One of my emails from Ukraine yesterday started... "well this should be the first day of Spring but it is the sixth day of war". This, in a beautifully understated way illustrates how many expectations have been turned on their heads. Whilst yesterday was slightly less confrontational (in military terms) for some (KYIV)...for many others it was the hardest day yet ! Invaders seemed to have been given two orders
1) Make life unbearable and squash / surround humans into submission
2) If you spot a non Orthodox Church on the way, feel free to expel all your ammunition on it (regardless of whether children are trying to keep safe in the basement).
On these posts I have always sought not to be political.
So here is a topical Spring photo for the 1st of March ...it's of a nice field...
As we look to the future we ask what part we can play as UK and US churches, how can we as an international gospel community "rebuild"? In reality there are some things you are not hearing publicly at this time from those on the ground or mission / aid agencies.
THE ISSUES OF NOW:
Although it is possible to send money to all parts of Ukraine through the appropriate mechanisms, sadly not all of it will be strategically useful and could be better sent where it could be better used. Where shops have no produce, where restrictions keep people in bunkers or away from roads, where people have no connectivity there is no reason to have more money, Such precious friends need from us; more prayer, more resolve for the long term, and a readiness to send and go and help when the day arrives. Sending money to existing projects (although great) might also seem generous and helpful, but may not be fully considered. Yes people need some money for basics, extra money if they are taking in others, but in reality the practical things they need we cannot get to them, and won't be able to for some time even if it all started in motion this second.
THIS IS A NEW SEASON AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE:
The tectonic plates of mission have shifted. Ukraine is not the same as it was and neither is greater Europe. The issues for the future are not the issues of last week. The rebuilding will need to be strategic when it happens. I suspect that it will fit into 3 categories.
1. SHOWING LOVE and supporting the effort to get functional again: Strategic projects to get the most needy and churches back on their feet. These efforts will have to be collective (with the networks) efforts not isolated elastoplasts of our own choosing (to make ourselves feel better about the trauma). I have been amazed at people sending things of their choosing rather than what people have asked for or clearly need.
2. New mercy ministry projects to prioritise Gospel work in the rebuilding..not just giving food and clothes (as lovely as that is), but giving them eternal certain hope, truth and security in CHRIST. In once sense Ukraine does not need one extra fixer or doer, it needs JESUS.
3. There will be significant HUB's which need to be built and maybe old hubs rebuilt , but only if appropriate for the new season of mission. A new day is coming, and I suspect a new way of working. In many ways this has scattered the gospel. The gospel has gone to many countries from this one country. New connections have formed, deep connections because of deep times.
Over the covid period God directed us to invest strategically into our mission hubs and especially key people to help others and especially to go with the gospel. These are the folks shining brightest at this time. You know that I am the first to get excited and put my ripped jeans on if buildings need to be built. Sometimes they do... and I think we will have a few building projects very soon - please sign up now in faith, but... sometimes the priority is not in buildings, and our hope must not be in buildings, our goal is not buildings. What God was teaching us months ago now makes much more sense. When we look after people, mission prospers. Infrastructure is absolutely always needed in gospel work, (and not always seen as needed), but in reality the gospel is mobile, and if we are being faithful we will be open to be mobile and flexible too.
WHAT CAN WE PRAY ? (Especially as we prepare for the future)
A) That GOD WILL FILL US WITH SPIRITUAL FRUIT TO WAIT NOW. We need God's help to patiently resist the desire to "do, fix and sort" in our own strength. Pray that God will give us the humble patience to wait, and steadfastness to follow through on the promise to help when help is appropriate.This is so hard when so many are increasingly suffering, Our times are in his hands not ours.
B) THAT GOD WILL HELP US NOW TO HELP THOSE WE CAN HELP.
The IDP hubs have been more successful than we could've dreamed, but some have paid the high human cost of leading this massive care initiative. Pray for the reenergising and supernatural equipping of those who have given every drop of energy and compassion over the last week. (See Pastor B's Video below)
Our role will be to encourage when everyone else is spent. To go, speak. encourage and help patiently as things need to get sorted. This may also be true of our friends in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Serbia, Germany. Maybe our task list should not exclude new partners who have been enormously used of God in this and also given everything. Is this part of that tectonic mission shift - that we are working more cohesively together ?
C) Pray for step by step "grit" to stick with it. Today Ukraine is unavoidable on the news. Will it be easier to not engage when / if things turn better ? Will some of us have suffering fatigue and quickly move to watch escapism and the stream of consumerism on our telly. Do we really need another person to "escape to the country" and look for their dreaded "forever home" (of mundanity). Is this what we should invest in ?
PROPERTY ADVERT 1: TODAYS ESCAPE TO INDIVIDUALISM AND SELFISHNESS in blissful ignorance (that anyone else lives on the planet).
Are our lives so empty now that all we can think of is living in a place where nothing happens ? Is the only way to deal with stress, to get a drip fix of nostalgia as we relive the periods of yesteryear (Downton Abbey, call the midwife, peaky blinders etc. etc. included).
There are some things and events which put life and eternity into perspective. There are some things we can't escape from, or dream wistfully away.
If you want to be part of our growing team of people who just want to fit in with God's plans and live in reality, we have a place for you do so. It may not be glamorous and you may have to work with others on the planet.
Job spec below:
JOB OPPORTUNITY: PRAYER WARRIOR, HUMBLED ENCOURAGER / HELPER. SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BE MORE LIKE Jesus Christ and encourage the UKRAINIAN CHURCH.
START DATE: FROM TODAY
LOCATION: WHEREVER YOU ARE NEEDED IN THE PURPOSES AND MISSION OF GOD
CURRENT VACANCIES: UK, UKRAINE, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, ROMANIA, POLAND amongst other places.
SKILLS NEEDED: A WILLING HEART TO FIT IN
JOB TITLE: SERVANT TEAM PLAYER
PROSPECTS: A NUMBER OF NEW AND EXPANSIVE VENTURES as we seek to rebuild and help the faithful people of GOD. We hope this will include amongst other things, travelling to encourage, picking up basic skills to build and rebuild, vans, lorries and open wallets to supply what is needed.
HOURS: Any time you can take away from relaxation when appropriate. Look after yourself but BARBADOS might be out this year.
COMPANY MOTTO: GOD's PEOPLE SHINE BRIGHTEST IN THE DARKEST OF TIMES.
Process: send me or any of the team, a note or text "IN". We will write your name down and pray for you, look to fit you in, and trust God as we go from there. You will be included, we need you.
And now for our 2nd property and a short film...
1) From our precious church family in Kherson. In daytime BBC tv language...
"this was a well appointed church property with good front aspect. The building underwent some recent modifications due to disgruntled neighbours, and is currently looking for help and needing investment with development and updating."
Our heart weeps for these precious brothers and sisters. I am "in" for whatever needs to be done whenever it is needed. Note the intentional nature of the damage. Note the widespread accounts emerging of many evangelical believers on the end of such hostility - it is almost like it was an order (?)
2) The video is from precious friend and team members in TERNOPIL region, ministering to those who are running and escaping ! May they find on their journey the one who welcomes us into his home, unconditionally, without cost and lavishes his best on us.
Thank you for your overwhelming and humbling fellowship,
P
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