In the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II, the evangelical church in Ukraine tells a heart-warming story.
In the country’s war-torn occupying regions, over 120 churches are abandoned. Their pastors were killed or escaped for their lives.
But elsewhere in Ukraine, new churches are erupting, with families and individuals asking, “Is there any real hope here?”
When Americans’ interest in church attendance is at an all-time low, Ukraine is experiencing a spiritual renewal born out of crisis and calamity.
In recent months, around 7,000 people have been baptized in Ukraine’s evangelical churches in hunger for the gospel. Evangelical seminaries and biblical universities are full, training 2,000 enthusiastic young undergraduates. In the past year alone, around 300 new Ukrainian pastors have been appointed.
These numbers contrast with what’s going on in America.
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Over the past 25 years, 40 million Americans have stopped going to church, and according to the vote, only three in 10 people are currently attending services regularly.
Ukrainians are attracted to the church, and many Americans leave the church door.
why?
As chairman of the Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association, I observed how the war exposed a divinely sized hole in the lives of many Ukrainians.
While once skeptical of ritual religion in the sky, they thought it was pointless, Ukrainians see faith in God through another lens. The Christian neighbors who have overcome the horrors of war with them are enduring suffering, suffering, and even death, with hopes to deny all human reasoning.
What is suffering throughout the war is towards the living faith that shows Ukrainians in the daily acts of mercy of local followers. Pastor and their congregations visit the bereaved families, pray with them, deliver free groceries and home cooking to strangers, willingly put their lives at risk, comfort those who live near the front line, and share Gosel with them.
These local churches are the true centre of hope and evacuation for those who have lost everything and have nowhere to turn. Many of the people who attend church are there for just one reason. They were moved by the love of Christ through the compassion of their followers. They know that God’s love is authentic. Because they have experienced it personally.
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My friend, Pastor Igor and his church members, sleep every night, with drone and missile explosions. Some people don’t live to see the sunrise. That’s their reality and they must cling to God every day.
Do we need a crisis like Ukraine in the US to bring our nation back to God?
One day, we in the US and the West may face the challenges our Ukrainian brothers and sisters are enduring now.
Do we face those times with the same enthusiasm, courage, living faith that attracts others to Christ? Or do you run and hide it?
What’s going on in our local churches in Ukraine today is our example of what courage and authentic Christ followers do when pressure is rising and everything is thrown into chaos.
It is a faith that lives in full throttle that speaks to people’s hearts and gives them the desire to be among believers who shine in the light of hope.
It’s certainly true. Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters cheer us on and guide us by examples of loving service. It is eternal hope.
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Michael Johnson is the chairman of the Slavic Gospel Association (www.sga.org), a gospel mission that has served the former Soviet Union and local evangelical churches in Israel for 90 years.
