Around the World
INSTE in Ukraine
By Tammy Swailes
Having served more than twenty years living in Ukraine and working with INSTE in the churches, I’ve gotten to know many of the several thousand INSTE students. (INSTE is an affordable distance-education discipleship and leadership development course.) Although their church backgrounds and locations are diverse, one thing these students all have in common now is that their lives were forever changed on February 24, 2022, the day the war began in Ukraine.
Behind each news headline chronicling the daily developments of the war are hundreds, thousands, even millions of other stories behind the headline. Some among our Open Bible family have inquired about the INSTE students there. Many never left their homes and are either serving their country as volunteers delivering humanitarian aid to the needy in their neighborhoods and across the country or protecting the citizens of their cities. Many students are scattered throughout Europe living as refugees, waiting until it is safe to return. Others are attempting to shelter in their homes, which have become part of occupied territories they no longer can flee. Others have escaped with little more than their lives from bombings that have laid waste their homes and cities, making them refugees as well.
Each have stories, but not all are ready to tell their stories. For many it is not yet safe or appropriate (under martial law) to give details. Here are the experiences of a couple of our INSTE friends:
One mother from Ukraine wrote this account:
War is death; it is fear! Not only for yourself – fear for your children, family, parents, and friends. Fear of losing everything and everyone. And of course, fear for your life, realizing that we have but one life here on earth. These are not just words; these are experienced feelings.
I never thought that all this would happen to my family and me. My grandfather went through World War II. He won that war. History is repeating itself now with his granddaughter. The only difference is that “our brothers” went to war against us. It’s horrible. It is impossible to understand or accept.
Our former life stopped on February 24 at half past four in the morning. I was awakened by a strong explosion as the whole house shook. My son ran into the room shouting, “Mom, get up. We are being bombed!”
He was trembling with fear. I thought, “It can’t be. No, it’s not real. People cannot do this. We live in the 21st century. How?!”
I jumped up. Outside the window everything was aglow. The airfield and other places were on fire. I cannot describe specifics further because we live in a military town. I couldn’t believe this was war. I didn’t want to accept it. We quickly grabbed our clothes and documents and ran to my parents’ home. Although I am 40 years old, I found myself calmer next to them.
My husband was on a business trip at the time. I didn’t know what to do or how to continue to live. I was sobbing as I began to close up my house. I thought, “This is my life, a house built with our own hands, animals that we love very much…. But the life of our children is more important. Should we run? Where? How? How can we leave it all? This is mine, beloved and dear to my heart. I can’t give it up. I don’t want to.”
It was like tearing out your heart and forcing yourself to move on. It was very scary and painful. Prayer was soothing. My boys supported me, and in the end, we decided not to leave our home. We will endure and persevere here! This is our land, our homes, our families. We will not give them away to anyone. Our life will never be the same again. I ask God for victory! I know He will help.
The second response came from a student in central Ukraine:
I’m very happy tonight because my nephew and his entire frontline unit received things that we lovingly collected for them. We were able to raise the necessary money to buy them 19 new uniforms, berets, T-shirts, sweaters, caps, underwear, and socks. Additionally, we provided them with a thermal imager, night vision equipment, gun silencers, tactical knives, and a machine gun stand. Some people donated sleeping bags, backpacks, food, and medicine. Also, a local mission donated the use of their bus, gasoline, and a brave driver who delivered it all directly to the front.
What do I want to say? Together we are strong! I have always known that wonderful people live around me, but I didn’t know how many! This time of trouble has united us. Within ten minutes of making our desire to help our soldiers known, we started to receive responses. Someone I had never met handed me 19 sleeping bags, moving me to tears!
We are a great nation! We are defending our land and this war is personal, so we must not be defeated. The soldiers fighting on the frontlines are not other people’s children; they are all our children. And you must know that the Ukrainian mother will break the whole world for them.
These are just two short stories from our INSTE students. There are many more stories to be heard. Over time we will sit and listen to them retell their stories. They must be heard.
Until then we must pray. Use the news headlines as fodder for your prayer, knowing that real people with real families with real lives behind the headlines depend on your prayers.
(Above) Some beautiful scenes of Ukraine before the war.
About the Author
Tammy Swailes, is the European Director for INSTE. She lives with a Ukrainian family in Ukraine but gets to work on various projects with INSTE around the world. Currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Intercultural Studies, Tammy loves black and white photography, languages, and meeting people from different cultures. Her life’s passion is to help the Church more effectively fulfill the Great Commission.
In parts of Nigeria today, land is no longer just a livelihood – it’s a battleground. In search of increasingly scarce water and grazing land, semi-nomadic Muslim herdsmen are moving their flocks south into areas already inhabited by Christian farmers. This encroachment has intensified conflict, resulting in thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, increased kidnappings, and deepening ethnic tensions. This is the environment in which Open Bible’s ministry continues day after day.
Despite these challenges, the Gospel is advancing.
Okon Obot, Open Bible’s Superintendent in Nigeria, shared the following story with me:
Recently we held an evangelistic crusade in one of the affected regions. Despite security concerns, people came looking for hope and peace. Evangelistic crusades remain a powerful and effective way to share the Gospel in village communities where fear and uncertainty are a part of daily life.
The theme of the crusade was “Arise and Shine,” and over 300 people gathered. By the end, sixteen people had given their lives to Jesus and fifteen were immediately baptized and welcomed into the church, each a testimony to God’s faithfulness.
A high point of the crusade was the reconciliation of a family of brothers divided for five years. Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God was shared, they chose forgiveness and were restored to one another. They returned to their homes with joy and peace.
In response to God’s work in their lives, the brothers donated a large piece of property in their village, Mbabuu, for the construction of a church building.
This is where the 2026 Global Harvest Offering, “Build Hope for Africa,” comes in. When we reach our goal of $200,000, Nigeria will be one of the recipients. Open Bible will partner directly with Pastor Okon to build a new church building in a place like the village Mbabuu.
This is more than a construction project – it is the next step of what God is doing. Despite hardship, churches in Nigeria are growing and new buildings are needed to serve expanding congregations and reach their communities.
Your gift to “Build Hope for Africa” can help provide a visible witness of Jesus in a region marked by instability and equip local leaders like pastor Okon to continue evangelizing where the need is great.
In a place where land is fought over, God continues to build His Church!
Snapshots of the vibrant ministry happening in Nigeria:
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Have you ever wondered, What in the world are our Open Bible missionaries doing now? We wish we could visit every church or sit down over coffee and share what God is doing where we serve—but that isn’t always possible.
So this month, we’ve gathered brief notes from missionaries around the world. As you’ve read these updates from around the world, we invite you to pray for our missionaries—their families, their ministries, and the communities they serve. Please also share these stories with your church so others can join in prayer.
Use the interactive map below to see the updates:
Trouble seeing the map? Click HERE
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Ask Open Bible pastors in Africa what the biggest problem in their church is and most reply with one word: REVIVAL! Just as Saul once ravaged the early church in Acts 8, our African brothers today face similar conditions: harassment, arrest, and even death for following Christ. But in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations. They’re calling for our help, not to alleviate the suffering, but to build new church facilities to serve their expanding congregations and communities.
The Global Harvest Offering of 2026 is “Building Hope in Africa,” and it is our opportunity to participate in this revival. In this initiative, we will partner with our missionaries and national directors to fund thirteen new church building projects across the continent. God is using faithful missionaries and nationals to plant churches, raise leaders, and reach communities with the hope only found in Jesus!
… in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations.
Our missionary partners are many: the Godwins, the Kopps, the Parkers, Okon Obot, Peter Mahoye, the Moores, the Welches, and our brothers and sisters throughout the Antioch Network.
Thirteen churches.
Thirteen countries.
One goal:
to raise the $200,000 needed to
cover the costs for all thirteen projects.
With over 230 Open Bible churches in the United States, we can meet the financial goal of the Global Harvest Offering if each church gives $875. Alternatively, just 2,000 people giving $100 this year would meet the goal. Your support in this effort helps build more than walls; it builds hope, community and the Kingdom of God. Look for the QR code or this link to give to Building Hope in Africa today. Thank you for your partnership to build hope for Africa.
