KYIV, UKRAINE — When Rabbi Boris Grisenko took the bold step to continue their services at Kyiv Jewish Messianic Congregation, despite the war due to the Russian invasion, he had no idea of the global impact it would have. Since the conflict began more than a million people have joined their Shabbat services online. Despite so many people evacuating Kyiv hundreds have been risking their lives each week to keep attending their services.

Before the Russian invasion the world’s largest Jewish Messianic Congregation saw at least 2,000 people regularly gathering for their services in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Despite the war the congregation has continued their weekly Shabat Services with hundreds taking major risks to attend each week. Their Rabbi Boris Grisenko has been overwhelmed by how their congregation is continuing to impact so many lives not just in Kyiv but also around the world.

Rabbi Boris Grisenko – KJMC:

More and more people were evacuating and the number of people at our Shabbat services was growing. Many people who watched the first Shabbat online they were encouraged and they understood something important about God and their spiritual Jewish family.

Rabbi Boris concluded by sharing the emotional moment when many of the children they’d been housing in their offices left for Western Ukraine.

Rabbi Boris:

These children who experience a terrible thing in their childhood, they were praying, they were worshiping, they were dancing, they were celebrating Purim here with all our people.

And in the midst of the war Kyiv Jewish Messianic Congregation remains steadfast in bringing ongoing hope and peace in these difficult times.

About KJMC

Kiev Jewish Messianic Congregation (KJMC) was born shortly after first Festival of Jewish Music and Dance, organized by the mission “Hear, O Israel!” (Jonathan Bernis), which took place in Ukraine in 1994. Boris Grisenko has been the rabbi (pastor) of KJMC from the very beginning. Rabbi Boris was also the Vice Chairman of the Ukrainian Interchurch Council and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Theology from CLST (Christian Life School of Theology). KJMC has grown over the years and today numbers more than 2,000 people. The congregation is comprised of Jews and non-Jews, all of whom have accepted the Lord Yeshua ha’Mashiach (Jesus Christ).

The KJMC vision is focused largely on the revival of the Jewish people, including:

• So that every Jew would know his Messiah
• The unity in the Body of the Messiah to be restored
• To break free of non-Biblical extremes of Judaism and Christianity
• To bring about freedom from anti_semitism, indifference, and other non-Biblical attitudes as well as freedom from Humanism and occult spirituality

Read more news on Faith Based Organizations, Ukraine, and Russia on Missions Box.