Multiplying Hope: The Ripple Effect of Kingdom Partnerships

joelbutts1231minis
2 hours ago
2 min read

God often works through relationships in surprising ways.

Sometimes the people we pour into end up pouring back into us from the overflow — and the ripple from the passing wake multiplies far beyond what we could have imagined.

Igor Kovalchuk and I in Kyiv, Ukraine January 2025

Recently, one of our ministry partners, Igor Kovalchuk, leader of School of Courage in Rivne, Ukraine, reached out with incredible news. Through another ministry connection, a space is being purchased that will soon become the School of Courage Academy — a dream he has carried for years.

School of Courage isn’t just a fitness and self-defense program.

Igor teaches teens and young adults discipline, character, and the life-giving truth of the Gospel. This academy will allow him to reach even more youth with hope, identity, and the message of Jesus.

But the building needs major renovation before it can open. Once used for industrial fabrication, it’s now empty but filled with scrap metal and debris — all of which Igor must remove himself.

As Igor began tackling the mountain of cleanup, a friend of his, Kolya, who now lives in the U.S., reached out wanting to help. He sent a donation through Twelve3One specifically to support the cleanup effort.

And that’s where the blessing came full circle.

Because at the very same time, we’re facing one of the largest challenges our ministry has ever taken on...

...finding 140 sponsors for teens in Ukraine and Poland so they can attend their upcoming Winter Youth Retreats. These retreats are lifelines for young people — places of healing, discipleship, and renewed hope.

Leaders Valentina Kolomiets in Ukraine and Lisa Chupryna in Poland asked for our help, and we stepped in.

But finding this many sponsors at once has been challenging. And honestly — discouraging.

Then Igor reached out again.

He told me to transfer all but $100 of Kolya’s donation to the Winter Retreat sponsorships. He wanted to pour back into other leaders who are also doing the holy, heavy work of reaching teens with the Gospel. Igor knows firsthand how hard it is to find resources. His generosity was pure joy overflowing — a ripple returning back to bless others.

So we “re-gifted” the donation on his behalf, and a teen will now attend a Winter Retreat because Igor chose to sow into someone else’s mission.

That’s the beauty of Kingdom partnerships.

One relationship sparks a ripple.

That ripple multiplies into another.

Kolya blessed Igor.

Igor blessed teens in Ukraine and Poland.

And those teens will soon carry new hope back into their families and communities.

This is what happens when God weaves stories together.

But the need is still great. We still need sponsors. Whether you can support one teen, two teens, or give any amount — every dollar becomes part of this multiplying ripple of hope. And we promise: every penny goes directly toward sponsoring a teen for a Winter Retreat.