Giving hope when all seems lost!

Hi, my name is Chris Finn,I pastored a church in Birmingham for the best part of 20 years. I have now started a ministry called You Have A Voice Ministries based here in Birmingham. Knowing Elena and hearing the horror stories has motivated me to fundraise for this heartfelt cause.

All funds collected will go to pay for the weekend retreat, Travel, accommodation, food and small gifts that Elena wants to provide for the Ukrainian women in her church.

I have known Elena Kerish for several years. We first met when my church took a group of Christians to her church in Kharkiv to train them in an inner healing ministry. We did this training with them on a regular basis over a number of years, forming a close relationship not only with the leaders of the church but Elena herself.

So many women were damaged by the trauma’s of life and Lena was an integral part of helping many of the women to find emotional healing.

When the war started in Ukraine, Kharkiv was one of the first cities to be badly destroyed. Many of the women fled and found safety in the Uk.

Elena was one of those women.

There is a large community of Ukrainian refugees living in Birmingham.

Many of these women had to flee with their children and little personal belongings.

Many of their men, husbands, fathers, brothers, remained to fight.

So many have lost their lives or their whereabouts are unknown presumed killed.

These women are so grateful to the help they receive in Birmingham to help rebuild their lives. Having met so many of them, I am amazed at their resilience, their desire to forge a new life, learn a new language and find work so that they may contribute to this country.

Many are suffering from PTSD, nightmares, anxiety and the fear of an unknown future are some of the emotions they face while trying to hold their families together.

Elena, has a desire to take a group of these hurting women away on a weekend retreat to have the opportunity to receive some much needed emotional healing as well as having some precious R&R just for themselves.

Having ministered to so many hurting men and women over my many years as a church leader and having met some of these brave women, I would love to help them heal through this weekend retreat.