Sharing Jesus in Ukraine’s Inline Skate Community

Even in the hardest times, the hope of Christ can break through in powerful ways. Thanks to your generous support of JSAW’s Action Sports Ministry Fund, our partners at the Ukraine Skate Ministry “Custom” were able to do just that.

At the end of June, as war continues to weigh heavily on daily life in Ukraine, Custom organized an extreme sports competition for the country’s inline skate community. Riders traveled from cities like Kharkiv, Rivne, Dnipro, Kyiv, and Irpin to gather at a riverside skatepark—not just for tricks and trophies, but for something deeper.

From the start, this event was about more than sport. After a moment of silence for fallen heroes, the church pastor warmly welcomed everyone and invited them to discover hope beyond the skatepark—hope found in Jesus. Throughout the two days, trained evangelists engaged with riders and spectators alike, building genuine connections and sharing about the love and grace of Christ.

In a country hurting from conflict, these conversations offered a different story: one of peace, purpose, and the promise of God’s presence. The atmosphere, filled with upbeat music, shared meals, and authentic community, reflected Christ’s love in action.

The city’s mayor personally thanked the team for creating such a meaningful space for youth during wartime and encouraged them to keep going. Leaders from the inline skate community also expressed gratitude, recognizing how much this event meant to riders longing for light in dark times.

All of this happened because you chose to invest in sharing Jesus through action sports. Thank you for helping bring hope to places that need it most. Please continue to pray for Ukraine—and for everyone who heard about Jesus at this special event.

Together, we’re not just supporting action sports; we’re sharing the hope of Christ, one rider at a time. If you would like to support future grants through the Action Sports Ministry Fund please click here to find out more: JSAW.org/worldwide