BAKERSFIELD, CA — This month, CityServe International will have a grand opening for their new CityServe Family Center in Kyiv, Ukraine. In partnership with churches in Ukraine, this family center will serve to heal the multi-generational trauma of a war that has already claimed over 20,000 Ukrainian lives, including many civilians. The grand opening ceremony will be held on Thursday, August 17 at the family center in Kyiv.
The ceremony will be hosted by CityServe International and CityServe Europe. Giving Hope Foundation co-founder Troy Duhon, and Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty Fame, will also be in attendance to mark the occasion.
“The trauma suffered by these children and their families is hard to even comprehend,” said CityServe co-founder Dave Donaldson.“As we’ve personally seen how war has affected American servicemembers in just the past two decades, the emotional injuries are just as real as the physical ones. And many of those enduring the horrors of war right now are non-combatants like young mothers and their children. It’s crucial to bring local churches in Ukraine together to provide trauma care for these families in need.”
Dave Donaldson will be leaving for Ukraine this weekend to help spearhead training for a trauma care conference that will coincide with the launch of the Family Center. He will be available for interviews before, during, and after his trip to discuss this new endeavor in Ukraine.
In collaboration with Giving Hope, Pentecostal European Churches, Save Ukraine, and the Ukraine Pentecostal Churches, the CityServe Family Center will serve individuals and families who have been devastated by the Russian invasion with trauma care and rehabilitation. The Family Center will also provide training for Ukrainian pastors and their spouses in these areas.
“These pastors are quite literally serving communities on the frontlines,” remarked Pelle Hornmark, Chairman of CityServe Europe. “Some of their neighborhoods have endured nightly artillery fire and drone attacks. Entire blocks have been decimated.
“The pastors told us they desperately needed a refuge,” he added, “a place where widows, orphans, and veterans of war could receive the proper care and support they require. Now the CityServe Family Center in Kyiv is opening its doors, helping Ukraine’s churches be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need.”
The CityServe Family Center will empower churches to provide a safe and stable environment with:
- Hot meals
- Medical care
- Counseling
- Psychological trauma recovery
- Christian education
- Extracurricular activities
“This Family Center is a fulfillment of Jesus’ declaration in Luke 4 that he was sent to heal the brokenhearted,’” said Karl Hargestam, Vice President of CityServe Affiliates. “That’s precisely what the center will do. The whole world is witness to the spirit of tenacity, resilience, and courage of the people of Ukraine. It’s our profound honor to come alongside them to lend a helping hand to those who’ve sacrificed so much.”
CityServe’s efforts in Ukraine over the past 18 months have won the support of two leading figures in the entertainment world: Willie Robertson, the star of the record-setting reality TV show Duck Dynasty, and Troy Duhon, co-founder of Giving Hope Foundation and executive producer of God’s Not Dead. They’re traveling to Kyiv to participate in the opening of the Family Center in part to acknowledge the costly and valiant battle Ukrainians have waged to win back their freedom.
Donaldson added, “We’re incredibly grateful for Willie Robertson, Troy Duhon, Giving Hope, and all those who’ve made this CityServe Family Center possible. This place will serve as a lighthouse for the Ukrainian people, demonstrating that recovery has already begun and that hope for a brighter future awaits. Long after the final gunshot, this family center will be saving lives and healing hearts for generations to come.”
The Family Center’s unique facilities will include:
- A family-centric children’s home for orphans, providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment
- A training center for pastors and counselors helping families heal from the wounds of war
- Care for veterans returning home, many of whom suffer from PTSD
The international division of CityServe, a faith-based non-profit organization in Bakersfield, California, has built a network of over 6,700 churches across Europe and Ukraine, mobilizing them to provide humanitarian relief and comfort to those whose lives have been shattered by war.
About CityServe
CityServe International is a collaborative network of churches and community leaders who help those in need live better lives. CityServe empowers the local church to fulfill its purpose to overcome despair and transform lives by resourcing them with tangible goods and capacity building. CityServe brings the church to the table to address community challenges by offering long-lasting relationships that lead to transformation and has been designated a “Community of Faith and Opportunity” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Source: JDA Worldwide, Official Website