Help for Staroe Selo, a town in the Ukraine

Ukraine – 1941

Staroe Selo, a town not far from the border to White Russia, is surrounded by many impenetrable woods. There are also many lakes and much swampland. Wolves and wild animals are at home there. No wonder guerilla groups from White Russia and the Ukraine constantly invaded to attack the German supply convoy from the connecting road 80 km away. How were the Germans to find them? The guerillas knew their way around in the woods and hid themselves so that it was impossible to come after them. The Germans thought of a way to take revenge and sent out flyers to the inhabitants throughout the entire area warning them of the consequences, should the attacks not stop. Naturally, they didn’t stop the attacks. The Guerillas were clever and quick, they came and went.

Early one day, a convoy of 13 vehicles with the protection unit regiment drove into Staroe Selo. The soldiers drove all the men of the area together and locked them into the town’s church. When they were sure they had all the men, they began to shoot one after another; altogether 680 men. Only one man was left. He was the head of the Pentecostal church in this area. At 4:30 A.M. he went to pick berries in the woods. That saved his life.

In 1994 – exactly 43 years later, Germans came again for the first time to the town of Staroe Selo. They were the Brothers Holzwarth and Neumüller. They were invited to visit the people of the town by a preacher of the Pentecostal church. They knew nothing of what had happened in 1941. They were peacefully and friendly taken in. The people heard the brothers and invited them to eat. Late in the evening, they began to talk about what had happened in 1941.

Deeply touched, Br. Holzwarth began to organize help for Staroe Selo after returning to Germany. Engaged for the opportunity, the German Military arranged for 3 complete dental facilities as well as supplies for 2 years. Br. Holzwarth was able to bring this to the Ukraine.

Later, he contacted the Stihl company with a request for a chain saw. A family with 12 children had asked for it. Instead of one, he received 3 good chain saws, which he sent to Staroe Selo.

There are still 50 contacts with Staroe Selo and the friends regularly receive tracts and writings of the church.