Canadians Impacted by Stories from War Torn Ukraine
- S1WM Marketing
- May 28
- 4 min read
By Joe Proulx
Natalia and Nikolai Chernomor are partnered with us here at Square One World Media through the work they do at The Bible Today studio (based in Zhovti Vody, Ukraine) and their social media channels on Instagram and YouTube. In addition to the content they create for their thousands of followers on social media, Natalia and Nikolai also minister to soldiers and families on the front lines of the Russian-Ukrainian war, providing food and hope through the Word of God.
We wanted to give Natalia and Nikolai a time of rest from their usual ministry, but also a chance to share their stories and testimonies with our donors and those who want to hear how God is moving in the midst of the war in Ukraine.
So, after months of planning, from April 21 to May 10, Natalia and Nikolai Chernomor of The Bible Today visited Winnipeg and cities across western Canada, where they presented and held meet-and-greets at various events.
The Chernomors spent the first week of that span in Winnipeg, where they shared in various churches (Calvary Temple, McIvor MB Church, Eastview Community), were guest speakers on our show Square One Talks, recorded in our studios, and were also featured in an interview on the local radio station CHVN 95.1.
The highlight of the week for many here at Square One was the Coffee House Fundraiser night at Grace Cafe on April 23. Not only was it great to see the restaurant packed with both new and familiar faces, but Natalia and Nikolai’s stories drew in the audience in that intimate setting, as many talked about how impacted they were by the presentation. Attendees also enjoyed live jazz music (provided by Square One employee Rein Cabalquinto and his band) as well as drinks and treats provided by Grace Cafe and Square One.
Albina Nikitina, Square One’s Russian media producer, served as the Chernomors’ host and translator during their stay in Winnipeg and also traveled with them to Saskatchewan and Alberta.
“We had no challenges in our communication, although there were some worries beforehand about that,” Albina says.
“On the contrary, (I think) our relationships became a great example for many people who attended our presentations, as they saw how in Jesus, we can be united and work together.”
The first stop for Albina and the Chernomors was in Waldheim, SK, where they were hosted by Terry Liske, our regional liaison for Saskatchewan. They shared at two events at Waldheim MB Church, where their presentation and stories deeply impacted those who attended. They also took time to see some sights in Saskatoon and the surrounding area, including the Ukrainian Museum of Canada.
They then set out for Edmonton, AB where our regional liaison Karen Cline hosted them. The Chernomors were able to share during the Sunday service and do a Q&A session at Southgate Baptist Church, and also had several other positive meetings. One meeting in particular stood out, where an Edmonton resident helped the Chernomors make an arrangement with a printer in Ukraine, as the resident agreed to help provide as many Bibles as they needed for the Chernomors and their team to distribute through their ministry back home.
“What a delightful, precious time we had,” Karen said of the Chernomors’ presentation at Southgate. “Another appropriate word would be excellent! I think you could hear the proverbial ‘pin drop’ when they were speaking.”
The next stop was in Cochrane, AB, a town in the Calgary Metropolitan Area where our regional liaison Sydney Hiebert played host. They were able to present twice at Cochrane Alliance Church, where the meetings were smaller (due to the start of the seeding season for farmers) but no less impactful.
“Several people committed to donating to The Bible Today and seemed so grateful to know about the realities of the war and how to specifically pray for the war in Ukraine now,” Sydney says. “The (two) events reminded me that smaller attendance doesn't mean small impact!”
After a day off to see the mountains in Canmore, AB, the Chernomors made their way back to the Calgary area to meet up with our Associate Director Scott Koop as the three flew on to Abbotsford, BC. They were met by Nikolai and Natalia’s daughter Yulia, who drove up from her current home near Seattle and served as the couple’s translator in Abbotsford.
The group was able to meet with multiple donors and business owners during their time in Abbotsford, as well as share with the Punjabi congregation that meets at Clearbrook MB Church. It was amazing to see the connection made across cultures as Nikolai and Natalia’s presentation was translated from Ukrainian to English and then into Punjabi.
“The Chernomors were struck by the splendor of the Rocky Mountains, the typical (for Canadians) size of the servings at restaurants and the warmth and generosity of the people they met,” Scott said about his time with Nikolai and Natalia.
“They were particularly amazed that many of the people they met shared stories of parents and grandparents who escaped from persecution from the same area of the world they live in now.”
After their long journey across Western Canada, Nikolai and Natalia ended the trip by travelling with Yulia back to the US to spend some time with their daughter and her husband and get some much needed rest before heading back to Ukraine at the end of May.
“(We) would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this trip possible,” said the Chernomors. “We received a lot of love, care and support and got to make many new acquaintances. We also enjoyed talking to many people, as we saw their interest and concern for Ukraine and our ministry. We hope this will inspire many to support and pray for both the ministry of Square One World Media and the situation in Ukraine.”
It was an honour and privilege to host them and to help their work and their stories be heard by many. Please continue to pray for protection and strength for Nikolai, Natalia and the rest of their team as they head back to Ukraine and continue their ministry.
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