Investing in others for the future of Ukraine

Vitaliy Andriiets, Director of Wise Carpenter, is much more than just a skilled woodworker. He is also a dedicated husband and father; and a teacher, mentor, and inspirational leader. Across every area of his life and ministry, his passion is to invest in people and see lives transformed.

Equipping and strengthening his team

In January, Vitaliy gathered together the Wise Carpenter regional workshop mentors to share their experiences and encourage one another.

“Unfortunately, some workshops are facing challenging times due to a shortage of mentors, difficulties with mentor mobilization, unheated workshop spaces, and other issues,” Vitaliy explained. “Despite this, the men are always glad to see each other and are eager to share stories from their mentoring experience.”

He also facilitated the annual meeting of the main leaders in the ministry from across the whole country, to plan events, set direction for the year, and agree goals together.

“This time, we met in central Ukraine to focus on strengthening support for our existing workshops. Our goal is to equip them with tools, materials, and training so that the men leading this ministry have the resources and encouragement they need.”

With their usual energy and enthusiasm, the team have also made plans to run two summer camps and a men’s retreat later in the year.

Making space for learning

After some months of prayerful consideration, Vitaliy and his wife Sofia have relaunched a home group for young people, something they first did back in 2024. “The vision for this gathering is simple,” Vitaliy said, “it is to create a warm and welcoming evening for young people, where they receive both good spiritual food and good physical food.”

The extreme cold of winter and the long power cuts have made this challenging, but after supporters stepped in to help the Andriiets purchase an inverter, they consistently have heat and light in their house, and they want to share that blessing with others.

Now they are hosting around 15 young people every week for socialising, sharing a meal, and reading the Bible. Those attending include youth leaders, teenagers from their church, and two young men who do not yet believe. Currently Vitaliy is leading them through a chronological study of the gospels, and they are praying that through this, “God will move powerfully in their hearts and do something real and life-changing in their lives.”

And their efforts are bearing fruit. “We are already seeing trust grow, hearts open, and genuine community form,” he shared.

Working with youngsters

Mentoring young boys and developing practical skills in carpentry with them has always been the heart of Vitaliy’s work, and this continues even as his time is filling up with other commitments.

Describing the weekly Wise Carpenter workshop he runs at his church, he said, “This is one of my favourite ministries during the week. For about 18 months, I have had the honour of mentoring a group of boys. During this time, we have faced many challenges and celebrated many victories together, and I can see how they are growing in wisdom, in knowing God, and in understanding themselves. It is especially meaningful to observe how their attitude toward hands-on work has changed. What once seemed secondary has become a tool for developing character, responsibility, and confidence; and they are now creating substantial projects on their own.”

Involving his children

Vitaliy is currently in the middle of a month-long trip to see friends and supporters in the USA, and this time he has taken his two teenagers, Vasya and Varvara, with him.

“The purpose of this trip is to reconnect with friends we already know, meet new people, visit churches, and begin building long-term relationships centred on faith, ministry, and mutual encouragement,” he said. For his son and daughter, “It will be a special opportunity for them to see the wider body of Christ and to experience Christian fellowship beyond Ukraine, especially during this time of war.”

Hope for the future

Through all these different activities, Vitaliy is faithfully sowing seeds in the next generation. Each area of his work reflects the same aspiration: to see young people grow in faith, character, and community. There is no doubt God is using him and the Wise Carpenter ministry to raise up skilled people of faith who will, in time, serve and lead others.