September 17, 2026 - Osmar Medina

There was a time when Hery* couldn't run. At 14 years old, he remembers being too weak to keep up with other children. He loved soccer, but his body simply didn't have the strength to play. Food was often scarce at home, and after losing his father, his mother struggled even more to provide for the family.

"I was really weak and I could not run," Hery shared.
 

For more than four years, the war in Ukraine has disrupted nearly every aspect of daily life. Families have been separated, homes destroyed, jobs lost, and communities forced to navigate constant uncertainty. In the midst of these challenges, local Nazarene churches are responding by providing both practical assistance and Christ-centered care. Along with food, emergency relief, and other tangible support, churches are creating spaces where people can find prayer, encouragement, discipleship, and a community that walks with them through the hardships of war.

A small team of Nazarenes traveled from Bangkok, Thailand, to Mae Sot (near the border with Myanmar) in early 2026 with a simple purpose: to be present with refugee families—to listen, pray, and serve.

The team included Pastor Dan (regional child development coordinator), Pastor Phanom (district superintendent), a South East Asia (SEA) missionary couple, and global partners Britney Blackburn, Bejelyn Banguis, and Misty Greiyer. Upon arrival, they met with local leaders for orientation and prayer, preparing to step onto sacred ground.

When Plans Changed

Through the 2025 Christmas Project, individuals and churches helped support Nazarene schools in Lebanon and Jordan, creating spaces where children could learn, grow, and experience care within the life of the church.

"My name is Seliyan. I live with my wife and our two children in a rural village. Before this disaster, life was not easy, but we managed. I am a farmer and also work as a day laborer whenever work is available. Like many families around us, we had small vegetable gardens and livestock, which helped us earn a basic income. My wife works only occasionally, so most of the responsibility to provide for the family was on me. Even though our income was limited, we were able to meet our daily needs through farming, selling milk, and daily labor work.

Hawaiʻi is experiencing its worst flooding in more than 20 years after back-to-back storm systems drenched the state. Some areas received more than 30 inches of rain within five days’ time. Floodwaters have washed out roads, causing ongoing transportation disruptions, including repeated flight delays and cancellations. More than 5,000 people were evacuated north of Honolulu, and thousands lost power. On the island of Hawaiʻi, Kahului Church of the Nazarene sustained roof and interior damage. Recovery across the state is only beginning.

Today, February 24, 2026, marks the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine. What has brought trauma, displacement, grief, and ongoing hardship has also opened doors for local churches to share the hope and comfort of Christ with their neighbors. In the midst of crisis, congregations across Ukraine have become places of refuge, prayer, and practical care strengthened by the generosity of the global Church.

"We don't know how fast things are changing or where to turn for help." 

The local pastor who shared this reality is just one of many clergy members in the eastern provinces of the Democrat Republic of the Congo impacted by an ongoing, immense humanitarian crisis.

The longest interstate highway in the United States is Interstate 90. The highway runs from Seattle to Boston and neatly divides the state of New York. In the middle of that state’s span, just off interchange 34, sits the village of Canastota, NY, which has a population of 4,556.

January 12, 2020, will forever be etched in the memories of the residents of Batangas province in the Philippines. Taal Volcano, a picturesque natural wonder surrounded by a serene lake and a favorite tourist attraction, transformed from a tranquil beauty into a source of unimaginable destruction. The volcano, known for its deceptive calm, had been silently building pressure. And on that fateful day, it erupted with brutal force.