Overcome
As I walk the harvest fields of Ukraine, one verse keeps echoing: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Here, good isn’t just a word—it’s an action. It’s love that moves toward pain, a prayer in a hospital room, it is the gift of presence, medicine delivered, believers showing up where suffering is deepest and saying, “You’re not forgotten.”
That’s what Harvest Equippers MercyMed means to me.
And the truth is, this matters to me personally.
As a child, I was in and out of hospitals—by sixth grade, I’d had pneumonia thirty-two times. I know what it is to be weak and alone, struggling for your next breath and feeling so incredibly alone, and just wanting to go home. In those moments, the only thing that brought me comfort was knowing Jesus was with me.
Maybe that’s why, when I go into hospitals, I feel Jesus's presence in a tangible way; it is something that God and I share. I feel him, hear him, he guides me and reminds me of how he helped and comforted me. Scripture says we are able to give comfort in the same way he comforted us.
That’s personal and redemptive for me.
Jesus said, “ I was sick, and you cared for me.”
Those are not small words. When I studied this verse in the original (Greek and spoken Aramaic), it could be translated:
“I was sick, and you did not leave me alone in my suffering.”
One way I’ve seen good overcoming evil is by coming alongside those who heal. Since the war began, we’ve helped clinics with medicine, supplies, and equipment.
Major General Andrii Verba
One of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's most experienced military surgeons.
Yesterday, I met with a military general who spent three years performing surgeries on the front lines and now oversees three university hospital clinics here in Vinnytsia. The Kingdom of God operates through relationships and mutual trust. Because we have consistently supported these hospital clinics over the past four years, our relationships and trust have deepened. We genuinely believe that God has united us in a partnership to bring His goodness to these hospitals. This trust has opened doors for us; we now have unique, unrestricted access to meet with wounded soldiers and patients, listen to their stories, and pray with them.
I don’t take that for granted.
Yesterday I sat with many wounded soldiers, many recovering from amputations. Hearing their stories and praying with them moved me deeply.
That’s the heart behind MercyMed.
One moment I’ll never forget: I walked into a hospital room and saw Sasha, a member of our church and one of our drivers who had helped rescue over 42,000 refugees by bringing them into the Hope Center.
After being drafted, a drone strike killed most of his unit and left him badly wounded with a broken leg. He crawled through the forest searching for a cell signal. His first call was to our church. Our church team didn’t hesitate—they went after him, even into danger and occupied areas. Isn’t that what the church should be? Not just programs or buildings, but genuine compassion in action.
I’ve always believed you can’t outgive God. Last Sunday proved it.
After church, a doctor from another hospital—who is familiar with the Hope Center and knows Frederick well—approached us. He invited me to visit the hospital where he serves as a surgeon. This small hospital, located just outside Vinnytsia, is government-funded and has a special grant to provide free treatment for refugees and veterans.
Everything is free: surgeries, OB clinic visits, x-rays, and more.
This is such an answer to prayer. The refugees who come to our Hope Center in Vinnytsia are in desperate need of surgeries and medical treatment. We have been raising funds to care for them, but now, through this amazing contact, we can bring them to this hospital and have them treated for no cost.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:14)
Finally, today I went to a children’s hospital to pray for Martha, an 11-year-old fighting lymphoma cancer. Praying for her brought back memories of my own childhood in hospitals, and I was overwhelmed by God’s love for her—just as He once met me in my hardest moments. I was so blessed to be there for her.
It was a highly emotional experience for me. That’s what it means to overcome evil with good—not just speaking against darkness, but carrying Christ’s light right into it.
Please pray for us.
Pray for the soldiers.
Pray for their families.
Pray for the doctors and surgeons.
Pray for the clinics and hospital partnerships.
Pray for Martha.
And pray that MercyMed will continue to bring both practical help and the hope of Jesus.
May we not be overcome by evil, but let’s overcome evil with good.