Missionary Abducted In Ukraine

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Christians expressed mounting concern Friday about the whereabouts of a missing missionary abducted in Ukraine by invading Russian troops.

Valentina Naumovich, 61, was kidnapped on February 25, when Russian tanks rolled into her Ukrainian village, Orlovsky, in the Donetsk region, several Christians said.

Naumovich was affiliated with the Far-Reaching Ministries group and Orphan’s Promise of the U.S.-based Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).

Eyewitnesses said they saw soldiers throw a black bag over her head as they abducted her. “A woman who knew Valentina reportedly betrayed her to the Russian troops when they arrived in town, telling them that Valentina was helping the Ukrainians,” CBN added.

The missionary had reportedly been distributing food to people hiding in bomb shelters, as well as Ukrainian soldiers.

“She was the keeper of the village, the main philanthropist, who knew about the pain and need of every resident, and every adult, respectively, knew her,” said Far Reaching Ministries.

LOVE AND LIGHT

“She gave love and light, worked in the Emmanuel projects. She distributed food and bread to the hungry and preached the gospel to the desperate,” Far Reaching Ministries told the God Reports news service.

When Russian troops drove into her village in tanks, her acquaintance – apparently a Russian sympathizer or a Russian plant, allegedly shouted: “My dear ones, how long I have been waiting for you!”

“This same person informed the Russians that Valentina had been an accomplice of the Ukrainian military – “the right hand of a military chaplain,” Christians said.

Her supposed transgression had been carrying food to hungry Ukrainian soldiers in icy trenches, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Two weeks after her abduction, Chaplain Yevgeny’s phone rang, Christian said. Her exhausted voice informed him she was being held captive. Since that time, there has been no word, Far Reaching Ministries added.

“It’s not very promising right now. Our team is starting to fear the worst because there’s just been some bad stuff on the ground,” Far Reaching Ministries told God Reports.

TARGETING CIVILIANS

“It’s so troubling because they have been targeting civilians, especially in the Kyiv area, but other areas. One lady we have in one of our missionary’s homes right now observed the military coming in and literally shooting civilians, women, children, older men. And she is just absolutely traumatized,” the group added.

Moscow has denied it deliberately targets civilians despite footage and witnesses reporting escalating attacks.

Far Reaching Ministries urged believers referred to as “the body of Christ” to pray “because this is bigger than us.”

It stressed that “We need to have people who are truly trained and skilled that can go into an environment like that, that love Jesus, and don’t want to go in there just to be superheroes.”

The challenge of the moment is vast. “How do we take care of all the refugees? It’s still winter, “ the group noted, adding that a missionary in Georgia tries to buy kids socks and jackets.

“And it’s just overwhelming. So, if the body of Christ wants to do something, we need 24-hour prayer, and we need millions of dollars at $5 increments.”

What is more, “We need Christians leaning into this because this is one of the worst things ever happened in our lives.”

Latest Worthy News