🇺🇦 As War Drags On, Ukrainian-Born Christian Keeps Serving Refugees In Alaska 🔌
Weekend Plug-in 🔌
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The war in Ukraine was just a few months old when I first met Zori Opanasevych in April 2022.
I connected with the mother of three young children at a prayer service at New Chance Christian Church — a Pentecostal congregation that conducts Sunday worship in Russian with English translation.
I still remember Opanasevych resting her chin in clasped hands as she begged God to intervene.
Zori Opanasevych, with husband Nick, prays at New Chance Christian Church in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2022. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)
In the heart-wrenching stories of ordinary families caught in Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the Alaska resident told me she saw herself. In the children’s frightened faces, the Ukrainian-born Christian couldn’t help but envision her own kids.
“That could have been me there right now in Ukraine,” she said. “I could be using my body to shield my children from bombs right now.”
Instead, Opanasevych — whose family moved to the United States when she was 7 — put her life on hold to organize a faith-based relief program for Ukrainian refugees.
READ: In Alaska, A Russian-Speaking Church Becomes A Hub For Helping Ukrainians
At first she thought the effort might last a few months. But more than three years later, she’s still at it — serving as executive director of the United Relief Program, a nonprofit arm of the New Chance church that helped more than 1,300 people fleeing the war resettle in Alaska.
Hundreds of thousands of people have died in the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The attack forced almost 10 million to leave their homes, including 5.6 million displaced abroad, according to the United Nations.
In the early days, Opanasevych and other volunteers worked 18 to 20 hours a day to help refugees travel to the U.S. and buy pots and pans and mattresses “and all the necessities” to establish new lives.
A cross outside the building where New Chance Christian Church worships in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)
“It was just a miracle, just seeing God’s goodness make a beautiful restoration out of the ashes of the war,” she recalled.
But now, as the war drags on, refugees’ temporary protected status faces uncertainty. Their humanitarian parole, as it’s called, is in limbo as President Donald Trump ends legal pathways for immigrants to come to the U.S. The families with whom Opanasevych has become so close could be forced to leave — and some already have.
In light of Trump’s recent visit to an Anchorage-area military base to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, I decided to catch up with Opanasevych, 34, whose children are now 13, 10 and almost 9.
These highlights from our interview have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity:
On all that’s happened since the first time we talked
“It’s been quite a whirlwind, to be honest. We’ve had so many changes, so much growth, so many opportunities to serve people. And amidst all of that, we have got to see lives transformed and saved and rebuilt.
“At the same time, there’s been a lot of heartache. A lot of tears. … Just to say the least, it’s been a lot.”
On originally telling her husband, Nick, that the Ukrainian relief effort might last a few months
"I said, ‘I can see myself getting really busy with this. But I’m thinking about two to three months.’ … He said, ‘This is very important. God bless you. Go do what you need to do. Please help these people. We’re praying for you. We got this.’”
Zori Opanasevych, with her parents, Sergey and Alla Ilnitski, at New Chance Christian Church in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)
On how her life is different than it used to be
“I used to make sourdough bread. I used to have chickens. I used to homeschool my kids. Now I need help in every aspect.
“And I get takeout. I used to make a three-course meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner from scratch. Everything. And now the Costco frozen section is where I’m at. So it’s definitely changed.”
On the new normal in her family
“I wouldn’t even say that it took a toll on our marriage. It didn’t. It made us stronger. And my kids — it was just different where Mom wasn’t a stay-at-home mom and readily available.”
On what keeps her moving forward with the ministry
“First of all, I teach this to my kids: If you start something, you finish. You don’t quit on a project. And right now I am fighting for, advocating for, pushing for Ukrainians to find stability and permanence.”
Dmitry and Oksana Vakulich and others, including Yuriv Tarankov, center, pray at New Chance Christian Church in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)
On her future with the relief program
“We are not welcoming new arrivals. That program has been suspended. No more people are coming. And I thought that that would be it. I don’t want to run a nonprofit just to run a nonprofit.
“I think my last push … is if they can have the choice of having a green card, and if they can stay here, then I’ll be done. But I just need to make sure that what I began, I finish, and I finish well.
“I’m happy just to go back to my sourdough bread and being a stay-at-home mom. But I guess it’s just, you know, I’m willing to do what God wants me to do.
“If he’s going to keep opening doors, I will keep working. If it is done, I’m happy to be done. I’m just available.”
On the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, followed by Trump welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders to Washington, D.C.
“This whole year, 2025, we’ve been working with our federal delegation in asking for … Ukrainians to be able to adjust to permanency from humanitarian parole.
“We’ve been saying, ‘Please talk to Secretary (of Homeland Security) Kristi Noem. Please talk to the president.’ … We’re pushing for this, and all of a sudden, he’s here. And I’m saying, ‘We can’t get any closer. He came to us.’ And I’m full of hope. But nothing has come of it.”
On her worries for the future of Ukrainian refugees in Alaska
“Their status is in limbo. They can’t go back to Ukraine because they don’t have a home, and they’ve lost family members — or their family is also scattered around the globe.
“They can’t go to Europe because Europe’s doors are closed to refugees now. And they can’t be here. So where do they go? It’s very unfortunate.
“And then the war in Ukraine isn’t over. We were so hopeful. It was this anticipation that, ‘That’s it. A deal is going to be made.’ And there was movement. And movement is good because (we thought) something’s going to happen, because nothing has thus far for these three-and-a-half years.
“And now three weeks have passed with no change in the status of the war. It hurts. It hurts because we feel like it’s just prolonging the kicking of the can. It was happening so quickly, and then nothing changed.
“Ukrainians are continuing to die, and then the Ukrainians who are here are continuing to be chained to this limbo status. It hurts.”
On relying on her faith when all hope seems lost
“That’s the only thing I have left. I think, as Christians, that’s where we end up. It’s, ‘OK, Lord, I have knocked on every door. I have pushed everywhere I could. I have called everyone I know. I just give this into your hands, and I know you’re in control.’”
On what she said in a letter to Ukrainian refugees inviting them to join her in fasting and praying for a positive resolution
“I believe in God, and I know that the work that we’ve been able to do thus far was organized and led by God. So he’s not going to leave us at this point. Whatever is going to happen, it’s going to be good — it’s going to turn out.
“Through this whole three-and-a-half years, my verse has been that God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). And I love God. I love his people. And I’m serving them. And he has turned everything out for the good. I believe that with all my heart.”
On what else she’d like readers to know
“I think the immigration part is really important because we have a big need. If any of your readers have any influence or know someone, maybe that would help. That would be great.
“But what I’ve learned is that God can do so much through somebody so simple. Like, I am just a mom. But when we say yes to God, he can do so much.
“And it has been the most incredible experience of my life to see so many kids, to see so many families, to see so much good come out of this. Out of the horror of war, good things have come. And I got to be a part of it. I got to witness it.
“And I got to play a very, very small role in these people’s lives because I said yes to God — to the calling in my heart — and I’m just grateful for that.”
Inside The Godbeat
“A growing number of people around the world are walking away from organized religion — but that doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned spiritual beliefs altogether.”
So reports Religion Unplugged’s own Clemente Lisi, detailing the findings of a new study by the Pew Research Center.
The Final Plug
Two weeks ago, I delved into George Schroeder’s journey from high-profile national college football writer to small-town Texas baptist pastor.
Here’s a little update: A new co-host has joined Schroeder’s “Gridiron & The Gospel” weekly podcast: Dean Inserra, lead pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, Florida. Baptist Press national correspondent Scott Barkley has the full story.
Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.
Bobby Ross Jr. writes the Weekend Plug-in column for Religion Unplugged and serves as editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 18 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.