Holding the Line:
1,200 Doctors and medical staff in a Fallen Nation
01 Holding the Line: 1,200 Doctors and medical staff in a Fallen Nation
2025
On October 17, Vicky, Luke, and I flew into Israel. At the passport control checkpoint, an immigration officer began flipping through my passport. Seeing the number of conflict zones I had traveled to, he started asking questions about one country after another.
When he asked if I had ever been to Israel before, I told him yes, though my last visit was almost 15 years ago. I explained that back then, FRM paid to help 300 Jewish people immigrate to Israel. I added that when Hamas attacked on October 7, we immediately sent funds to support the Jewish nation.
The immigration officer then asked about the countries bordering Afghanistan. I told him that after the U.S. abandoned Afghanistan, I led a team of U.S. Marines and SEALs through the mountains to find escape routes. We rescued and relocated 2,600 individuals, including high-value targets, before the Taliban could hunt them down and kill them.
The questions kept coming — South Sudan, Ukraine, and other operations. Finally, he looked at me, puzzled, and asked, “Why do you do all this?”
Vicky had already gone through, and I was just trying to give simple answers so I could get through before she became worried. I answered, “It’s what I do.” He paused, nodded, smiled, and sincerely said, “Thank you.” Then he waved me through.
We spent the first night in Tel Aviv, then drove to Jerusalem. From there, we traveled a few hours to a Druze community to meet with their leadership about how FRM could help.
Luke introduced us to his old friend Fadi, a medical doctor. We had dinner with him, his wife, and daughter — kind people who had prepared a generous meal. Unfortunately, I was coming down with a severe throat infection that I had picked up in Africa, and it was getting worse by the hour. Fadi examined me and prescribed medication. The next three days were miserable, but I began to heal.
During our conversations, I learned that what the U.S. media reported about the conflict was not accurate. When the new Syrian government attacked the Druze in Suwayda, they came in with 200 tanks and 400,000 Islamic fighters to surround the city, ensuring no one escaped alive. They sent Bedouin militants and ISIS fighters to finish the massacre.
Three thousand Druze people were killed on the first day. Entire families were raped, tortured, and murdered. I have seen too many dead newborn babies. The attackers entered hospitals, going from room to room — executing doctors, nurses, and patients. Even the maternity ward was not spared.
Fadi told me the hospital had collapsed. Those who survived have not been paid in months, though their wages are only $40 a month. I asked how many were left on staff.
“1,200,” he said.
I did the math: to pay them all would cost $48,000 to $60,000 per month — roughly $100,000 a month when including emergency medical supplies. After two days of prayer, I committed FRM to cover all salaries and purchase emergency medical supplies for one year.
We have enough emergency funds to cover the first four months, but we need to raise the rest to ensure that we sustain these men and women who are risking their lives to save others.
At this time, we need to raise at least $400,000 to meet the need.
The little girl, Hala, whom I mentioned last month — I learned she had been shot in the face. Fortunately, the terrorist’s aim was bad, and it took off about half her nose. I also found out she has a living aunt.
I have offered to cover any needs, from reconstructive surgery to medical intervention or relocation for her and her aunt. The other woman, who was 30, we are still working to see what can be done to assist her.
POTATOES FOR GRANDMOTHERS
One of My Favorite Christmas Stories
Many years ago, Far Reaching Ministries started a feeding program to feed the elderly in Russia called Potatoes for Grandmothers. It has now been extended to Ukraine to help care for those who do not have the ability to provide for themselves.
Most elderly receive a pension, but most of it goes toward paying electricity bills, leaving very little for food. They live on potatoes and a potato-and-beet soup called borscht. Many cannot even afford milk.
This Christmas, we want to share how you can help and, through your help, how lives are changed. This story is one of my favorite Christmas stories.
I, Vladimir Komantsev, was born in 1935 in the village of Zaria, Levokumskogo district, and I lived my entire life on 4 Krasnaya Street. My whole life was completely connected with this village and at a Sovkhoz Collective Farm where I worked for 45 years as a labor veteran and a former member of the Communist Party. Never in my life did I think that a time would come when I would have complete disappointment for all those years of my life. I never thought that old age would be such a miserable existence. All that I had and saved for all those years, I lost. I was left alone.
My eldest son, Andre, came home from Afghanistan disabled and soon I buried him. My younger son, Sasha, died in the first Chechen war. My knowledge and experience as a winemaker was not wanted and eventually I was dismissed from the collective farm when I reached retirement age. I always came up short with my meager pension. My monthly pension is not even enough to pay for my housing and public utilities. I had a small farm, but three years after traumas and surgeries, I could not maintain it so I had to sell the farm. I was left with nothing; I had to survive only with the help of my neighbors. Never in my life had I thought I would be a happy man after so many years of disappointment. Having lost my sons, I thought I could never be joyful and happy again in my life.
It happened on Passover when missionaries brought me a lot of food. They brought me very wonderful and delicious food products! They told me that it was from believers in America who wanted to render aid to the poor, and they sent the food package. I cried when I saw all this food. I don’t even remember when I had seen so much food in my home. They told me that you are supporting me financially. They also gave me a Bible as a gift. I used to be a communist and never believed that God existed. I realized that God cared for me, spiritually and financially, by helping me through brothers and sisters. Meeting believers gave me great faith.
Since then, the missionaries visit me all the time bringing food. When I had surgery on my leg and thigh, it was a difficult time for me. Thankfully, I had brothers and sisters around me that God had given me. I repented after I experienced such brotherly love and care. Thanks to the brothers who would come visit me every week in the hospital. Thanks for the care of the wonderful family, who visit me and help me with many things. I became sure that our Lord is alive! I forgot how it was to be cared for that way for so long, and I found myself in a big loving family where I am loved and needed. I personally would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has taken part in my life and in the lives of those who are alone like me. Thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and my brothers. I received peace and love in my heart. May the Lord bless all the brothers and sisters! I love you all!
Your brother, Vladimir.
Vladimir went home to be with the Lord a few years ago, but when he left this world, he had come to Christ. His story is one of the dearest to me, knowing that, by showing God’s love and care, many will likewise come to a saving faith.
This Christmas, we will be distributing food baskets containing the much-needed food and household items, and we are once again inviting you to be part of this tremendous blessing. For $300 USD, you can help an elderly grandfather or grandmother get through the entire winter; for $3,000, you can feed ten grandmothers, and for $6,000, you can care for twenty. When we deliver the food baskets and they see it, many weep.
THEY SAW GOD’S HAND
When we first went to the Nuba Mountains in Sudan in 2000, the region was almost 99% Islamic. Over the next five years, we trained two classes of chaplains. Seventy-five men from those early years graduated and deployed to frontline units across the nation.
Today, we have 55 chaplains serving in the war-torn Nuba region; many men have given their lives in service to Christ. Currently, in the Nuba Mountains, they say there are now more Christians than Muslims.
An interesting note from the book of Ezekiel — his prophecy talks about South Sudan. It says that it is a land divided by waters, whose people are tall, dark, and fierce, which is a perfect description of the people in South Sudan. It also says in the last days, praise would come out of these very mountains. It is remarkable to think that our chaplains could be instrumental in fulfilling this prophecy. I have had chaplains who have brought entire villages to Christ with 3,000 to 6,000 conversions.
The Nuba region once had a strong Christian influence, but radical Islam brought about a wave of violence and forced conversions many years ago. Those who refused to convert to Islam were killed. Through the ministry of our chaplains, many have returned to Christ. The miracles the Nubians have witnessed have brought about a great spiritual awakening.
In the early years of the war, the military brought in witch doctors to cast spells for victory; they never succeeded but suffered great defeats. When the chaplains began praying and asking Christ for His protection, the outcome changed dramatically. Muslim militants suffered stunning defeats at their hands.
A number of years ago, a city called Kadugala was attacked by 30,000 Muslim soldiers. The commander told the military personnel to evacuate the city, and they did. But one of our chaplains went to the commander and said, “If we leave, the Muslim soldiers will kill all the civilians.” The commander said, “I have already released the troops. I have only 20 men remaining.” But our chaplain said, “We have 14 chaplains. We will stay and fight while the civilians flee the city. And they stayed and fought until all the civilians had left, then they pulled out.
When the men were telling me the story, they said that something very strange happened; they said that they did not lose any men but that the enemy lost thousands. So many were killed that they were using bulldozers to bury the bodies. At that time, I had been praying for six months that the Lord would protect our men just as He did in Isaiah 37. It says that the angel of the Lord went out and slew 185,000 in one night. When the men heard this, they greatly rejoiced. Even Muslim soldiers — those not aligned with the radical Islamic north but fighting alongside the South Sudanese — refused to go into battle unless the chaplains prayed first. They had seen God’s protection.
In 1994, when the north first began the forced conversion, Islamic militants executed the intellectual leaders and killed 5,000 civilians. This year, our men fought to retake lost territory.
In the battle, the enemy had:
six tanks
57 Land Cruisers mounted with .50-caliber heavy guns
12 vehicles armed with 32–40 rockets each
seven air-defense systems
2,000 enemy soldiers
The battle raged for eight hours, and around 1,000 Islamic fighters were killed, while Nubian losses totaled only 20 men. Once again, God had gone before the men.
It is not difficult to see why so many have come to deep faith. Most importantly, they found Christ.
At our refresher course this year, we learned that one chaplain had trained nine men that he sent out to start Calvary Chapels. The chaplain asked me for the book Calvary Distinctives, which we told him we would bring copies of to the next refresher course. I am beyond blessed when I see that all the years of labor have borne real fruit. We train the men as Jesus said, “Go into the world and make disciples of men.”
Many can evangelize, but taking the time to make disciples takes a lot of work — but it changes the world.
CHRISTMAS IN BUNKERS
Edward runs our Ghost Operations into closed countries. I asked him to share about his experience in Ukraine.
Ukraine stands as a warning shot across Eastern Europe. Over 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers are missing in action — gone, unaccounted for. Ninety-five percent are husbands, fathers, and sons, and thousands of children are already fatherless. As winter closes in, those numbers will climb.
Nearly 4,000,000 civilians are displaced in Ukraine. They are continually running and hiding, and they are never safe. More than 2,000,000 children now live in underground shelters or bunkers that were once their playgrounds.
At Far Reaching Ministries (FRM), we have worked in war zones across the globe. We serve shoulder-to-shoulder with men who have operated at the highest levels of U.S. Special Operations — SEALs, Marine Raiders, Delta Force, Rangers, and others. Yet, when we look for a model of the Warrior Ethos, we do not look to Hollywood or Washington. We go to Scripture and to King David and His Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23).
David’s army began with 400 broken men hiding in a cave; those who were outcasts, in debt, and bitter in soul (1 Samuel 22:1-2). They were not elite at first. They were rejected, angry, and tired of life. But they came and kept showing up. Over time, God transformed them into warriors of extraordinary courage. Adino killed 800 men in one encounter with a single spear. Eleazar fought until his hand froze around his sword and said that the Lord brought about a great victory through him. Three others broke through enemy lines just to bring David water, and David poured it out before God because their courage was holy.
That is transformation. Where broken men became instruments of God’s power, and they went from being cave dwellers to history makers. And this is where the story meets today.
On a recent mission to Ukraine, I spent time at the front lines. I witnessed what women and children live through every day: bombings, evacuations, and living in fear that never fades. After my time in the war zone, I got to leave — they do not.
We have met mothers who have lost everything, children who react with fear at every sound. Many show the signs of Acute Stress Reaction and Traumatic Shock — the frozen state that follows horror. Some stare blankly; others tremble. Many are too shell-shocked even to hold a conversation.
One night, before bunkering down a few kilometers from the frontlines, our chaplains and I stopped at a small grocery store still operating. We filled a cart with food, hygiene items, and the best candy we could find for the children.
When we arrived, the parents were too shattered to meet. But the children — those eyes — so much fear, pain, and emptiness. A young boy was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. He did not respond; he sat in silence. I fought hard to keep the tears back. That is what war does: it steals even the hopes and imagination of children.
There is no life too broken for Christ to heal. We have seen it again and again across Africa and the Middle East, and now in Eastern Europe.
Love is the bridge that FRM uses to carry the truly broken into the arms of Jesus.
War does not stop in the trenches; it moves into the hearts and minds of an entire nation. It is being written into the nervous systems of children who are not statistics. They have names and unique faces and some buried parents and siblings. These children can easily believe their story is over, but in Christ, they have hope and a future.
When most of the world celebrates, FRM will deploy into basements and bomb shelters, where the forgotten wait in the cold and dark. This winter we will:
• PROVIDE “Hugs” winter jackets for another 2,500 Ukrainians—costing $40 to make but equal in quality to $350 jackets you would find at REI.
• FEED 2,500 single mothers and families through our Christmas food programs.
• GIVE Christmas gifts to 2,000 children whose lives have been scarred by war.
Why? Because Jesus said in Matthew 25, when I was hungry you fed Me, thirsty you gave Me drink, naked you clothed Me, and sick you cared for Me. What we do for the least of these, we do for Him.
Edward Amaya
Ghost Operations.
From Wes:
Last year, we had many Christmas parties for children in Ukraine. At one event alone, there were over 1,000 boys and girls, mostly between 5 and 10 years old. All had lost their father to the war that should have never been launched. This year, for one night, the kids get to be children again. They will get a toy, a winter jacket, a great Christmas meal, and be loved. Please join us in providing for these children. Far Reaching Ministries will pay for the jackets, but we need people to give $40 for each child to receive a toy and a wonderful Christmas meal. For $400, you can provide for 10 children, and for $4,000, for 100 children.
GARY GALBRAITH
I am writing to inform you that Gary has lung cancer, and it has metastasized to other parts of his body. Doctors found a 9.7-centimeter mass that is pushing on his heart and the main vein leading to his head, and they want to put a stint in the vein.
We would ask everyone to keep Gary, his wife, and children in prayer. He has been in Indonesia for the past 10 years, where he built a church and actively serves in ministry, including evangelism as well as children’s ministry on the island.
THEY WILL NEVER FORGET
At this time of year, we are gearing up for Christmas outreaches in many nations from Ukraine to Mexico and to South America. One of the things I see as highly important is providing for the poor at Christmas. I realize that if we do not fund these outreaches, these children will not have a Christmas.
In Mexico, we have about 20 different Christmas parties, each with approximately 100 to 200 children.
In Mexico, a typical Christmas meal is something like tamales. Turkey and stuffing are not a part of the meal, mainly because of the cost. But what the children really want are hotdogs with as many onions and jalapeños as possible. Each party includes cake and many other treats for the kids. We also bring in bouncy houses and carnival games.
In all the outreaches Christ is shared with the kids and most will pray to receive the Lord.
I have a group of about 20 children that I try to take to the beach twice a year. All do not have a father figure in their lives, and to the best of my ability I try to show them how a father should be. These children had never been to the beach before we took them, nor had they ever seen a McDonald’s or eaten at one until we took them.
When we are at the beach, we barbecue hot dogs and hamburgers, have fruit desserts, and many more things like chips and cookies. The kids just love it!
For most of the day, I just sit in a beach chair and talk to whoever wants to speak with me. It is not uncommon for the smaller ones to crawl up in my lap and fall asleep. One of the little girls asked me if I would be her father. And I told her that I would love her like a father and make sure that she always has food on the table, which is important to all children.
This Christmas we will have a beach day and make carne asada and provide Christmas gifts for the children. It is a memory that in the future they will look back on as one of the best days of their lives.
We will also provide Christmas in Peru for several thousand children. The cost for each of these outreaches is about $40 per child.
$400 provides for 10 children
$4,000 provides for 100 children
Whatever you are able to do, I can guarantee that it will be a Christmas the children will never forget.
Vicky and I want to wish you all a very Christ-filled Christmas.
Wes and VickyBentley
Far Reaching Ministries
Old, Alone, Scared and Unloved
As we have previously shared, Pastor Fedor has a church in Odessa, Ukraine, with 200 elderly grandmothers and grandfathers who have been abandoned and often robbed of their homes. These people are afraid and have no way of caring for themselves. The heart that I believe the Lord has for these people is that in old age, they will not have to live in fear, worry about where their next meal will come from, or if they will have to live in the streets. Far Reaching Ministries wants them to know that if they become ill, believers will take them to the doctor and make sure they get proper medical treatment. Most importantly, they will not die alone and scared but will be loved and cared for by the body of Christ.
You can sponsor a grandmother or grandfather for $25, $50, $75, or $100 per month. Though automatic debit is the preferred method, all donations are needed.
Syria Rescue
Syria is facing an immediate humanitarian crisis with the rise of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) into government power. HTS is a radical Islamic military faction progressing out of al-Qa’ida. Designated as a Terrorist Organization by the U.S., HTS has initiated a violent and widespread campaign against Christians, as well as ethnic cleansing. There are numerous ongoing reports of door-to-door attacks, wide spread rape, and mass executions.
Sunni extremists are engaging in systematic ethnic cleansing, violence, and atrocities such as sexual assault and killings. Far Reaching Ministries (FRM) is urgently working to address the targeted killings of Christians, as well as violence against women, children, and the elderly.
FRM has launched an Emergency Response Mission requiring $1.5 million to $2.5 million for rescue operations, safe housing, and the critical support needed.