"Sponsorship in Action: Welcoming a Student from Ukraine"
On Sunday, July 27, Memorial Presbyterian Church had the joy of welcoming Danya, a high school student from Ukraine, sponsored through the ministry This Child Here.
Danya is currently attending high school in North Georgia, and during his visit, he graciously shared some of his story with our congregation. He explained that he is from Kherson and that he lived there under Russian occupation at the beginning of the war.
He also mentioned glimpses of everyday life in his new environment—trying tacos and sweet tea for the first time, watching football for the first time, and continuing his passion for competitive swimming.
Danya’s courage, hope, and sense of humor reminded us of the deep strength and spirit found in young people facing staggering challenges. His parents and younger sister remain in Ukraine, and we hold them all in our prayers.
As a church, we are grateful to be part of Danya’s story through our support of This Child Here, a ministry that lives out the calling of Jesus’ words:
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” —Matthew 18:5 (NRSV)
We give thanks for the chance to welcome Danya and to witness how God is at work across borders, building bridges of compassion and care.
"The most effective long-term healing comes from relationships within a community of love and support. That experience is essential to healthy childhood development and for the emotional health of adults. That's what we do. At the end of this war, the families who have been a part of the work of This Child Here will move ahead with life and decisions with far more ease and self-confidence than others."
---This Child Here
