Faith, service and unity: a meeting at Tallinn Bible Church

27 September 2026

Vladimir Palamar, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia, visited Tallinn Bible Church and met representatives of its congregation.

Tallinn Bible Church was founded in 2022 by Ukrainians who were given refuge in Estonia after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. For many people, the church has become not only a place of prayer but also an important space for spiritual support, human connection, mutual help and keeping ties with Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by church deacons Stepan Voznyi and Volodymyr Halas, youth ministry leader Leonid Saikovskyi and Sunday school coordinator Andrii Yatsenko.

The church representatives spoke about their work with the Ukrainian community, spiritual ministry, support for families, activities for children and young people, and help for Ukrainians in adapting to and integrating into Estonian society.

The conversation recalled the hard trials that members of the congregation have gone through: evacuation from Ukraine, the loss of their homes, separated families and the need to start life anew in a new place. A separate topic was the persecution of pastors and the pressure on Ukrainian church communities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The meeting was an opportunity for an open conversation about faith, service, responsibility and the unity of Ukrainians. In difficult times it is especially important not to close ourselves off in our own circles, but to listen to one another, support children and young people, help families and work together for the Ukrainian community and for Ukraine.

Special words of gratitude were addressed to Andrii Yatsenko. In 2022 he was among the first to join the Ukraine Aid Headquarters, which operated at the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia.

Andrii Yatsenko worked at the Headquarters’ call centre, helped drive vehicles to Ukraine and devoted much time to volunteer and civic work. In the first months of the full-scale war such help was especially important: every pair of hands, every call answered and every car delivered to Ukraine mattered.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current needs of the Ukrainian community, work with children and young people, integration and the protection of Ukrainians’ rights, as well as possible directions for further cooperation.

The Association is convinced that civic and church organisations should keep in constant contact, share information and help people in need together. Unity does not mean holding the same views on every issue. It begins with the ability to listen to one another, respect the work of others and act responsibly for the common good.

As a memento of the meeting, Vladimir Palamar presented the church representatives with a military chaplain’s prayer book and Ukrainian grain dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, with the words:

“May the seeds of independence grow into a harvest of peace.”

This grain carries a simple but profound symbolic meaning. For a harvest to grow, the seed must fall into good soil, and a person must work every day and not lose faith. In the same way, peace, unity and a strong community do not arise by themselves — they grow from prayer, trust, mutual respect and daily service to people.

The Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia thanks Stepan Voznyi, Volodymyr Halas, Leonid Saikovskyi and Andrii Yatsenko for their warm welcome, the meaningful conversation and their work for the Ukrainian community.

Special thanks go to Estonia and the Estonian people for the refuge, the support and the opportunity for Ukrainians to preserve their faith and culture and to develop community life.

We wish Tallinn Bible Church, its ministers and the whole congregation God’s blessing, strength and inspiration for their continued service to people.

Tallinn Bible Church page: facebook.com/tallinnbiblechurch

Vladimir Palamar, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia, meeting representatives of Tallinn Bible Church: deacons Stepan Voznyi and Volodymyr Halas, youth ministry leader Leonid Saikovskyi and Sunday school coordinator Andrii Yatsenko. Tallinn, 27 September 2026.