HICKMAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A middle Tennessee missionary with a heart for war orphans is making an extraordinary difference in Ukraine — just when it mattered most.
Hickman County pastor Stu Martin and his small but determined ministry, Wings of the Wind, have once again answered a call that seemed almost impossible. Thanks to the generosity of viewers and donors, hundreds of Ukrainian war orphans will survive this brutal winter with warmth, light and hope.
And six weeks ago, none of this seemed likely.
Some orphanages in Ukraine are without electricity for 10 to 14 hours a day. In the dead of winter, that means darkness, bitter cold and no reliable heat. The need was staggering: 1,200 children, many living in bomb-damaged facilities, facing one of the coldest winters of their lives.
“It felt overwhelming at first,” Pastor Martin said. “But from the beginning, I believed God would provide.”
He was right.
Between Dec. 1 and mid-January, the donations poured in. Churches, families and individuals from across Tennessee and around the country stepped up.
“Oh, it feels wonderful,” Martin said. “From the first of December to the middle of January, all the money came in. That’s God.”
The result:
- 1,000 winter blankets
- Four large generators to power heaters during extended blackouts
- Every dollar raised — just in time
Churches from across the country contributed, including a congregation in White Bluff, Tennessee, which alone donated nearly $3,000.
“It just came in from all over,” Martin said. “And after the last interview, people were still sending checks.”
Now, Pastor Stu is heading back to the region once again. Because of relationships built over multiple trips, he’ll pick up the generators in Romania, where they’re more affordable, and personally transport them into Ukraine — ensuring the help goes exactly where it’s needed.
This ministry doesn’t guess. It listens. Then it acts.
But Martin is quick to redirect the praise.
“To everyone who gave — thank you,” he said. “Not only from me, but from the Lord. You helped save the lives of more than 1,200 children.”
The response has been nothing short of remarkable.
Special thanks also go to Bart Durham Injury Law, Hiscall Inc. in Dickson, and Benton Nissan in Columbia, corporate sponsors who have each committed $1,000 annually to support the mission.
Good people. Making good news. Through service.
And for hundreds of children spending winter nights wrapped in warm blankets, with heat humming through generators, hope no longer feels so far away.