From War-Torn Homes to Missional Hearts: FBC Kaufman Shares the FTT Vision with Ukrainian Leaders in Germany
Last week, Pastor Brent Gentzel and a team from First Baptist Church Kaufman traveled to Bonn, Germany, to share the Finishing the Task vision with over 250 Ukrainian church leaders gathered for the Ukrainian Mission Movement conference. Led by Pastor Nikolai Skopich, the movement has become a powerful expression of gospel resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship.
“These leaders have endured so much over the past 30 months,” said Pastor Brent. “But what struck me most is their united decision to move forward—not as victims, but as missionaries. Their rallying cry says it all: ‘We have chosen to be happy missionaries instead of sad refugees.’”
This bold commitment has resulted in the planting of over 100 Ukrainian-led churches across Europe, many in Germany, which now hosts over six million Ukrainian refugees. The Skopich family’s story is emblematic of this movement. They were vacationing in Germany when war broke out. They suddenly began receiving calls from members of their congregation who needed to flee Ukraine. The Skopich family began connecting them with German churches. Within weeks, 150 of his 300-member church had joined him in Germany, and with the help of the German Church, they have begun planting new churches to reach other displaced Ukrainians.
In addition to presenting the FTT vision, Pastor Brent also met with the assistant executive director of the Ukrainian Baptist Union, one of the largest Baptist coalitions in Europe with over 2,000 churches. Together, they discussed emerging ministry needs, particularly in the area of mental health care for wounded soldiers and grieving families.
“We’re exploring how we can help build a bridge of hope,” Brent shared. “These churches are already embedded in the communities where healing is most needed. If they become the tip of the spear in caring for those affected by the war, it could change everything.”
The visit to Bonn was more than just a vision trip—it was the beginning of deeper partnerships, practical next steps, and a renewed sense that the Great Commission is alive and moving even in the most unlikely places.
