Standing with the Church in Ukraine
Right now we are all feeling pretty helpless, but that we want to do something. It may sound twee, but at times like this it is good for us to know we are always helpless and depend on God almighty for all things. Reading, reflecting and praying through Daniel 4:34-37 is comforting. Kingdoms rise, but they fall. God’s Kingdom may feel small and weak, but outlasts them all and one day will be all that there is. Therefore, now is the time to fast, pray and plea to God for Ukraine, the region and the world. No issue is too big or small for God.
There are some things that you. If you are in the USA, then if you look on the MTW (the missions organisation of the PCA) website here there are prayer points and how to give. If you are in the UK, Innovista have partners on the ground and you can give to them here. Innovista’s prayer points are at the bottom of this post.
European Mission Fellowship (EMF) has a helpful prayer page here and you can read about and give to an outreach project among disabled people in the country here. Below is a short video from an EMF Missionary.
Prayer points:
Pray for the Church. In the East of the country, standing firm to be a presence, in the West of the country opening it’s doors to displaced people.
For missionaries, Ukrainian and others, staying put (MTW, EMF, Crosslinks, Innovista and many others). That God would protect them
A number of Ukrainian missionaries have been called up as reservists.
For the Russian Church.
Prayer Points from Innovista
Ukraine, Russia and the world
For an end to this evil; a halt to aggression and the start of peace
Wisdom and strength for political leaders in Ukraine
Courage for political leaders and the many average citizens in Russia who know this is wrong
Leaders of other countries/Nato/China etc. to act with integrity and prioritise the defenceless
The Church
For followers of Jesus to be beacons of hope all over Ukraine; to proclaim and demonstrate the Good News
Wisdom for church leaders who are coordinating humanitarian responses – both in ‘hot’ conflict zones and in areas to which people are fleeing.
Give thanks for their foresight in getting organised beforehand
An outpouring of generosity and prayer from the global church for the people of Ukraine
The Church and her leaders in Russia to speak and live for peace and righteousness and against dictatorship
The Innovista team and leaders
Protection, courage, strength and peace for our staff - Tolik, Ira, Alex, Valeriy and their families
Tolik’s role in Lviv-area response
Russia, Slavic and his family and associates like Dmitriy in St Petersburg
Moldova – possible route for refugees; effective preparation
Church leaders we are currently training live in the village of the airport which Russian paras landed on this morning
Tolik was close to the border with Belarus this weekend too - training teams from three churches - the church that hosted them all is on a main road from the border to Kyiv - they were '...staying to serve, come what may'.
