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RUSSIA AND UKRAINE: OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CHURCH IN THE MIDST OF WAR

By Alexandra Nyoni

Following comments made by French President Emanual Macron and the British Foreign Secretary regarding their continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, Russia has announced its intention to run military simulations for the use of battlefield nuclear weapons. While this is not the first time Russia has facilitated exercises with nuclear weapons (Russia announced its intention to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus last March), Russian officials called the West’s comments “a new round of escalation” that “is unprecedented and requires special attention and special measures.” More than a threat to Ukraine itself, Russia’s latest move is seen as a warning to Ukraine’s western allies as they continue to rally support, despite Ukraine not being a member of NATO. Western governments continue to blame Russia for the deepening of tensions, accusing Moscow of conducting activities on NATO countries’ soil and threatening their security. The latest war developments have seen Ukraine transitioning to long-range missiles targeting Russia’s war logistics systems, oil refineries, and depots in order to make up for a shortage of personnel and ammunition for close-combat operations. Russia has continued to target Ukraine’s power grid and energy sector, most recently in the northern region of Sumy.

In the midst of this war, thousands of Christians gathered throughout Ukraine and Russia on Sunday, 5 May, to celebrate Orthodox Easter. The gatherings serve as a reminder that even as the two nations face grave difficulties, the Lord is still at work. Over two years on from the initial invasion, there are still reports coming from Church leaders in the region that their congregations are growing, and that there is an unprecedented ‘harvest’ that has come about as a natural outflow of war. While we would certainly not pray for war to continue, it is vital to recognise the unique opportunities that war presents to the Church. The same ‘harvest’ conditions were reported during the war in Syria, the conflict in Myanmar, and many others around the world. The local churches in war-torn nations should not lose focus due to their circumstances, but rather lean even more intentionally into what the Lord is doing around them. In Romans 8:28, we’re reminded that “the Lord works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” This does not mean that everything will be happy and unproblematic for believers, yet it does encourage us that even in the midst of turmoil, the Lord will work everything according to His sovereign will. The question for the Ukrainian Church is whether they are prepared to continue to produce good fruit, even if the war does not come to a timely end. And will the global Church rally around them and lift their arms when they get tired as Aaron and Hur did for Moses in Exodus 17?

Please join us in praying for the following:

  • For no more to perish in this war without hearing the saving news of Jesus Christ
  • For the Ukrainian Church to remain steadfast in their efforts to show the love of Christ to those around them
  • For the global Church to ‘lift the arms’ of Ukrainian believers, together bringing in the harvest meant for this season

If you would like to find out more about how to partner with our friends in Ukraine, contact: jeremiah@incontextinternational.org