reflection, um, um
(20:23):
moment.
I think that, uh, that it'sdefinitely was not something I
planned.
I never planned to be afull-time mom.
I'm working full-time as anurse practitioner and have a
full-time ministry.
It was never on my plan orto-do list and God said Yulia,
(20:48):
you can do it.
I'm going to send you thehusband who can tolerate all
your situations when you'reconstantly on the phone, when
you're maybe not sleepingbecause you're trying to
translate it to somebody.
I'm going to give you the mostpatient husband who can help you
(21:09):
with children and who couldn'ttake that.
So my husband, rob Merchant hehas been my number one in this.
He is a silent warrior in thiswhole because, if not my husband
, I think that's like this verystressful time in our lives was
(21:29):
brought by God to.
I think maybe bring us togetherSometimes bring us apart,
because it sometimes was toomuch, but in the end.
This ministry definitely madeus stronger as a family, as our
marriage.
It's so amazing to serve Rightnow.
My husband is one of theteachers who are teaching Sunday
(21:51):
classes.
It took him a while to get intothis ministry because we were
not sure how long it would last.
We were not sure, like, what isthe ultimate goal, like where
do we go from there?
So God taught me patience.
God taught me love andacceptance of any people who are
(22:15):
asking for help.
But in the same time, itteaches me discernment and um
wisdom because, as I said, weunfortunately cannot help
everybody and um we have to bejust very wise, um and very
loving at the same time.
And, as I said, if we we cannothelp 100%, we're gonna find the
(22:39):
way in the community how we canum connect this person for help
and also just sharing Jesus andbe on fire for Jesus.
I don't think so.
I was so much on a holy like,high on the Holy Spirit, I would
say, because it just keepmoving and moving, and it was
(23:02):
not me.
A lot of people say, oh, youlay your ministry, your ministry
, this your ministry, that thisis God, this is all the Holy
Spirit working, not me.
A lot of people say oh, yulia,your ministry, your ministry,
this, your ministry.
That this is God, this is allthe Holy Spirit working through
me and I was like, how do youhave all this energy?
Like, what coffee are youdrinking?
I'm drinking regular coffee,only one cup a day.
But this is just the HolySpirit working through me.
(23:23):
It's God gives me energy tomaintain and not, you know, not
going crazy.
And of course, it is the church.
It is the church right nowstepping up, stepping in and
taking a lot of load off of alot of me.
And now we have structure, wehave team when a new family
(23:46):
arrives, where they go, who helpthem spiritually, who help them
with the physical needs.
Now we still have ways forimprovement, absolutely.
We're working on mentorshipprograms right now.
We're working on starting,hopefully with Lisa's help, esl
classes.
Starting, hopefully with Lisa'shelp, esl classes.
(24:08):
We just, you know, praying toGod to bless us with funds so we
can start that.
Because language, as I said,it's a cornerstone for people's
success.
BT Irwin (24:18):
Yes.
Yulia Merchant (24:18):
They have good English, they will be able to
have a better career.
So we want to focus in um helppeople to learn English faster,
so so, yeah, that's if peoplewant to support that do.
BT Irwin (24:35):
Do they still make a donation to Memorial Church of
Christ?
Yulia Merchant (24:39):
Yes, so if you would go to
memorialchurchofchristorg andselect donate button, you can
choose benevolence tab and youcan write as a note Ukrainian
ministry fund.
So Ukrainian ministry fund.
It goes directly to theUkrainians.
It goes directly to supporttheir physical needs and then
(25:04):
their spiritual needs.
BT Irwin (25:05):
Good, we'll put a link in the show notes as well.
So, if you want, to support thework you're doing.
They can.
They can do that.
People, I'm sure, are lookingfor places to give their money
during the holiday season.
So, I think we just gave themone.
Well, yulia, thank you forupdating us on all the goings on
with our Ukrainian neighborsand guests, and with yourself,
(25:29):
and I hope it's not a year and ahalf before we hear from you
again.
Yulia Merchant (25:34):
Amen, thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
BT Irwin (25:37):
It's always a pleasure .
Yulia Merchant (25:38):
Thank you, have a good day.
BT Irwin (25:40):
Next we have Alexander Voivoda.
Alexander, his wife Inna andtheir four-year-old son, arter,
arrived in Houston in latesummer 2023.
At the time, inna was 39 weekspregnant.
A little more than three weeksafter arriving, she gave birth
to a son, Mark.
Imagine having a newborn babyin a new city where you can't
speak the language, you don'tknow where you're going to be
(26:01):
able to stay and you don't knowhow you're going to make enough
money to support your family.
It's Christmas time, so thatought to sound familiar to all
of us.
Well, their situation broughtAlexander and Inna into contact
with Memorial Church of Christ,where they received the help
they needed to make it throughthose first hard months.
Alexander is the Ukrainian whofirst told his fellow Ukrainians
(26:23):
that they would host MemorialChurch of Christ for
Thanksgiving, not the other wayaround.
Alexander is here with us now.
Alexander, thank you for makingtime to visit with us today.
Oleksandr Voievoda (26:34):
Thank you, sir, for inviting me.
BT Irwin (26:36):
First of all, congratulations to you on the
birth of your youngest son, Mark.
How is he, and how is the restof your family?
Oleksandr Voievoda (26:44):
Well, thank you.
We are great, thank you.
Mark is growing and developing.
He is a year and two months old.
This seems to be the mostexciting period of a child's
life, when he is interested ineverything, when he explores
(27:05):
everything, when he learns to domany new things.
So we are enjoying this time ofhis childhood.
BT Irwin (27:15):
He was born just after you arrived in Houston, is that
right?
Oleksandr Voievoda (27:20):
Yes, sir, in three weeks after we went to
Houston.
BT Irwin (27:27):
Wow, three weeks.
How old is your?
You have another child.
How old is your other child?
Oleksandr Voievoda (27:34):
He is five years old, five years old.
BT Irwin (27:37):
So take us back to Ukraine.
Where are you from in Ukraineand what is the story of how you
came to Houston Texas?
Oleksandr Voievoda (27:47):
in Ukraine and what is the story of how you
came to Houston, texas?
We arrived in Houston on August22nd.
It was 2023 year, that is, ayear and two months ago.
I'm originally from the city ofManitoba.
It's, unfortunately, stilloccupied by Russian troops.
(28:09):
We have lived in Kiev for thelast eight years.
During the first years of thewar, we were in Ukraine.
In the fall of 2022, theRussians began attacking the
(28:31):
energy infrastructure and ourcities were without electricity,
water and all the amenities ofcivilized life.
There was no internet, nomobile phone service.
It was impossible to work, andthen we left for Poland.
(28:53):
I believed that in three monthswe would be able to return home
, but the war is still going on.
We realized that we need tosettle down for the long term
and decided to go to the UnitedStates.
On the day of the flight, mywife's pregnancy was 36 weeks
(29:19):
and six days this is the maximumperiod allowed for flights and
24 days after I arrived, ouryoungest son, mark, was born.
So this is the story how wemoved to Houston.
BT Irwin (29:37):
Texas.
Wow, so what have you beendoing in Houston?
How have you been adjusting tolife there in Houston?
How have you been adjusting tolife there?
What kind of challenges haveyou had since you landed in
Houston?
Oleksandr Voievoda (29:53):
It's going slower than I imagined.
I continue to improve mylanguage skills and look for
better opportunities to providefor my family.
BT Irwin (30:04):
Did you know English before you came to the United
States?
Oleksandr Voievoda (30:08):
I learned English in the school, but it
was rarely.
We had only one lesson.
It was 35, 35 minutes per week.
So have you understand, it'snot enough for life in United
(30:33):
States.
And when I arrived it wasdifficult to catch the words
which I knew before, which Iknew before, because people say
fast and my ears wasn't used tohear and understand this
(31:03):
language.
BT Irwin (31:04):
Yes, yes, I think we can all understand that.
Any of us who have beenoverseas, somewhere else where
they don't speak English at all,I think we can all understand
what you're going through.
How hard was it to find a placeto live and to find work.
Oleksandr Voievoda (31:23):
It was hard.
We spent the first three weeksto find some apartments where we
can live.
Sponsors help us with alldocuments, and I spent more than
(31:53):
three months before I found myfirst job, my first workplace.
BT Irwin (32:02):
I reckon most people who are listening to this are
not refugees and have never evenimagined that they will be a
refugee and what it would belike if it came to that.
Oleksandr Voievoda (32:21):
What do you think people don't know or
understand about your life rightnow?
Good question, thank you.
I want to note that there's adifference between immigration
(32:52):
and refugee.
Immigration being in hishomeland is in his souls and in
his new dreamland.
A refugee on the country findshimself physically in a new land
and his thoughts and dreams anddesires are connected with home
, his homeland.
An illustration that seems aptto me is as if, after I became
deaf, dumb and also cannot fullyuse my hand, this is due to the
(33:16):
fact that my education, someknowledge and skills are not
relevant for the new country dueto different standards and
rules.
BT Irwin (33:30):
How are your kids doing with this?
I mean, obviously Mark was bornhere.
So Mark is a United Statescitizen because he was born here
.
How is your five-year-old doing?
Oleksandr Voievoda (33:41):
He's doing awesome.
I was surprised how fast hetakes English language and now
he's lot of time with hisAmerican friends and at once,
(34:12):
when I tried to speak with himin English, he said to me Daddy,
I will speak in English withAmericans, let's speak Ukrainian
.
So it was interesting for meand I was surprised because of
his language.
So he seems happy here.
BT Irwin (34:37):
So we reported a story about a Thanksgiving feast, a
very special Thanksgiving feast,at the Memorial Church of
Christ.
It seems like the church wasplanning to host a Thanksgiving
feast for its Ukrainianneighbors, but you said no, we
want to host a Thanksgivingfeast for the church.
(34:59):
How did that idea come to youand why was it so important to
you to do this idea?
Oleksandr Voievoda (35:07):
come to you and why was it so important to
you to do this?
Yes, sir, I expressed this idea, but when I saw the enthusiasm
which the members of ourUkrainian groups responded, I
realized that this idea was kindof hanging in the air.
It reminds me of the scripturethat God, according to His will,
(35:30):
works in us to act and desire.
Organizing a gratitude dinner,an appreciated dinner, for the
volunteers and sponsors of theUkrainian refugee ministry was
important to us because wewanted to show our gratitude to
these people we reallyappreciate for their support.
(35:52):
I see how much this ministrydoes for Ukrainian refugees, for
my people, for them, so we veryappreciate about it.
BT Irwin (36:09):
What do you miss the most about home?
Oleksandr Voievoda (36:15):
Most of all, we miss our family in Ukraine
Of course, our parents, brothers, sisters with their families
and children.
We miss our friends and churchand, of course, we miss our
apartment where we lived andwith which so many pleasant
memories are associated.
BT Irwin (36:37):
What gives you hope these days?
Oleksandr Voievoda (36:39):
Of course we hope about finishing this war,
we pray about it, we dream andwe pray about finishing this war
and we hope so much to see ourfriends who are on the front
(37:02):
line now.
We hope to see them alive andwe worry about it.
BT Irwin (37:24):
Well, so many people in so world are praying for you
and your family, for your entirecommunity there in Houston, and
for Ukraine and Ukrainianseverywhere around the world.
Thank you for sharing yourstory with us today, alexander,
and thank you for everythingyou're doing there for your
community in Houston.
Oleksandr Voievoda (37:42):
Thank you, sir.
We very appreciate it for allof you and for your support us
for Ukraine, for us for Ukraineand for Ukraine.
Thank you.
BT Irwin (37:56):
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Last up, we have LizaShariukabovska, a single mother
of a teenage daughter, sophie.
She fled Ukraine soon afterRussia invaded in 2022.
When she left, she hoped toreturn within a few months.
However, as the war dragged onand intensified, she made plans
to stay away for longer to keepher daughter safe.
(38:17):
That led her to Houston andMemorial Church of Christ.
Lisa grew up Orthodox, but thislast summer she and her
daughter both asked to bebaptized at church camp.
Lisa, thank you for talking tous today.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (38:28):
Thank you for having me.
It's a pleasure.
BT Irwin (38:31):
Okay, so the most important question is where are
you from in Ukraine and what isthe story of how you came to
Houston Texas?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (38:40):
So I'm from a little town in the center
of Ukraine.
It is called Poltava.
It's actually the cradle ofmodern ukrainian language,
really.
So, yes, ivan katlerovsky is afamous writer who wrote in the
yida.
He wrote it on popularukrainian language and he's from
(39:02):
my city, so I'm kind of proudof that.
My city is a city, so I'm kindof proud of that.
My city is a car like culturalcradle of Ukraine and it's very
beautiful, green city.
But I lived in many places inUkraine.
I'm a little bit from Kyivbecause I went to university
there.
I went to Shevchenko University.
(39:22):
I lived in Crimea for some timeand that's why the war started
for me in 2014, when I had toleave my first place of living
in Sevastopol in Crimea.
BT Irwin (39:40):
Yes.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (39:42):
And I've been to US two years and five
months.
I know exactly until this dayhow much time I stay here,
because I guess all this timeI'm praying so much for water to
stop and I'm waiting that maybeI can come back home.
BT Irwin (40:05):
Yes, yes, so you came here two years and five months
ago.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (40:11):
Yes.
BT Irwin (40:12):
And what was it that made you decide that you had to
leave?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (40:17):
You had to come here.
So on the 24th of February thewar started.
I woke up at five o'clock inthe morning when my relatives
called me saying that they'rebombing us and first of all I
couldn't believe because all myAmerican friends were telling me
(40:41):
this from the beginning ofDecember that something is going
to happen.
But I have relatives in Russiaand my grandmas were born in
Russia, and I couldn't believethat.
I couldn't believe thatsomething like this can happen.
I spoke Russian all my life.
I went to Russian school, eventhough Ukraine was independent.
(41:03):
Back then I lived in Crimea andin Sevastopol, the city that is
called the mother of Russiancities.
So I couldn't believe thatsomething like this could happen
.
And then I saw people fleeingfrom Kharkiv, which is 100 miles
(41:24):
away from my city.
All the roads were blocked andwe were sitting in shelter
because we had air raid alarms.
And I had a 13 year old childback then and I was worried
about her safety and I decidedto get evacuated.
BT Irwin (41:51):
How have you been adjusting to living in Houston?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (41:57):
I remember the first week of
adapting was interesting becauseAmerica was always a dream.
Everybody was talking aboutAmerican dream.
I wanted that American dream tohappen and then after a couple
of weeks I understood that youneed a car.
You can't walk like in Europe.
(42:18):
This was the first big shockbecause, we were used to walking
, I wanted people around, Iwanted people to smile to me and
I guess, my neighbors.
They were not aware that theyneed to say hi to people and to
smile.
Yeah, so that was a culturalshock.
And then you need to tell allthe time.
(42:41):
Excuse me, I'm sorry, youcouldn't walk very close to
people because they were lookingstrange at you.
BT Irwin (42:52):
Yes.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (42:53):
Yeah, so we are not like this in Europe.
It was a little bit different.
BT Irwin (42:58):
Americans are used to having their space, that's for
sure.
So you've been in Houston fortwo years now, yes, so obviously
you have adjusted.
What kind of work did youeventually find, and how did you
get on your feet?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (43:19):
It's still difficult.
I guess I was expecting formore because I was a
simultaneous interpreter.
For more because I was asimultaneous interpreter.
I speak six languages fluentlyand I thought that right away I
will find a wonderful job.
I will work for oil and gascompanies, being a personal
(43:40):
assistant to CEO or being asimultaneous interpreter, and
the money will fall from the skyin abundancy by law, by god's
grace.
But I understood that to makeyour way up you need to have
three jobs at the time and thatit's hard.
(44:00):
And first, when I heard that mydirector does deliveries after
her work being a director ofinstitute, For me it was a shock
.
But then I understood that tosurvive in the United States you
need to work hard.
And now I'm working withrefugees as well.
(44:23):
Now I'm a job developer forYMCA International.
BT Irwin (44:44):
Now I'm a job developer for YMCA International
.
So I do you think people who,what do you think people don't
know or don't understand aboutyour life right now?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (44:57):
I was shocked and surprised myself
first, that all your life canenter one backpack, because I
thought you need the fur coat,maybe not the only one.
You need many shoes to survive.
You need a car.
And then I understood that Ican ride a bus, even in Houston,
(45:18):
even if it's dangerous.
I can survive with onetracksuit during a long period
of time until somebody candonate clothes to you.
Of course, this is, I guess, thehardest thing that your life
don't shift it.
(45:39):
And when your child, the firstwords that my daughter was
telling me that Mom, are we poornow?
Words that my daughter wastelling me that, mom, are we
poor now?
So that was the hardest thingfor me that you had to survive
in a new country.
You don't have your own homenow, so you need to pay rent and
I guess that is the mostdifficult part, because you are
(46:02):
working to pay your rent and, byGod's grace, back in Ukraine,
by the age I was 30, I managedto buy my wonderful apartment,
to buy a car and like toestablish my life.
So this thing that your lifewas erased and you need to start
(46:23):
from scratch, from beginning,and you need to prove who you
are.
You need to prove what youdeserve.
That's the hardest thing.
BT Irwin (46:33):
I think one of the things you said in the article
that Bobby Ross Jr wrote.
He came down and met you andwrote the story.
when you go from your homecountry where you, you, you are
well-educated, you arewell-employed, you're doing very
well for yourself and yourfamily and suddenly you're in a
(46:54):
new place where you, you knowyou speak the language, right,
but it's, it's all new, it's alldifferent, and you've had to
work multiple jobs.
From the sound of it, it soundslike it.
It take a hit to your identity,right?
And do you ever want to say topeople here in Houston you know,
(47:19):
hey, I am somebody, right?
Like I'm well-educated, I'm a,know I would.
I'd much rather be back home.
You know, doing what I did thenbe a refugee.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (47:49):
I guess I'm trying not to be depressed
because I believe in God and Godis my hope.
But so there are such days,yeah, and every month I tell
myself no, I'm packing my bags,I'm going back home, like let
the bomb fall on my head, but Iwant to be home, I want to be
with my family, because all myfamily is back there.
And every day I think will Iever see them?
(48:10):
Because, according to ourhumanitarian parole, we're not
allowed to go out of unitedstates.
And yeah, you know all thisindecisiveness, like you think
that is your life, temporary now, or you still need to establish
, or maybe if I go back home Iwill have that better life I had
, or if I work hard here and Ishow myself and I can achieve
(48:36):
something better here, like inthe US.
So all these doubts, they arekilling you sometimes.
And then I guess when you needto start praying, when I need
God to give me wisdom, god giveme hope, god show me the way.
(48:57):
I guess that's what I do.
BT Irwin (49:01):
Well, speaking of God, lisa, you grew up Orthodox, but
when you were baptized atchurch camp, I think would you
be willing to tell us that storyand how you came to the
decision that you wanted to bebaptized.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (49:15):
So I started going to Memorial Church
of Christ one and a half yearago.
It was written in the article,but maybe those who are
listening to this podcast theydon't know.
So we have Ukrainian ministry,and one day Ukrainian ministry
(49:37):
organized a job fair forUkrainians.
I went there to see whatproposals I might get and I
heard Julia and Jeremy so ourchurch members praying and it
really touched my heart that Istarted crying.
And when I got back home onSunday, it was on Saturday, and
on Sunday morning I woke up andlike holy spirit, god, I don't
(49:58):
know some something was tellingme you must go to that church.
But I didn't know anyone'sthere and I didn't have a car.
So I took I took uber and I gotto church.
I listened to their sermon andevery time I have some struggles
or doubts I go to church andthe sermon that day gives a
(50:20):
scripture that opens my eyes.
I don't know how it works.
It's only the Holy Spirit, Iguess.
So it shows me the way.
And that day I met our pastor,david Duncan, and they said they
need an interpreter forUkrainian kids to go to the camp
(50:42):
and I said, ok, I'm not workingright now, I want to volunteer
and I went for one week.
I'm not working right now, Iwant to volunteer and I went for
one week for this summer churchcamp and it was the best week
of my life.
I guess I love I guess the bestpart of it is worship, so the
way we were worshiping it mademe feel so close to God, I guess
(51:06):
.
And so when we got back fromchurch, my daughter got baptized
and we started learning moreabout jesus.
We had bible class with churchmembers every wednesday, every
tuesday with brenda dickinson.
She invited us for dinner andbible study every every tuesday
and I learned more about god,because I guess an Orthodox
(51:27):
church say make you readdifferent books, but not Bible.
And so I really got into it andbut, knowing how the baptism
goes in camp, I wanted to waitfor summer, even though
everybody was telling me are youready to get re-baptized?
Because in Orthodox churches Iwas little, I was four years old
(51:52):
, I still remember that but youjust get sprinkled.
So I wanted to feel thatfeeling in the river, this like
transparent water, like bluewater, like an Indian ocean, I
guess, in that river, and thisfeeling when everybody gathers
and when you are in camp, youare totally separated from this
world, from mundane problems,and you feel the Holy Spirit so
(52:17):
present.
And I wanted to do it onlythere.
And after we got back from campthe same day, hurricane started
in Houston, but I said nothingwill happen to me because I just
got baptized and Holy Spirit iswith me and I had light during
all the week and the internet,yes, and everybody was laughing
(52:40):
at that.
BT Irwin (52:41):
Amen to that.
Thank you for sharing thatstory.
You shared something else withBobby when he was down there.
When you were at church camp,you said that some of the kids
asked you if they should forgiveVladimir Putin for all of the
death and suffering andcrippling damage that his
invasion is doing to yourcountry.
How hard is it for you topractice Jesus's principle that
(53:04):
we must forgive those who harmus and pray for our enemies?
How did you answer theirquestion?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (53:09):
Oh, it's so hard, and I question this
every Bible study we have withany person who teaches.
I ask why innocent children die.
BT Irwin (53:24):
Yes, why do they deserve that when?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (53:26):
is the love of Jesus, of God, why there
is such unfairness in thisworld and it's so difficult.
But I always remember thecommand that Jesus gave us love
your neighbor.
And, like one of my friendsfrom church said, let's not have
(53:50):
hatred.
Let's pray for putin's heart.
So it feels with so much loveto people that he feels so bad
for everything he did.
I guess I add maybe this is notreally christian, but I add I
want his heart to fill with somuch love that he can't live
(54:13):
anymore so it bursts but burstsfrom love I hear you.
I'm sorry I guess that's notchristian I hear you, but very
human, very human I guess we'retrying to be both love and like
Jesus, half man, half saint,half God.
BT Irwin (54:33):
That's true.
You said your grandmothers areRussian.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (54:36):
Yes, they were born in Russia.
BT Irwin (54:38):
Okay, and you have family in Russia.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (54:41):
Yes, I do.
I have my cousins, my distantcousins live there.
BT Irwin (54:45):
How much contact do you have with family back home
or any of your family, Russia,Ukraine?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (54:51):
Uh, I guess, like we're, we're more
close to my Ukrainian family.
Uh, my mom died, unfortunately,but my dad, my aunt, uh, uh, my
, my niece, my cousins, theystill stay in ukraine.
My cousin and my nephew they're, uh, both in military, so they
(55:12):
can't leave ukraine, and theirwife chose to stay with them.
That's hard, because every dayyou are worried for them.
The war still continues, eventhough they don't show it much
in the news right now, because Iguess people get tired of wars
(55:33):
and there are more than 126military conflicts right now in
the world.
But I pray for them, I prayevery day.
We pray for them every Sunday.
We pray for them every Bibleclass we have, so I get God
every Sunday.
We pray for them every Bibleclass we have, so I get God.
Saves them for me to see themone day.
BT Irwin (55:54):
We will all join you in those prayers.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (55:56):
Thank you.
BT Irwin (55:57):
We have an audience around the world, and they will
join you in those prayers.
Lisa, what do you miss the mostabout home?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (56:04):
Oh, my family, my family, to hug them.
Also, our family celebrations,because we are very close and we
celebrate christmas together.
I have birthday on new year'seve uh, so I'm a new year baby,
so it's my birthday.
That is always a bigcelebration and I just miss my
friends.
(56:24):
I miss to go to our favoritecoffee cafe to drink coffee
every morning with them.
Now we're getting together likeand just.
I want to touch everything thatis my apartment.
I want to sleep in my bed, Iwant to have the smell of my
pillow, I have a fur coat that Iwant to wear and all my life my
(56:47):
mom was telling me that I wasborn in the wrong country
because I don't like cold, butliving in Houston now, and it
was my dream to live in thecountry where it's always warm,
but now I guess I miss snow, butonly for a couple of days.
So I can change my wardrobe.
BT Irwin (57:04):
So what gives you hope these days?
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (57:10):
You know , when I started learning bible,
uh, my favorite maybe uh versefrom scripture was psalm 23 lord
is my shepherd and I will lacknothing.
So I guess he gives me hope andI believe, even though I don't
have a job or it can be hard, Iknow that he promised that I
(57:35):
will like nothing if I'm withhim and I get.
All this love keeps me goingand the hope.
And so sometimes, when in thisadjustment to life as a refugee,
every time I go to church andlisten to sermon, it tells me
(57:58):
the fruit of the spirit or onlygod is our hope.
So, and when he's your hope,you don't care about material
things, you don't care about ifyou have a job or not, you don't
care because he will provide.
So I believe in him and Ibelieve in everything he gives
(58:20):
me and I'm surrounded bywonderful church family right
now and I have new friends andelders of my church.
They tell me maybe he broughtyou here, so you need to show
jesus to other people and I'mtrying to do that even to my
orthodox family back in ukraine.
(58:41):
Now I'm preaching and alsobecause, like women don't preach
in our church.
So according to the Bible, wetry to stay with the laws of the
Bible.
But because I interpretsimultaneously, so I guess I'm
preaching to all the Ukrainians.
(59:04):
Back with my earphones andmicrophone.
BT Irwin (59:09):
I hear your testimony now and so does everyone
listening to this.
So, liza, thank you for tellingyour story, sharing it with us,
and, like I said last time Ichecked, people in 117 nations
and territories listen to thisshow, and so, wherever your
voice is heard right now aroundthe world, including the Russian
Federation, I'll add prayingfor you and your family and your
(59:34):
church, and we will all bepraying for you.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (59:39):
Thank you so much.
BT Irwin (59:41):
Thank you.
Liza Sharii-Yukabovska (59:41):
Thank you for that, god bless.
BT Irwin (59:44):
God bless you.
Thank you for listening tothese stories today and thank
you once again to Yulia Merchant, alexander Voevoda and Liza
Sharyukovska for sharing theirstories with all of us.
Around the world, we pray forthe end of the war in their
country and for their safereturn home, but even more we
pray for the return of ourChrist, the Prince of Peace, who
(01:00:05):
will forever do away with thepowers and principalities that
cause the suffering of billions.
Come Lord Jesus.
Come Once again.
Listener.
Check the show notes for linksto the Christian Chronicles
coverage of how the invasion andwar in Ukraine are affecting
Church of Christ congregationsand members around the world.
You'll also find links for howyou can help those in need if
(01:00:27):
God gives you a cheerful heartand so moves you.
We hope that something youheard in this episode encouraged
, enlightened or enriched you insome way.
If it did, please pay itforward.
Subscribe to this podcast andshare it with a friend.
Recommend and review itwherever you listen to your
favorite podcasts.
Your subscription,recommendation and review help
us reach more people.
(01:00:47):
Podcasts your subscription,recommendation and review.
Help us reach more people.
Please send your comments,ideas and suggestions to podcast
at christianchronicleorg anddon't forget our ministry to
inform and inspire Christiansand congregations around the
world is a non-profit ministrythat relies on your generosity.
So if you like the show and youwant to keep it going and make
it better, please make atax-deductible gift to the
(01:01:08):
Christian Chronicle atchristianchronicleorg.
Until next time, may grace andpeace be yours in abundance.
Holly Linden (01:01:17):
The Christian Chronicle Podcast is a
production of the ChristianChronicle Inc.
Informing and inspiring Churchof Christ congregations, members
and ministries around the worldsince 1943.
The Christian ChroniclesManaging Editor is Audrey
Jackson, editor-in-chief BobbyRoss Jr and President and CEO
(01:01:38):
Eric Trigestad.
The Christian Chronicle Podcastis written, directed, hosted
and edited by BT Irwin and isproduced by James Flanagan in
Detroit, michigan.
And.
Edited by BT Irwin and isproduced by James Flanagan in
Detroit, Michigan, usa.
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