By Elvira Hattingh
As Ukraine continues to stand after more than four years of war — against all odds — believers are learning to look beyond their suffering and find true hope in God alone. Even as they receive support from churches worldwide, Ukrainian believers are also giving something back: faith that shines a bright light into a darkened world.
Last spring, a children’s playground in the Ukrainian city of Krivyi Rih was struck by a Russian missile armed with cluster munitions — among the most destructive weapons in modern warfare.
“It was a Friday, moments after our worship service had ended. Right after we said Amen, we heard the explosion. People went home, and then we heard the news. A lot of children died,” a minister told INcontext.
The next day, when the church service started, churchgoers were lamenting, pouring out their hearts and crying before God. “It was so hard, spiritually and mentally. We cried all day, yet I felt that God grieved with us — a presence many in the church felt too.
“He cried with us that day.”
A bishop adds that on the following Sunday, some people approached him before the service and said how difficult it had been for them to come to church or to praise God. He preached on the meaning of suffering, and during the service, they experienced what many describe as a comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.
“There are many moments during the war when we suffer. It is part of life: laughter and crying. The Bible says there is lament in the evening, and in the morning we may celebrate someone’s birthday. That is wonderful.”
Looking back over the years of war, the bishop says the suffering of the Ukrainian church has been shaping its witness. “Suffering is very real, and not a single person could live a life without it. The Apostle Peter reminds us that Christ Himself suffered, and therefore we are called to arm ourselves with the same mind-set. We have to be ready to suffer and not be afraid, because it is short-lived. Our hope rests beyond that.”
Only true hope
The bishop said one of the first things he realised during the war was that people need hope. At first, they hoped the conflict would end within three months, then by the end of the year. Now, many are coming to terms with the possibility that the war could become a permanent reality, and not only in Ukraine. People need a true, eternal hope that is far greater than their immediate circumstances.
“I don’t tell refugees to just pray and expect everything to become good. I tell them that Christ died for their sins. If they come to Him, He will forgive their sins and give them peace in their hearts like they have never experienced before. And they will have eternal life. So, whatever happens here on Earth, no matter the suffering you endure, your ultimate destination is a place without grief or pain. And they cry. It touches them.”
The bishop, who leads an organisation overseeing more than 1,300 churches in Ukraine, says church leaders are working tirelessly to help people heal from the psychological wounds of war, supporting them through trauma, depression, and PTSD, while some also undertake humanitarian trips to the front line. Most are under immense pressure and, at times, feel overwhelmed, also facing their own personal challenges, enduring the dangers and hardships of war themselves. Yet, God remains as their source of strength, peace, and refreshment.
God, before convenience
A volunteering chaplain in the Ukrainian army, often delivering resources to soldiers on the front lines, says he has been asked many times why he does not leave.
“I believe that we should not be where it is convenient, but where God wants us. My place is here.”
When he spoke to INcontext, he had just returned from the eastern front line, where he met soldiers in a hospital who had survived a drone attack. “They both said that God saved them, although they are not Christians in the traditional sense. Yet they experienced God’s hand in their difficult circumstances. People ask me how I am, and I would say — definitely better off than those soldiers on the front line — seeing the difficulty they face emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.The chaplain says when working on the front lines, they always ask the soldiers if they would like them to pray for them, as they want it to be their decision. Every time they say, ‘Yes, please.’”
He described a project called Christmas on the Firing Line, where they give simple wrapped gift boxes to soldiers containing basic supplies and scripture.
“We want them to know that God is with them in the trenches and on the front line during the worst time of their lives. I noticed one soldier disappearing with his gift, and found him in his room with tears running down his face as he opened it. Soldiers often feel neglected and forgotten by their government and society.”
He has always lived by the rule: don’t take stupid things into your head and don’t carry too heavy stuff with your hands. “If things go on around you that you cannot change or influence, don’t think too much about it. Give it to God. I would rather focus on where I can make a change.”
That has helped him when visiting the front lines. “I know that my life is in God’s hands and don’t think about the dangers too much.”
We want ‘just’ peace
The chaplain said a strong foundation for believers is important. “Lukewarm faith will not survive – you have to decide to fully commit as a Christian in times like these or leave it. The war has also forced us to explore the truths of the Bible more deeply. As a church, we are running the race set before us, keeping our eyes on God. We want Christians around the world to pray for peace, but not just any kind of peace. We want a just peace. We hope that the aggressor who came and destroyed our land — who killed, murdered, and raped our people — will be held accountable,” the chaplain said.
The bishop added, “The church’s strength lies in boldly proclaiming God’s truth, holding leaders accountable, and serving others with genuine compassion, not for profit or show.”
Ukrainian Christians collectively thanked the global Christian community for their prayers, spiritual support, and humanitarian aid.
Please join us in prayer:
- For God’s comfort and healing for all affected by the war, especially children, families, and soldiers.
- For courage and endurance for Ukrainian believers and church leaders to stay faithful under pressure.
- For justice and a just peace for Ukraine.
