Since the beginning of the Russia's present public war on Ukraine (2014) one thing has been clear, this is a spiritual battle between those who serve human authority under satanic tyranny and those who serve Christ and seek to see Christian Biblical principles outworked in society. In truth the oppression, hatred, persecution and aggression against Ukrainian evangelicals from its neighbour has never gone away. Churches were burned and tormented by Russians in Ukraine long before Feb 2022. Pastors and friends who led beautiful congregations "disappeared" and had car "accidents" long before 2022, The church had to conduct many things in the East in carefulness long before where we are now. I remember the fear on pastors faces as they negotiated their tails to be with the brothers, at no time did they relax and as soon as anyone reached for a phone their blood pressure reached critical levels. The fear in their eyes is a picture you can't forget. This is real fear because of real hatred and real consequences for any who walk with Christ and confess Him as LORD.
Not all Russians hate evangelicals, many evangelicals have fled from Russia or continue to witness to Christ there walking the tightrope against authorities. They are noble people, with complex lives of faithful service. Nothing is ever binary or monochromatic, but it is an archetypal principle tenet at the core of the Russian government that it uses its Orthodox ruse as a front for terrorism against biblical Christianity. The church for them must remain an arm for politics and manipulation of people into military dominance, so through the R. Orthodox arm of government control of society is exercised whether in Russia or Ukraine. If you find this hard to believe because your news channel has normalised Russia's war in Ukraine or you have become desensitised to the liberal scandal that says there are always two sides to every story therefore we never know the real truth, I urge you to look again. Some things are just plain. Please watch this helpful film. I commend the makers for their trustworthy representation and straightening of the facts. I challenge you not to be moved even if you just watch in part.
We seem to live in a western media cloud which has been bombarded by Russian propaganda. I'm not a conspiracy theorist by any stretch of imagination, just an observant normal watcher of the daily effort, people power and finance the Kremlin puts into causing such mistruth and confusion. The truth is clear...
- Evangelicals remain under attack, yet the Church of Jesus Christ grows whilst the Church of communism and Russian imperialism leads you to death, as they prepare you for the frontline in your childhood.
- There are many perspectives as we look to the future and the rebuilding of Ukraine. This film does not represent the full story. For every high profile believer who has seen family destroyed in a public way as a gesture of Russia's "might", there are 100's 1000's, 10,000's 100,000's of others who have their story of tragedy known more by heaven than the media.
- The evangelical church has a central role in Ukraine society. This has increased during the war. For any future rebuilding the evangelical church will be a central component with great opportunity and responsibility.
- Ultimately we believe both in God's love and God's justice. (PS 62)
- As Psalm 62 reminds us, we wait on Him for He is the one of true might, all His ways are just, and all His ways are perfect. (Deut 32:4).This does not make the waiting easy, but one day all wrongs will be made right. Nothing is private from God, and in waiting on Him there is His presence and help for each day, in this even amidst a dark world there is joy and delight enough to continue in the waiting.
In the meantime please join me in pouring your heart out for Ukraine before God.
Psalm 62: Waiting in God
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Please pray for...
1. Children displaced either into occupied territories or far from their original home. Those children taken to military "camp" who have not yet returned - but are known in every detail by the one who sees all things and knows all of them intimately. Pray especially for the evangelcial camps we are connected with this summer, for orphans and those traumatised, and their growth in Christ, their healing in His love, their strength to serve the Father who protects them.
2. Pray for those who testify to keeping grace through love and darkest tragedy, that God will continue to use those who minister comfort out of the comfort they have received, and bring others to find the everlasting grip of grace, the joy that is only known to the children of God. Pray especially for those evangelicals, in captivity and confinement at the hands of the opponents of Christ.
3. Pray for numerous church plants as they continue to growth through displaced peoples coming to Christ. One such church is shown below.
These believers, tried through the furnace have lost homes not just once. After relocation many of these friends lost their refugee home. This story is not uncommon. Yet God loves the refugee. If you would like to pray more intelligently and have more regular updates or give to those who provide ministry on a shoestring, please don't hesitate to contact me or the UK team. We can assure your prayers and support are not in vain, and God is blessing the Ukrainian Evangelical church. The least we can do is pray and stand with our brothers and sisters, share their burdens, carry their country in our hearts to God.
4. Pray for Ukrainians now in occupied territories. I spoke to one displaced pastor just a few days ago who reported that his church had quadrupled there in his absence. This is quite a remarkable season.Typically only the elderly and infirm remained, yet God has treasured their faithful witness. Just like in Acts, when the church is under pressure... authentic Christlike community shines and is attractive. People even sign up to Christ knowing that persecution, financial suicide, work loss, family trouble will inevitably come but that Christ is greater treasure. This is authentic church. Pray for those who remain, and walk by the light, proclaiming eternal truth in a context of lies.
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