In the 1990s, Rev. Scott Bohr was looking for an international ministry opportunity for his Philadelphia Presbytery congregation. He had no idea that he would end up in Ukraine. Now, six years into his ministry at Harmony Presbyterian Church in Phillipsburg, God’s gift bears fruit not only in that war-torn land, but also within his current congregation.

Back when he was the youth pastor of Concord Liberty Presbyterian Church in Glen Mills, PA, Scott sought an international ministry that would provide opportunities for the church’s youth and their families. He sent a variety of inquiries, always asking about the organization’s vision for ministry. He received many replies to come but, the only reply he received which asked for his vision of missions was from Youth with a Mission (YWAM).

The YWAM ministry in Ukraine was established by three Americans who went to Kyiv and prayed for God’s guidance on what they should do next. They created a whole program for youth to do mission around the world which included the YWAM mission school. That impressed Scott, who says, “I was really struck that they wanted us to be intentional, not just feel good, work, and go home.”

The original plan was to take the youth group, but a few parents were not comfortable with that. That led Scott and his then-wife to prepare to go with their two children, 7 and 8 years old at the time. Eventually a mother and her 19-year-old daughter and a few other adults joined them for the trip. On that first visit to Ukraine, the Concord Liberty group worked with kids and youth offering Vacation Bible School in an urban setting. A 1997 trip involved handing out Bibles, and subsequently they began working in orphanages and reaching out to street youth and latch-key children left alone in Stalin-era apartment complexes. While some knew a smattering of English, these guest mission workers largely relied on their YWAM interpreters.

Scott went back to Ukraine several times, eventually becoming part of the YWAM faculty, teaching on worship, mission, and discipleship over 1-2 week periods. After their training, youth would go out into the world to do outreach for 4-6 weeks; for example, a young woman from the first class in 1997 went to Siberia for six weeks. Over a span of ten years, Scott spent about a year’s time altogether in Ukraine, developing relationships with pastors and orphanages in Kyiv and beyond. He also continued to take teams from his Pennsylvania congregations, and with bigger groups ranging in age from 17-75.

While his participation in YWAM ended in 2007, Scott remained in contact with many of his friends and colleagues in Ukraine, even as the current war broke out. Several elders at Harmony Presbyterian Church knew of his long involvement there, and asked for their pastor’s opinion on how they could help. Ultimately it was decided to put a second offering plate out, marked “For Ukraine,” and making no reference Scott’s history with the country. Funds were directed toward those with special needs, especially the so-called “babushkas,” older women and widows who lived on their own and surviving on a limited income. Efforts focused on Bucha and Irpin where these “head-kerchiefed” women lived, as well as many of Scott’s friends, despite ongoing Russian bombing. According to Scott, “So many live there, surviving month to month. They are able to go far on gifts from the US and western Europe.”

Because of these long-time relationships, it has been easier to transfer money to those Ukrainian ministries, “Nothing is taken off the top; all the money goes where designated,” Scott said. He continued, “The money goes directly to helping people and gets there quickly, helping those who need it the most,” with 100% of the monies going to those in need. Over $2000 has been raised thus far, and with an exchange rate of seven hryvna to $1, “$2000 buys a lot.”

At the Harmony Church itself, these relationships are bearing fruit in a variety of ways. Those passing the church will see not only the flag of the United States and one in support of Prisoners of War, but now also a Ukrainian flag. Scott says, “It has really been a good thing for our church. It has really brought people together.” A young Ukrainian woman serves as a substitute organist, and her grandmother, mother, and sister still live in Ukraine. This woman attended worship one Sunday because she had heard of Scott’s experience in her native land. As she exited the church, Scott said good-bye to her in Ukrainian. She ran back to give him a big hug. She is now a regular attender with her daughter.

“I really feel like God gave me Ukraine as a special gift for my soul, for my spirit. I thought I was bringing them something special,” Scott says, “but I really was going to be in-line with God. I was given the gift.”

Postscript: Since this article was written, Scott learned that the town a friend’s sister lives in was bombed in early June. She and her 2 year old son are now homeless. Harmony Church is looking into how it can help her. 

To get more information, call (908) 859-0355, and if you would like to contribute to their relief efforts, send a check to Harmony Presbyterian Church, 2727 Belvidere Rd, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, with “Ukraine Fund” in the memo line.