Lika Roman’s courage and commitment to sharing her faith with others have brought a silver lining to the crisis in Ukraine.
Roman, who partners with ReFrame Ministries’ Russian-language outreach, was living in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, when it was attacked by Russian troops in February 2021.
As Roman fled Kyiv, she said that one thought kept popping into her mind: “I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to go through this without knowing God.”
That thought has helped Roman with each of her moves since that initial attack. After fleeing to Poland, she watched as young families, elderly women, and lone children arrived in the refugee camp where she was staying. Though she did not have much to offer them physically, Roman knew she had something else she could give.
Roman used most of her time and her love for people to share her own faith story, both in person and to her large following on social media.
Three Generations
When a family of three generations—a grandmother, her two daughters, and four young children—arrived at the refugee camp, they carried a familiar expression of fear and uncertainty.
“They didn’t know anyone, so they were especially vulnerable to being harmed and even to sex trafficking,” Roman said. “They needed everything, but the thing they needed most was Jesus.”
The family accepted Roman’s offer of prayer, and they shared that they would soon be leaving by bus to Finland. After Roman prayed with them, the family decided to commit their lives to Jesus—right at that moment, while sitting on their temporary mattresses at the refugee camp.
A few days later, Roman received a call from one of the women in that family. Their bus had gotten into a terrible accident on the way to Finland, but because she knew God was with her, the woman could sense God’s protection.
Now in a hospital in a part of the world they didn’t know, the family felt scared. But Roman was able to send a pastor to pray with them again.
“It's amazing how big the family of believers we have around the globe is,” Roman said. “It's amazing to see how God is working through all these believers—through each and every one of us.”
That Large Body of Believers Includes the CRC
While Roman cherishes her opportunities to meet with people face to face, she knows she can also share her gospel messages online and reach many more people who need to hear them.
Through ministry shares, church offerings, and individual support for ReFrame’s Russian-language ministry, Roman’s messages have reached people caught in the crosshairs of war—those in Ukrainian bomb shelters or in their homes during raids as well as those who have fled to nearby countries.
“Praise God that these people still have their internet and their phones,” Roman said. “I’ve been able to have personal meetings, livestreams on Facebook, and opportunities to reach people who need our support, prayers, and words of hope.”
About the Author
Brian Clark, ReFrame Ministries
