February 24

Today marks the two-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and this month marks the ten-year anniversary of the Russian annexation of Crimea and the beginning of fighting in the east. While I have my own thoughts regarding this day, I prefer instead to share the words of one of our local pastors regarding this anniversary: 

Probably every resident of Ukraine will forever remember the morning of February 24, 2022, which divided our lives into before and after.

We did not realize at the time how well we lived without knowing what blackout, javelin, PTSD, bomb shelter, air raid sirens, checkpoints, displaced persons, etc. are. We knew little about such cities as Bucha, Chornobayivka, Izyum, Bakhmut, Avdiivka. We did not know what the "brotherly people" and army of "liberators" were capable of in order to de-Nazify us, as a result of which many Ukrainians would die. We did not know how many traitors, greedy people, bribers and corrupt people there are in our country.

At the same time, we did not know that we could face a much larger country and army. We did not know that we have such a strong army, such self-confident doctors, such active volunteers and such self-sacrificing people. We did not know that we could donate and serve so much. Of course, it would be better if we never knew all this, but now we know that we can be strong, indomitable and united. Moreover, the whole world now knows about all this and about Ukraine.

We still don't know when and how the war will end, we don't know when peace will come and what the future will be, we still have many open questions, but we know the One who knows everything and will one day put everything in its place. We know for sure that one day Putin and his cronies will die, and even if they don't stand before the Hague Tribunal, they will definitely stand before the righteous judgment of God. We know that one day the criminals will be punished and the memory of February 24 will be forever erased from our memory. We know that one day all the weapons on earth will disappear, there will be no sound of air raids or missile explosions, no more pain, tears and death, because the long-awaited eternal peace will come over the whole earth. This day will surely come and it will be even more glorious than the victory of Ukraine in this war, which, we know, will surely come. And until that day, we continue to strengthen our hearts with the words of this psalm: "I will lie down in peace and sleep, for You, Lord, are the only one who makes me live safely."

Today, Ukrainian churches are united in a day of national fasting and prayer for God's protection, victory and peace in Ukraine. If you would like to pray with us, below are some specific ways to pray that we received from our pastor. 

Pray for:

• Ending the war with the victory of Ukraine and the establishment of a just peace.

• Saving the lives and health of our defenders and the civilian population of Ukraine.

• Healing and rehabilitation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

• Strengthening the spirit and protecting the souls of our defenders.

• Wisdom for the government leadership and military commanders of Ukraine in managing and making effective decisions.

• Conversion of Ukrainians to God and the spread of God's light in all spheres of social life.

• Restoration of destroyed cities and villages, in particular, the homes of Ukrainians and critical infrastructure facilities.

• Development of the economy, the flow of investments into the country, the emergence of new opportunities for the work of small and medium-sized businesses.

• Healing the wounded bodies and souls of Ukrainians who have suffered in this war. Gaining hope in the Lord for further life.

• Release of Ukrainian prisoners from Russian captivity - both servicemen and civilians.

• Return to their homeland of Ukrainians who were forced to go abroad. Creating favorable conditions for this. Reuniting families separated by war.

This Christian young man from a town just outside Lutsk was killed in the fighting in Avdiivka just two weeks ago. A sad, fresh reminder of the cost of this ongoing war. 

Thank you for standing with Ukraine!