Our faith is being tested in these times of war. We are being invited to suffer with those who are suffering, and to cry with those who are crying. Today, that is Ukraine.
Many of our pastors and ministry leaders have fled their homes because of the bombing, others have been overrun and are serving their churches under Russian occupation, and still others have decided to stay. For the time being, our Multiply leaders, Maxym and Anya Oliferovski, have chosen to stay in Ukraine as they continue to encourage people and to oversee efforts to help in practical ways within the country.
Oleksii and Oksana Makaiov, church planters in Dnipro, left their community with their family and drove to another part of Ukraine where they prepared food, distributed it to people in need, and gave them hope. They have recently had to separate at the border as Oksana and their two boys joined nine other refugees in our van convoy en route to Germany and Oleksii headed back to help the church he leads in the war zone. We have sent resources with him and he will do all he can to help others but we do not know what tomorrow will bring.
These are some of the darkest times in generations for Ukrainians, but the darker the night, the brighter the stars. We believe that this is also the time to reveal Christ in word and deed.
Even as you receive this, I am driving in another convoy of three vans from Germany to the Ukraine border to deliver food and supplies tomorrow and hopefully bring back 17 refugees. When we set out, we did not know how the supplies would be transported within Ukraine as we could only arrange for one van to meet us at the border. But God in his perfect timing, has provided through an unexpected connection, two more vans that we now expect will meet us at the border just in time and then aid in the transportation and distribution of the supplies requested from our MB churches in Ukraine.
Ever since this war began, I've seen an outpouring of love, concern, and compassion from our global family. We are a family that cares, a family that will find every possible way of coming alongside those who suffer. Many are opening their hearts and their wallets to get behind our efforts to help in some way. As God makes resources available, we need to pray for his grace to use them in the best way possible. Let’s come together to ask God to show us signs and wonders of his presence with us. In the days to come, we will need each other more and more. Please stand with me as I stand with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
PRAY
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Please pray for the safety, courage, and fruitfulness of our brothers and sisters who remain in Ukraine.
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Pray for relief efforts underway from Germany, where churches are being mobilized in several vans to drive to the border of Ukraine with food and supplies and then hopefully return to Germany with 17 refugees. See photo below.
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