What insight does PPI have on the war in Ukraine? Some – as it turns out.
In November I (Ken) took part in the ICETE conference, a large gathering of ministry trainers and theological educators from around the world. A group of Bible college leaders from Ukraine were present at the conference. During one main session, a Ukrainian leader spoke passionately about their situation. He choked up as he described the indiscriminate bombing of Bible colleges, churches, hospitals and homes in his city. Several colleagues, family members and friends had been wounded. Some killed.
He pleaded with Russian evangelical leaders – also present at the conference – to speak out publicly against Russia’s unjust and unprovoked invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine. He challenged their silence as fear of man over fear of God and wondered aloud whether their silence meant that Russian Christians approved of the devastation. You could hear a pin drop in the room. Dr. Michael Ortiz, international director of ICETE, rose from his chair to stand beside this Ukrainian brother then led all of us in prayer for Ukraine and for Russia.
Also in November, PPI board member, Tony deBari, traveled to Ukraine with Samaritan’s Purse to provide medical care near the front lines of the war. Many of you know that Tony is a passionate Christ-follower and an accomplished orthopedic surgeon. In a recent Hopevale Church podcast, Tony shared his experiences as well as insights you won’t hear on the 6 o’clock news. I encourage you to watch his informative interview HERE.
Let’s keep our windows open on the world, friends! So many brothers and sisters in Christ around this globe only dream about the kind of freedom, security and prosperity that we enjoy every day in the United States. Pray for church leaders in Ukraine and in Russia. Pray for pastors and believers in Haiti. And let’s continue to put feet to our prayers by partnering together to encourage, train and resource church leaders in developing nations!
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
“Russia’s unjust and unprovoked invasion”? Maybe Ukraine should have thought better to abide by the Minsk agreement. I am not a putin fan, but there was provocation. I can’t stop there…I think US leaders meant for this war to occur, so they could launder our tax dollars into their pockets. Be careful the Intel you are receiving.
Thanks for your response, Bill. My aim was to share two inside perspectives on the Ukrainian-Russian war, not to oversimplify a complex situation. Having said that, Christians throughout history have recognized “just and necessary occasions” (Westminster Confession) when war can be waged by one sovereign nation against another. If you would like, we can talk more offline about the Minsk agreement – how and why it came about in 2014-2015 and whether Ukraine “provoked” Russia into a countrywide attack that, in part, deliberately targets civilians.
Thank you for the post Ken. The part about challenging Russian evangelical leaders to speak out and choose God over man, hit home for me. I couldn’t agree more but I also can’t imagine the suffering that awaits them when they do this. Would I have the courage to choose God in that moment knowing pain or even death awaits me? I would like to think I would but easier said then done. The U.S. has many flaws but is still the greatest nation on earth. We don’t deserve to be born with such freedom, opportunities and prosperity compared to the rest of the world. Ken, thank you for using yours to help those less fortunate.
Would love to watch the interview you mentioned regarding Tony’s experience in Ukraine. It looks like the link is private.