What, you say you believe in God? Preposterous! You are an enemy of the people! For that disgusting crime you will now serve a long, hard sentence in Siberia. This was the dreadful fate of many courageous Christians in the Ukraine as the darkness of communism blighted the lives of the people and the leaders did all they could to snuff out the light of the gospel forever. Freedom did not arrive until 1991 when the Soviet Union fell apart and Ukraine became independent. Now the light of the gospel is shining again in Ukraine and one ministry called Hope Now is at the forefront of the work. Hope Now was started by a remarkable man, Vic Jackopson, an orphan who at the age of 18 was a teenage tearaway locked up in England’s Winchester Prison. There was nothing to read in Vic’s cell except the Gideon Bible, and he was soon on his knees repenting of his sins. Little did Vic know that his future would be to preach the gospel as a Baptist minister and to bring hope to some of the darkest places on the planet – the prisons and orphanages of Ukraine and South Africa. Hope Now is doing a tremendous job rescuing street children, providing cottage homes and foster care, bringing significant changes to State run orphanages, running children’s camps and many other activities. Through the prison work, many men and women have come to faith in the Lord Jesus and have been helped to build a decent life on their release. Hope Now is also busy planting new churches – especially in the Ukrainian villages where people were once sent to Siberia for even whispering the name of Jesus. These cold, hard places are beginning to soften, and Hope Now has found the hearts of the children in particular open like flowers when they learn of the Lord Jesus. Can you help in this essential work? Souls are being saved, but much more could be done with more helpers and more money. Hope Now is gearing up for the Ukrainian summer outreach at Kompas Park, their summer activity centre for orphans, street kids and handicapped children. Every year young campers delight in a few weeks of good food, outdoor fun – and hearing the truth about the Lord who loves them so much He died for them. Every summer many come to a personal knowledge of the Savior. Do you have any time free this summer or during the year? Is the Lord asking you to help in this important work? If you are skilled at building work, teaching English, sporting activities, cooking, etc or just good at relating to children, Hope Now would love to hear from you. (info@hopenow.org.uk or usa@hopenow.org.uk ) Volunteers are also working to make Kompas Park a permanent, year round facility for summer camps and conferences and the creation of a small orphanage. Elsewhere in Ukraine, in a beautiful formerly communist village, the pastor is trying to raise money for a church. Hope Now says that a building will cost £5,500. Gifts can be sent to Hope Now, Malvern Centre, Malvern Road, Southampton, SO16 6PY, UK. Or, in America, to 3419 Westminster Ave, PMB 268, Dallas, Texas 75205. And please check out the Hope Now website at www.hopenow.org.uk There are not many charities thefreepressonline.co.uk would endorse. Many big name charities are just money making entities for the executives who earn six figure salaries and salt away fat pensions. Hope Now is not like that. Nobody is getting rich. But a lot of very poor people are finding the riches that are in Christ Jesus our Saviour!