Update from Dr. Lev

by Pastor Jerry Theckston

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God’s blessings and grace over your precious lives dear friends!  Our postings have been sporadic but I am so impressed by the brothers and sisters around the World who continue checking in, in order to know how the various servants of the Lord are doing!

Below is the latest update from our dear brother Dr. Lev Prystupiuk.  We have been walking together in Christ since he was 12 years old - now he is a medical doctor and the European Union’s representative for stroke education and program development throughout many of the former Soviet Union Countries and beyond!

He is a critical partner in my own ministry and a tremendous gift to everyone who knows him…

Shalom dear Jerry,

Thank you, dear brother, for your kind words, your steadfast support, and your constant prayers. I am truly grateful to our Lord God for you, for Sue, and for all those close to you who stand with us in prayer and love.

By God’s grace and through your faithful intercession, our Shepherd continues to give us the privilege to serve Him by reflecting His love to others, by showing them what it means to love like Christ and to live in His love. I’d be honored to share a short update with you and all the dear saints who are praying for us.

This morning, Thursday, April 24th, was a painful reminder of the reality we live in. Dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles were launched across Ukraine, including Kyiv. More than 10 people lost their lives, and over 100 civilians were seriously injured, including children. Many residential buildings were damaged or destroyed. Yet, by God’s mercy, my family and our entire church family were kept safe, protected from both missiles and shrapnel. Praise be to God for His shield over us.

Since 2022, and continuing into 2025, we’ve been regularly traveling to de-occupied frontline areas in Eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. There, we offer medical help to those living in remote villages where even basic medicine is inaccessible, and proper healthcare is a distant hope. But our mission is not only about physical healing, it’s about showing and sharing the love of Jesus Christ. For many people, the greatest comfort isn’t the medication or the consultations, it’s the fact that we remember them, comes to them, stands with them, and brings the Word of God. Mercy, compassion, and love, this is what truly heals those who have lost their homes, their loved ones, and their peace.

By the grace of God, I also had the opportunity earlier this year to serve in Kenya and Kyrgyzstan, helping to develop systems for stroke care. In Kenya, there’s no single emergency number, hospitals are overwhelmed, and there’s no unified protocol for stroke response. We worked at various levels, conducting hospital trainings and building pathways to improve care. Kyrgyzstan, one of the poorest countries in Central Asia, faces similar challenges. But there too, people need both medical and spiritual help. And just last week, we returned from another mission trip to the East of Ukraine, once again serving those wounded and weary from this ongoing war.

I am sincerely thankful to our Lord and to all of you for your unwavering prayers. Know that you are always in mine as well. And I continue to pray that God would grant us another opportunity to serve together, side by side, here in Ukraine, to show and share the love of Christ with all our beloved people.

With deep love in Christ,

Lev