Written by Beatriz Lima

 

“Even amid the immense suffering in Ukraine, it’s clear that God is at work, writing a story far bigger than we can see.” Katy Kocyan, an OMer from the Czech Republic, has seen that first-hand while serving with OM in Ukraine alongside her husband and children. Now four years into the full-scale invasion, Katy shared what daily life looks like, what leaders are carrying and why prayer still makes a difference.

Before moving to Ukraine, Katy studied business and languages in the UK and hoped God would use her in the business world to share the gospel and make a difference. When she moved back to the Czech Republic and began working for a Christian Investment company that supports ministries financially, she stayed open and sensitive to God’s voice which eventually led her to Ukraine. Through her role, she travelled around Europe and built partnerships with organisations in Ukraine.

When the full-scale invasion began, Katy’s workplace created a fund to support Ukraine. But as time went on, she noticed something change. “After some time, people lost interest in helping,” she reflected. “People got used to the war.” About a year after the invasion began, Katy and a colleague travelled to Ukraine to encourage people in person. “People were so grateful and encouraged,” she said, remembering visits with different projects and ministries.

Around the same time, she and her husband served as youth and student pastors in the Czech Republic. Listening to Ukrainian students share their stories moved her deeply. Katy remembers feeling that whatever words of encouragement she could offer seemed small compared to what they had lived through. That was the moment she first sensed God calling her family to move, reminding her of the call of Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

Although both Katy and Daniel had visited Ukraine before, relocating to a country at war brought a mixture of expectations and understandable apprehension, as they were unsure what lay ahead. “The reality is quite different from what people might imagine,” Katy explains. “Restaurants, cinemas, play areas, and shops are all open and operating,” she adds, “even though everything is still affected by the war.”

Air-raid sirens regularly interrupt everyday life, and even very young children know what to do. “My son at nursery has to go into a bomb shelter when the siren sounds,” Katy shared. “For him, it’s just normal—we’ve been living like this for two years.”

For Katy, one of the most difficult aspects has been the strain of being a mother in a war zone. “My greatest fear was for my children' s safety,” she said, admitting that—particularly in the early days—she sometimes questioned their decision. “I felt as though I had taken myself and my family out of safety and into a country at war.” Yet she continually returned to what she believed God had spoken to them: “God called us, including our children. This is where we’re meant to be.”

Katy does not pretend it is easy. “It’s frightening to hear the stories and the drones in the middle of the night,” she said. And yet, beneath that fear, she describes a deep sense of steadiness. “To be in God’s calling is the safest place, regardless of the circumstances,” she explained. “When you look at it from the perspective of eternity, it is worth following God’s calling. I can’t imagine doing otherwise. There’s an underlying peace and joy… I’ve never felt regret. I feel honoured to be here. We have witnessed many amazing miracles God has been doing here.”

When Katy and her husband first arrived, they spent their initial months listening. “We took time to do research and speak with Christian leaders and pastors to understand the needs and opportunities they were seeing,” she said. Gradually, clear patterns began to emerge.

“One of the greatest challenges is a leadership crisis,” Katy explained. “Many Christian leaders have left the country, been called up to serve in the army, or, sadly, passed away.” Those who remain often carry an immense and largely unseen burden. “They are frequently exhausted, constantly caring for others and giving so much of themselves,” she said.

In response, Katy and her team began organising retreats for military chaplains and Christian leaders, bringing them—along with their families—into the mountains for rest, restoration, and quiet time with God. “The aim is to create a space where they can truly rest and allow their souls to breathe,” she said. Some spend time walking, others talking, and some simply sitting in stillness. The impact has been profound. “One military chaplain told us it was the first meaningful time he had spent with his family since the war began,” Katy shared. “And that’s true for many of them.”

Alongside these retreats, Katy together with her teammate also support churches and Christian organisations through consultancy work. They have seen many doing “wonderful ministry” while facing practical challenges such as budgeting, setting clear goals, and maintaining consistent follow-up. “We meet with them, listen carefully, and help them develop tailored plans,” she explained. “Our desire is to support them in ways that are both healthy and effective, enabling their ministries to flourish in the long term.”

War inevitably reshapes what “normal” looks like. Katy describes this past winter as especially difficult for civilians, with freezing temperatures, power cuts, and disrupted services— “For many days we would only have 3-4 hours of electricity per day. This means no running water, no light, no hot meals and most importantly no heating. There were days when the temperatures dropped to -30 degrees” but she has also witnessed remarkable resilience. “Ukrainians are incredibly resourceful in how they navigate these challenges,” she said. “I never imagined I’d be excited to do the laundry on days when we had electricity for more than four hours.”

The experience has profoundly shifted her perspective. “It makes you realise how much we have in Western society,” she reflected. “What God has really been working on in my heart is gratitude. Fourteen hours of electricity feels like a luxury.” She added, “Being here has stripped life back to what truly matters. I’m more aware of how fragile and precious everyday things are—safety, friendship, a simple conversation, a warm meal, and the ability to plan ahead. I try not to take these for granted.”

At the same time, Katy does not minimise the heartbreak around her. She sees broken families and deep suffering, yet remains convinced that God is at work. “God is doing wonderful things. People are very open to the gospel,” she said. “In the face of death and suffering, people begin to think more about what comes after.”

She has noticed particular openness among young people and soldiers on the front lines, as well as growing unity among believers. “Churches that were once divided by denomination are now working together—praying together and serving side by side to meet urgent needs,” she said. “It’s a reminder that God can bring beauty and growth out of even the darkest circumstances.”

As international attention wanes, prayer remains a vital source of encouragement. “People are uplifted when they know others are praying for them,” Katy said. “It truly makes a difference.”

Please continue to pray with Katy and her family—for an end to the war and for a just and lasting peace. Pray that, even in the midst of suffering, many would come to know God, and that He would bring hope, healing, and even miracles into the lives of those who are hurting.

 

Picture 1 - Katy and Daniel's family.

Picture 2 - A chaplain and his wife who attended one of the chaplains' retreats.

Picture 3 - Katy and Daniel's son during one of the winter blackouts.

Picture 4 - The youth group at Katy and Daniel's church preparing Christmas parcels for soldiers on the frontline.