A Hope and a Future

Samaritan’s Purse is sponsoring college students from Ukraine and providing them with a quality, Christ-centered education at Montreat College, a small school in the mountains of North Carolina. One of our podcast correspondents talked to three of these Ukrainian students and asked them about what it was like when the war started over 2 years ago.

“I checked all the news and my phone just was full of this information about a full invasion. I was really scared. I didn't know what to do.”—Evnika

Kristy Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse, talked with Dr. Paul Maurer, who serves as the president of Montreat College. Dr. Maurer has a heart to serve these students—not just academically but also spiritually. He shared how this partnership between Montreat College and Samaritan’s Purse formed through an idea Franklin Graham initiated.

“We have absolutely delighted in having [the Ukrainian students] on campus and they have added such a wonderful dynamic to our campus life, to the classroom, to chapels, to just campus life in general.”—Dr. Paul Maurer

These students are deeply invested in the culture at Montreat and have integrated well into campus life, getting involved in clubs, athletics, and chapel. Some have even taken it upon themselves to minister to Ukrainian families in the area.

Dr. Maurer speaks into what it is like to work on a college campus and see young people grow, change, and blossom into who God made them to be. Each year, he witnesses students take their faith into their own hands, become independent, discover their gifts, and lean into serving the Lord in their vocation.

“And part of what the college leaders do is allow people to understand who they are and what they're good at. What has God gifted me in uniquely, and how do I use that for his glory?"—Dr. Paul Maurer

Nick sat down with Kristy Graham while he was an intern at international headquarters this summer to talk about how attending Montreat College has blessed him. Nick interned with Operation Christmas Child international on the global programs team. Nick learned technical skills and professional skills on the job, but more importantly, he learned more about God. He expressed how much of a privilege it was to start each day with devotions.

“I don't think I would have an opportunity to go to college without a scholarship. I'm grateful for what I have, this opportunity to study at Montreat College and to be an intern at Samaritan’s Purse. I think this opportunity will change our lives greatly.”—Nick

To close, hear again from Ukrainian students about what they are studying and their hope for the future.

Please pray for these Montreat students from Ukraine as they begin another semester. Pray that Dr. Maurer, Montreat professors and staff would be rooted in Christ's humility as they serve students. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.