For seven long years East Ukraine has been embroiled in a war which has brought devastation, displacement and death to many. Millions have been affected, losing homes, livelihoods, and life itself. The current pandemic has heaped more misery on this war-torn region and its people. How is the cause of the gospel and the state of evangelical church life in all of this?
The answer is – prospering and advancing! Pastor Igor, a Ukrainian national church leader likened the situation to that of Paul’s imprisonment at Rome from where he writes to the Philippian church and assures them that what has happened ‘has really served to advance the gospel’ (Phil.1:12). Despite not only the fallout from the war, but the discrimination, harassment and persecution of evangelical believers, including the burning and destruction of church buildings, Christ is faithfully building His church, and bringing hope and joy to many.
24 churches planted!
What evidence is there for this claim? The same Ukrainian church leader reports that 24 new churches have been planted in the war zone. Even violent opposition has not choked gospel growth. Furthermore, 12 new Ukrainian missionaries have been appointed recently, supported through SGA(UK)’s 70th Anniversary Project in 2020, its stated aim being the financing of 70 evangelists and missionaries to engage in pioneer evangelism and church planting.
The humanitarian efforts of the gospel churches have been nationally recognised and acclaimed, as believers have sacrificially and fearlessly provided the necessities of life for needy people. With help from SGA and other evangelical groups, thermal clothing, heating appliances, food and medicines have been distributed by local churches, and this has broken down barriers of suspicion and fear, to provide many opportunities for sharing the ‘Bread of Life’. This gospel humanitarian work is being carried on in the most adverse and difficult of circumstances. The conflict continues. People are still being wounded and killed. Buildings and properties are still being destroyed. But in these conditions God’s children have grasped opportunities to point people to safety and hope in Christ.
Churches ‘standing in the gap’
The reports received from SGA-sponsored missionaries and evangelists warm our hearts, but they also humble and challenge us, as we learn of the sacrificial ministry they carry on at great personal cost and even danger. Alexey, serving in the Donetsk region, tells of the unremitting efforts of believers to relieve the acute needs of those caught up in the war. He points out that it was the churches, not the state, who helped people escape from the ‘hot areas’. Believers helped the homeless to restore their damaged homes and provided food, fuel and household needs. The evangelical churches are still ‘standing in the gap’, assisting with the basic needs of people pushed below the poverty line by the economic crisis caused by the war and now exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
One pastor, Vasile, a baker by trade, was moved by God to build a small bakery and use the profits to provide loaves of bread for those in the community who are poor and without the ability to provide for themselves. Finance was sent out to help him realise his plans, and the bakery now has 14 believers involved in baking and distributing loaves – a basic necessity – to many, and so sharing practically the love of Christ. The ‘cup of cold water’ given in Christ’s name is being blessed by God to the salvation of precious men, women, boys and girls.
Vasile speaks of events in the Donbass area as miraculous blessings from God. He writes of ‘monuments’ of God’s grace visible in the faces of those who have been converted, or in the newly-built Houses of Prayer housing new communities of believers. He himself was involved in a new church plant and he writes of the area in which he ministers:
‘Dozens of new church communities [have been] organized in Donbass during this period, which were opened up to receive people with no more hopes left … People who did not want to hear about God are praying to Him today! And the only thing I can say to that is: “Praise God”!’
The faithful, persistent ministry of the gospel message, accompanied by Spirit-inspired humanitarian aid efforts, has broken down barriers of resistance and prejudice against the gospel, and resulted in a thrilling harvest of newborn children of God. With Vasile, we too say ‘Praise God’!
