Prayer for Ukraine

Prayers for God’s Mercy in Ukraine (By RCA Commission on Christian Action)


God of Peace, who desires your children to live in harmony, we humbly ask that you—by your Holy Spirit—restrain those who would make war. Give them a new desire to live in accord with all people. In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Great God of Comfort, who desires all people to live without strife, we humbly pray that your Holy Spirit will bring peace and comfort to those in Ukraine who live under the fearful threat of invasion. Give them hope and confidence in your divine sovereignty. In your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of Wisdom, who holds the hearts and minds of all in your hands, we humbly pray that you will put thoughts of peace in the minds of world leaders and words of peace in their mouths that a peaceful solution might be found to these escalating tensions on the Russian–Ukrainian border. Gift world leaders with wisdom and desires for peace and justice. May cool heads from among all involved prevail. In your mercy, hear our prayer.

God who welcomed children while walking on this earth, we humbly pray that you will protect all children if conflict occurs. Surround them and their caretakers with a shield of protection. Guard them from all harm, that they may survive whatever may befall and that they will know your safety and live in innocence. In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Great God, who created your church to be your body on this earth. We humbly pray that you make your church in Ukraine strong, be it in war or in peace. Give your grace to the faithful disciples in the nations so that they may continue to be faithful witnesses to you by their faithful actions during these troubling times. In your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.


How can I help the people of Ukraine?


international mission

ChangeALife Uganda (CALU) is a non-profit organization based in New Jersey, operated by Jean Semler and Dave Thelen. The organization works with the Roman Catholic Church in Uganda to improve the lives of children at the St. Lawrence School in rural Migyera. In 2014 CALU completed a water project which is now bringing clean and hassle free water to the school and surrounding community. The Colts Neck Reformed Church helped raise funds for the water project and we sponsor students at the St. Lawrence School. Church members Ginne Hooper and Jill Niehaus traveled to Uganda in 2013 to begin a tailoring program, which is helping women learn a trade and provide for their families. In 2014, former associate minister Jeff Knol and his wife, Jamie, traveled to Uganda with CALU and taught a reading and writing class at the St. Lawrence school. Currently our church school students are praying for the children of the St. Lawrence school and remembering them by contributing change to a homemade bank throughout the season of Lent.


A. L., a member of our congregation, is serving as a missionary in Central Asia as part of the Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) staff STINT (an international ministry). CRU's mission is to help fulfill the Great Commission in the power of the Holy Spirit by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ, building them in their faith, and sending them to win and build others; and helping the Body of Christ do evangelism and discipleship.

reformed church in america

programs and missions

The Colts Neck Reformed Church (CNRC) supports a number of mission partners throughout the world through the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and other organizations. Listed below are countries in which partners we support directly are serving, along with the details about their work. Also listed are programs strongly affiliated with the RCA.


India - CNRC partners with Mission Partners India (MPI) in many ministries including women's ministries, livestock aid and small business development. The Church of South India is comprised of more than 4 million members, most of whom are Dalits (people previously referred to as the untouchables"). As a mission partner, MPI builds bridges between the Church of South India, RCA churches, businesses, and individuals to provide programs and services that equip and empower the Dalits, many of whom are unemployed or living below the poverty level. They focus on developing programs in education, micro-enterprise, skills training, and job creation, and promoting a culture of mutual respect. Our mission partner has been working in India since 2004. She previously served in Bosnia and Croatia, training refugees in micro-enterprise projects. Devotionals: God Guides, written by a mission partner, helps us to listen to God for his guidance. The God Guides book is a compilation of M.G.'s journal entries written while serving as a mission partner. She shares her practice of having a quiet time which focuses on listening to God for his guidance. The book can be used as a daily devotional or for group Bible Studies. All proceeds from the sale of the book go to help support a school the M.G. established for poor children, many of whom were street children. 


Kenya - CNRC supports the mission in Alale, Kenya, in the West Pokot region along the Kenya/Uganda border. Amos Liang'or currently works as a nurse at the Pokot Health Centre in the village of Alale. The Pokot rely on the clinic for health services. There they receive prenatal care, immunizations, volunteer counseling, testing for HIV/AIDS, family planning counseling, and treatment for malaria, cholera, broken bones, minor wounds, and other ailments.


Haiti - Many Hands for Haiti (MH4H) works to bring the Good News to the people of Haiti through programs in education, leadership development, agronomy, safe homes, medical assistance, and economic development. As a Missiologist and Spiritual Development Manager, Tom Johnson works directly with MH4H to help strengthen their mission and spiritual development. Haitian pastors, MH4H staff and community leaders will receive training and mentoring, and engage in spiritual development. Tom Johnson will also help strengthen MH4H's ability to effectively share the Gospel and work cross-culturally in a Godly way, bringing peace and restoration. Tom and his wife, Aichatou, have four daughters: Marie, Laurey, Ellie, and Thekla.   


Sudan - Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather work with RECONCILE (Resource Centre for Civil Leadership), an indigenous ecumenical Christian organization. It promotes peace-building to this war-torn country by providing training in trauma recovery, conflict transformation, and civid education.


Andrew and Amy Fields serve in partnership with the Moravian church in Honduras and the Moravian Church in North America. Their goal is to work alongside the Honduran church to build on the breadth and depth of theological education programs and resources available to Honduran church leaders as they seek to develop their gifts for ministry in the church. The Fields assist in the implementation of a holistic curriculum of biblical, theological, and ministerial courses, as well as coordinating and promoting the use of library resources.


Paolo Naso serves as national coordinator of Being Church Together in Italy. He uses his skills and experience in immigration and communication to bring immigrants into Italy's Waldensian and Methodist churches.


Project Hospitality in Staten Island, NY began in 1982 as a volunteer interfaith effort responding to the emergency needs of the homeless with a soup kitchen and overnight emergency shelter in the basement of Brighton Heights Reformed Church. Today, Project Hospitality administers a range of comprehensive direct care programs, serving more than 5000 people of the community annually. Its mission is to care for and to offer a continuum of service to those who are low-income, homeless, or infected with HIV.


World Renew serves worldwide as the development, disaster response, and justice arm of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. They envision a world where people experience and extend Christ's compassion and live together in hope as God's community. Their mission is to engage God's people in redeeming resources and developing gifts in collaborative activities of love, mercy, justice, and compassion.


Words of Hope (WOH) is a radio ministry that broadcasts in the U.S. and around the world. Often, radio is the best opportunity to reach areas that are usually difficult to evangelize due to geography, political, or religious barriers. WOH broadcasts to millions of people in over 40 native languages on hundreds of radio stations around the world. In addition, the ministry provides print and electronic resources for devotions and Bible study.