letter from America
It was an unusual Sunday. A group of Ukrainian pastors had been in conversation with the missions leadership of the church to see if we might be able to partner with them.
Their ministry in Ukraine was very active. Church planting. Training pastors. Fruitful evangelism. Baptisms. As they were meeting that weekend with the church, news emerged of war breaking out in Ukraine. The Ukrainian pastors were prayed for in a new context, and they bravely made the hard decision to return to their homeland to shepherd their people.
Another remarkable Sunday occurred recently. Three of that same group of Ukrainian pastors were back in that same church. The war in Ukraine, as we know, is ongoing. The Ukrainian pastors told harrying stories of what it is like to live in a country under threat of imminent death. Hearing bombs, fearing shrapnel. Their faces did not look quite the same as before. More worn, and wearied. And yet with the horror, they also told stories of remarkable gospel progress. Hundreds being baptised from previously non-Christian backgrounds. The Ukrainian pastors have hopes and dreams of further future ministry expansion.
‘I have heard report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years, revive it; In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath, remember mercy’ (Hab.3:2).
As they were asked to speak to the congregation, they told stories, not so much about the war and not about the politics of the situation, but about the state of the church, and the progress of the gospel. ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’
Hearing such stories from the frontline does not by itself have the power to shake us from our lethargy, or provide strength in our difficulties. Bravery is not diffused by proxy. But encouraging stories of brave faithfulness can, if God be so pleased, drive us once again to our knees, and call us to ask God in our day, and ‘in the midst of our years’, to ‘remember mercy’.
If God can work so powerfully even in the midst of such devastation as is occurring in Ukraine, what might He do in our churches in America, in Europe, in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland? If the arm of the Lord is not too short to save with bombs blowing up churches, surely he is able to save those around us in our context too?
