A Desperate Plea from the Frontlines of God’s Mission amidst the Ongoing War in Ukraine… As the relentless, full-scale Russian war in Ukraine rages on, we, tired and vulnerable, broken volunteers, cry out to Christians worldwide to reflect on what these wars mean – and on our sacred duty in serving God’s Mission of love and compassion, of justice.
Before this unspeakable suffering and devastating destruction, we ask you and ourselves: How can we be a bridge of humanity, dignity, and vulnerability to the Mission of God in a world shattered by violence and oppression perpetrated in the name of so-called traditional Christian values?
The Bible passionately reminds us that we are all created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and that every human life is infinitely precious and sacred. Not only in Russia, the US, and the collective West. But in Ukraine, too… As the Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (NKJV).
This truth demands that we recognize the dignity of every person caught in the crossfire of the war in Ukraine, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, of political affiliation.
The agonizing realities of this ongoing war are beyond comprehension. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians are being mercilessly killed and maimed, and millions more have been forcibly displaced from their homes, their lives forever shattered.
Thousands of once-thriving cities, towns, villages, and critical infrastructure have been reduced to rubble, and countless families have been ripped apart, their futures uncertain. The unimaginable trauma inflicted upon the Ukrainian people will leave deep, festering scars that will take generations to heal, if ever…
Amid such unrelenting suffering, we are hauntingly reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (NKJV). As followers of Christ, we are compelled to be a tangible, steady presence of God’s love and compassion amid this ongoing full-scale war…
And our vulnerability (yes, your vulnerability, too) is not a weakness but a crucial part of serving God’s Mission. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (NKJV).
By embracing our brokenness and limitations, you and we open ourselves to the renewing power of God’s love and become more effective vessels of His grace…
For the bridge of humanity, dignity, and vulnerability that we embody is grounded in the unwavering hope of the Gospel. As we seek to serve God’s Mission amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, we cling desperately to the promise of Revelation 21:4: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (NKJV).
May we, as the global Body of Christ, unite in fervent prayer and solidarity, in selfless action, to be a beacon of hope and healing for all affected by this devastating, ongoing, full-scale war. May we be willing to cross the bridge of humanity, dignity, and vulnerability, trusting in God’s power to bring redemption and restoration to a broken world, no matter the cost to yourselves… We pay our cost… We invite you, too… And forgive us for this invitation… to pay the cost of the Mission of God together… amid death and life…
Ultimately, it is not about us but about the countless lives hanging in the balance, waiting for you… yes, for you who live in the peaceful environment… to be the hands and feet of Christ in our… yes, in our darkest hour… Peace be with you anyway… We wish you a Silent Night and a Peaceful Sky, the ones the children of Ukraine miss…
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Taras Dyatlik, Ukraine
747 days of the ongoing full-scale Russian war against Ukraine to protect traditional Christian values by killing us in the name of depersonalised values…
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