Michele Potgieter, together with her husband, Ockert, started the church Svet Miru (Light for the World), in Reni, an important working port city in Ukraine, 28 years ago. “After Ockert’s sudden death from Covid during a visit to South Africa, my life was in tatters, but I could not forsake our congregation in Ukraine. ”
Two weeks after Michele arrived back in Ukraine, after losing her husband, the war broke out in Ukraine. From the very first day of the war they started to give food and take care of refugees fleeing to Reni. More that two years later the volunteers from Light for the World Church are giving lunch to the refugees every day. Helping with clothing, food parcels and in whatever way possible.
A family devoted for 28 years now to see the Kingdom of Jesus Christ
coming in the town called Reni in Ukraine through the church they
planted, in all spheres of society through the establishing of a the
church, a children’s daycare center, a children’s shelter, a pro-life
center for pregnant women and young mothers, numerous community
projects, events and youth summer camps. The doors for the gospel
of Jesus Christ opened in the early nineties and we believe Father loves
the people of Ukraine so much that He called us from a faraway country
and He sent us here, not only to tell them about His love, but to show
them what His love looks like. The church is the vessel
Father is using to let His Kingdom come in all spheres of society. He
restores lives, relationships and families… but also hospitals and
parks and opportunities. Our response is always: Yes Father, let Your Kingdom come! Let Your will be done. We partner with Jubilee church in Maidstone UK and Church Of The Nations (COTN)
Let me take you by the hand
and lead you through the streets of Reni…
The Danube flows like a life-giving vein through the landscape. Reni has a port which used to be the main source of work and income but traffic has slowed down to a trickle.
The street where we live is still a dirt road. Reni has amazing, beautiful sunsets and a charming rustic atmosphere. It is an amazing conglomeration of different cultures with Ukrainian, Russian, Moldovan, Bulgarian, Gagauzian… to name just a few!
People are poor and struggling to survive. Many leave for bigger cities or job opportunities in other European countries. Dads are absent, families broken… children are at the receiving end of the cycle of poverty and addiction.
