Liberty professors and brothers born in Ukraine travel overseas to help their homeland

As the world has anxiously watched the unrest that the people of Ukraine have been enduring for the past month, two Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity faculty members and brothers originally from Ukraine have taken action, risking comfort and security by serving refugees.

Tim Moroz (’11, ’15), who teaches courses in Survey of Old & New Testament and Introduction to Church Ministries through Liberty University Online Programs, returned to his home in Rhode Island last week after serving Ukrainian refugees in Poland. His brother, Dr. Andrew Moroz (’07, ’09, ’11), who teaches online courses in New Testament Survey, left Lynchburg last week for Ukraine.

The Moroz family immigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1990s.

Tim Moroz is currently the executive pastor of Sanctuary Church in Providence, R.I. Andrew Moroz is a lead elder at Gospel Community Church in Lynchburg.

The brothers watched in horror last month as Russia invaded their homeland.

“Even though Russia had been building up forces for months, truly no one expected that they were going to invade the country,” said Andrew Moroz, who flew into an airport outside of Ukraine before driving across the border to serve. “People woke up a month ago at 5 a.m., and they found out they were going to be invaded.”

In Poland, Tim Moroz and his wife, Brittannie (’14, ’17), a fellow online faculty member with the School of Behavioral Sciences, served at a camp which sheltered close to 150 refugees. They helped families recover from the trauma they have experienced in the past month. While parents rested or tried to make plans for their future living situations, the couple would make crafts with the kids.

“We realized that one of the ways we could bless everyone was by having a little kids program in the afternoon,” he said. “It’s a beautiful way to help the kids think about something other than the war and to remind them of the things that bring them joy.”

It opened up doors to talk with the parents, too.

“As the week went on, after we had loved on and invested into the kids, we then were able to sit with the parents,” Tim Moroz said. “They were more willing to talk with us once we had been there for a while and had talked with their kids.”

After being back in the states this week, he said he is already realizing how much he misses being with his native people.

“I would go back tomorrow if I had a chance,” he said.

Now it’s his brother’s turn to serve their home country.

“I’m going to be a little nomadic on this trip,” Andrew Moroz said during an interview last week just before leaving the U.S. “Pretty much all of the churches in Ukraine have become refugee and supply centers. If you are in eastern Ukraine and you need to get to the western part of the country, you know you can stop at any church along the way and get some food or spend the night.”

He plans to lodge in a church during his stay and join refugee workers in Ukraine who are traveling into northern regions of the country to rescue people whose cities have been bombed off and on for several weeks.

“These are people who haven’t gotten to leave yet,” he said. “And there are thousands every day who want to leave, but there is just no way out. So we will be transporting them out (in vehicles) into western Ukraine where it’s a little bit quieter.”

Some of the Ukrainians they will transport will look to remain in the country while others will flee from there to Poland, Hungary, Romania, or anywhere they can go to restart their lives, including Christian homes in the area.

“A lot of believers over there have opened up their personal homes and have said, ‘If you need a place to stay, if you need a place to figure out your life you can start here, you can stay with us,’” he said.

When asked why he would risk his own comfort and safety to go overseas during a dangerous time of unrest, Andrew Moroz said it is because of the heart he has for his people.

“The best answer I can give is that it’s out of love,” he said. “Am I excited to potentially be in harm’s way? No, not at all. But I love my people, and I love my friends and these guys who have been serving over there for four weeks now.”

Watching fellow volunteers sacrifice has motivated him.

“Ten million people have been displaced and are trying to find a new home somewhere in the country,” Andrew Moroz said. “They need transportation, they need supplies. My friends are a little bit tired and are operating on adrenaline, the Holy Spirit, and caffeine. I want to be there with them. To encourage them, to bring supplies to them.”

While his suitcase was full of medical supplies, Andrew Moroz is also prepared for the spiritual care these people will need. He recognizes that a tragedy such as this can make people more receptive to faith.

“The Bible tells us that God is close to the brokenhearted,” he said. “And especially those who are crushed, He lifts up. I think one of the beautiful things that has happened through all of this is how the nation of Ukraine has come together. And not only Ukraine, but Europe.”

“I’m wondering if these are the seeds of a global revival,” he added. “I think we are going to see some of that in Ukraine.”

Through even small acts of kindness, the refugees who are not walking with the Lord are witnessing the Church in action like they’ve never seen before.

“If they didn’t know God before, they are exposed to Him along the way,” he said.

Andrew Moroz acknowledged his gratitude toward the School of Divinity for the encouragement and support that he and his brother have received.

“To be connected to Liberty and to have the opportunity to share and to advocate, to raise support means a lot,” he said.

Although he will be returning after one week, Andrew Moroz is confident that a return trip will happen in the near future.

“I know there will be more opportunities,” he said. “Not everyone will be able to go into Ukraine right now and not everyone should go into Ukraine right now. But all of us can help support refugee workers.”