“Lift up your heads, you gates; the King of glory may come in”
[Feb.06.2022] As threats of a Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to spread, Christians in Ukraine are contemplating how they should respond to the possible danger.
According to the US Christian Headlines, on the February 2(local time), the U.S. embassy in Ukraine warned American citizens in the country to consider evacuating immediately amid the growing threat of a Russian invasion. “The security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable due to the increased threat of Russian military action and can deteriorate with little notice,” the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine stated on its website.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, warned that Russian may eyeing Kharkiv-Ukraines second-largest city-as its next target. “Kharkiv has over 1million citizens. It’s not going to be just an occupation; it’s going to be the beginning of a large-scale war,” he added.
Despite the threats of a possible invasion and war, some Christians are choosing to wait out the threat, some Christians are choosing to wait out the threat instead of evacuating immediately.
Hyatt, an American missionary living in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv and running the Christian children’s rehab centre, Father’s care, told CBN News, “I have lived here for 26 years, and I do not have any plan to evacuate now. I’m watching to see how things go, and we ‘ll just trust God and see what happens next.
She also said that she prayed for peace in Ukraine every morning and even for Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring Proverbs 21:1, ‘In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.’
Pastor Anton Tishenko, who leads ‘New Generation Church’, one of Kharkiv;s largest evangelical congregations, told CBN News, “ we gather with our church at church at 7a.m., and so we pray about peace and revival in Ukraine. We believe God will protect because He is a very faithful God. We keep praying and fasting.” His church had launched ‘a 21 day fast’.
The church is located near the Russian border by the provinces of Donbass and Luhansk. Russia annexed both areas in 2014. Tishenko asserted, ‘God is moving across the region.” A year ago, New Generation Church led an evangelistic crusade where 27,000 people packed a stadium in Kharkiv. Over 10,000 people made professions of faith at the crusade.
”I will continue preaching messages of hope regardless of the Russian threat. It’s going to be a great opportunity for us to preach more, to pray more, and we will see how many people will come to the Lord,” he said.
Yarsolav “Slavik” Pyzh, president of Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary (UBTS) told a media that if a war would take place, Western Ukraine churches would open their doors to Christians and keep preaching gospel amid persecution.
While Russia has denied that is it planning an invasion, more than 100,000 troops have been deployed near Ukraine’s border in recent months. (Source: Daily Good News, Yeonhap News, Christian Headlines Edited).
They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Saviour. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. (Psalms 24:5-8)
Father God, thank you for allowing prayers to arise and for opening the door of salvation in Ukraine. Please cover missionary Hyatt and the children in her care with Your mighty arm and hold the faith of the churches that seek your face. Through this crisis of war, the closed doors of all souls may be open and accept Jesus Christ, the king of glory, as their saviour.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
