Marking A Year of War in Ukraine Under the Arch

On Friday, February 24, a year to the day since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a group of Ukrainians gathered at the St. Louis Arch grounds. They joined in solidarity to share their stories, to celebrate their culture, and to pray for their people and an end to the violence in their homeland.

 

 

The "Uniting for Ukraine" Experience: Guide & Resources

Last Update: 5/27/2025

▸ NOTE: The Uniting for Ukraine program is indefinitely suspended as of January 2025. Portions of this article may still be helpful for anyone serving refugees as presently allowed, especially regarding Anticipating Basic and Ongoing Needs.

▸ Before You Read On: If you would like to assist a Ukrainian family, we welcome you to join us in supporting our previously sponsored friends by giving at onrealm.org/chatham/give. Simply select "Missions" from the drop menu and designate to "Ukrainian family" in the memo line.

You can also help support a family that relocated more recently at jcpchurch.org/prokhodov.

Thank you for your support and prayers!

▸ Read and hear more of our story as featured on St. Louis Public Radio.

A few months ago, I shared an article regarding the war in Ukraine and the need to process this event biblically and prayerfully. Such processing should also move us to action as the Lord directs and allows. Consequently, I now find myself, along with my church, in a unique position to directly support Ukrainian friends via the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program.

Having walked through the process of sponsorship, I continue to learn the many complexities of navigating the U4U humanitarian parole program and assisting beneficiaries in the best ways possible. Below, I’ve documented various steps of the program, plus requirements and considerations for sponsors and refugees, in part as a guide for anyone who would like to serve and support Ukrainians through the present crisis.

Since I was able to co-sponsor this family with my church, I am also hopeful some details might provide a model for other churches wishing to serve immigrant and refugee families. A new and similar group model for refugees from other nations is being launched at welcomecorps.org. And I will continue to provide any appropriate updates as we continue learning ways to navigate government systems while monitoring program updates.

What is Uniting for Ukraine?
Per the Uniting for Ukraine page: “Uniting for Ukraine provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily in a two-year period of parole. Ukrainians participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States.”

My answer might be: “Uniting for Ukraine is quite an experience.” It’s also an unexpected privilege. I want to begin by encouraging all who are already engaged in this process, along with those considering getting involved with Ukrainian refugees as we welcome them into the U.S. Thank you for your willingness to serve those in need.

Topics are broken into the following sections below:

▸ HELPFUL RESOURCES
▸ THE FORM I-134 APPLICATION PROCESS
▸ FLIGHTS AND TRAVEL
▸ ANTICIPATING BASIC AND ONGOING NEEDS
▸ NAVIGATING GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS AND SYSTEMS
▸ THE BEST ADVICE: BE PATIENT

last place... on earth

"And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." -Jesus, Matthew 20:27-28


I have a friend who frequently comes around to help out at church. He never complains about any task. Instead, most of the time he's coming up with all sorts of projects and ideas and things to be done around the facility. He's humorous and loves to talk about scientific things, especially the mechanics of weather. He's just a very friendly and energetic guy.

Did I mention this friend of mine has what one might call a "developmental disability?"

No kidding. And he's not entirely certain just what that "disability" is. It might be autism. It might be something else. He's apparently never been given an official diagnosis. Either way, it's something he has to deal with.

Now some might feel sorry for this friend of mine, having such a condition to contend with. But as I, with my 4.5+ years of college and "above average" I.Q., work with this young man, it's become quite clear to me that he's not the one we need to feel sorry for.

See, nothing is too base for him. There's no job he'll turn down. Pick up garbage in the parking lot? No problem. Put away the letters for the sign out front—the job nobody wants? He's on it. "It's good to stay busy," he says, and happily carries on with his task.

A few months back we decided to spruce up the place for Good Friday and Resurrection Day. As we were organizing the worship center, he decided the balcony glass needed to be cleaned. I told him he didn't have to do that, but he wouldn't hear of it. He said that glass needed to be cleaned, and he was gonna do it up right.

At one point, as I decided to cut him loose and get back to some things I needed to finish, he turned to me and said, "This is good. We're cleaning for God!" (1 Corinthians 10:31 anyone?)

Yeah. He's got it right. All I can say is this guy is way ahead of me when it comes to having a servant's heart. And as I still have a lot to learn, he apparently has plenty to teach—whether he realizes it or not.

Praise the Lord for lessons from the "least likely" sources.


"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."
-1 Corinthians 1:26-28