Dallas father & relative of a holocaust survivor serves victims of war, personally delivering food, medicine & essential supplies.
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Michael Evans Jr., a 40-year-old minister and father of four from Colleyville, Texas, returned yesterday from a two-week trip to the frontlines in Ukraine providing food, firewood, drinkable water and — most importantly — a message of hope, forgiveness and restoration. In preparation for the worsening winter months, Evans delivered essential aid and encouragement to those affected by the war from Dec. 3 – Dec.19.
To honor his relative who died in the Holocaust, Evans has served impoverished Holocaust survivors and Jewish orphans in Ukraine now for more than a decade through Friends of Zion. When Russia invaded Ukraine, he felt the need to provide further support to the Ukrainian people. Since the war began, through Friends of Zion and with additional donations from Samaritan’s Purse, Evans has helped deliver 15 million pounds of food, alongside medicine, generators and clothing.
I wanted to personally ensure that the supplies reached the people who needed them most,” said Evans. “And just as importantly, I wanted the opportunity to share hope and encouragement with the Ukrainians first-hand.”
Despite concerns from his father, renowned Middle East expert Dr. Michael David Evans, who reminded him of his responsibility to his four young children, Evans felt compelled to act. He found strength in his faith, particularly in Psalm 118:17: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”
“If anything, this has shown an even greater example to my kids (and the rest of our family) that a life lived for Christ is the central and most important point,” continued Evans.
Bringing Aid to the War Zones
Despite the U.S. government warnings to not travel to the Ukraine, Evans left Texas on Dec. 3rd for Dnipro, a city under frequent ballistic missile attacks. He journeyed over 1,000 miles along southeastern frontlines, visiting villages that had not seen a foreign visitor since the war began.
In Kryvyi Rih, a heavily bombed city, Evans delivered 50,000 pounds of food to a local church serving as a humanitarian aid depot. This critical distribution provided a lifeline for hundreds of families.
Days before Christmas, Evans continued to encourage war-stricken communities in eastern Ukraine. Preaching in small village churches from Odessa to Kharkiv, he also held cross-denominational meetings with local pastors who have remained in conflict zones to shepherd their communities. His mission also extended to various Jewish communities, bringing much-needed support and solidarity. He spent time kneeling at the bedsides of the sick, praying with them and offering comfort.
In Kharkiv, just 20 miles from the Russian border, Evans led a special Christmas outreach on December 15, with a particular focus on those most vulnerable: children and the elderly. The event included a theater production for 1,000 children, many of whom are orphans or have lost a parent in the conflict. Each child received gifts and experienced the comforting message of God’s love, and hot meals were served to hundreds of seniors. This local effort brought a moment of joy and distraction from the harsh realities of war.
A Mission Rooted in History
Evans’ father, of Jewish descent, named him after his own grandfather, Rabbi Mikel Katznelson, who tragically perished in the Holocaust. Inspired by a visit to the site where his great-grandfather and 2,000 others were killed in a wooden synagogue, Evans began caring for impoverished Holocaust survivors and Jewish orphans in Ukraine over a decade ago. Consequently, his mission has grown into a broader effort to support those in need.
Reflection and Continued Commitment
While the war’s toll remains immense, so does the impact of various efforts of love and care, such as these. Through food, water, medicine and warmth, Evans’ mission continues to sustain communities and deliver hope.
“The war is still happening, we’re still helping, and God is still good,” Evans reminds us as 2024 comes to a close.
Michael D. Evans, Jr. Is a minister of the Gospel and the director of the Ukraine ministry for Friends of Zion. For more information on how to support these efforts, please visit: https://giving.foz.org/ukraine/.
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