Ukraine: How Should We Respond?

Doug Lucas

It was the summer of 1991. My family and I were serving in Ukraine as the Team Leader of Team Expansion's first team there. The USSR was disintegrating. Life was crazy. But strangely, out of those chaotic times came a new curiosity, interest, and freedom in Jesus and the Bible. God raised up entire mega-churches, right before our very eyes. Dozens of new churches came out of those troubled times. In a relatively short period, those churches began to function completely under local leaders. Team Expansion missionaries were gradually able to withdraw, leaving behind a stable church network in multiple cities. It was like a miracle.

Today, we need another miracle in Ukraine.

Fast-Forward to Today

As this article goes to press, Russia has just invaded Ukraine.

In preparation for this article, we spoke with our long-time friend, Natasha Reimer, who served side by side with Team Expansion workers in her role first with Crimean-American College and currently serves as Executive Director of Mulberry International. She answered, "Mulberry International has been helping and ministering to hundreds of displaced and at-risk families and children in the city of Mariupol and nearby villages, just 10-15 miles away from the front line. According to Ukrainian news outlets, over 40 civilian targets have been hit by shelling in the last two days. One of them is a preschool. Our team on the ground reports explosions and shelling, especially during the night. They've seen windows shattering and rockets in the horizon. Water supply near Mariupol was destroyed by shelling last night, leaving the city and a dozen of small towns and villages without potable water." Natasha worries most about the aftermath.

In the early nineties, after we explained to Keith Keeran the unique opportunity in Ukraine, he took immediate action, forming Crimean-American College (which became Commonwealth International University). The university trained up scores of leaders, many of whom are leading churches in Ukraine today. Unfortunately, Keith also witnessed firsthand what can happen following this kind of invasion. "Following its takeover of Crimea, Russia wasted no time exercising its power over virtually every aspect of daily life in the region. Putin ordered all banks to be closed, blocking the access people had to their money. ... There was widespread confusion. The campus of Commonwealth International University was confiscated by the Russian military." Keith feels the church is perfectly positioned to help Ukraine at this time. He testified, "One of the greatest ministries of the Church is to keep hope alive. Our hope is in Christ alone, but that hope is to come through His Church."

We spoke with Tony Twist this past weekend. Tony and the good people at TCM International helped greatly in maturing in the faith of church leaders in Ukraine. Tony stated plainly, "War would bring refugees, tensions, and distress of many types throughout the European Union and Eastern Europe." He went on to quote a TCM graduate, now serving as a civilian chaplain to Ukrainian troops. A TCM associate had asked the graduate if he had any fear. He responded, "“Fear? Yes, I admit I am at times fearful. But I am reminded of Jesus and the frightened disciples as they crossed a stormy sea. The same

Jesus who calmed and rebuked the wind and sea is with each of us. He calms the storm within. His perfect love does cast out my fear. Our trust is in Him.”

Dave Stewart, who serves on Team Expansion's Leadership Task Force (board of directors), has visited and stayed in touch personally with multiple church leaders in Ukraine over the past few years. He wrote this past weekend, "One pastor told me, 'We pray for peace in our country but ultimately we know this is all temporary; our eternal home is in heaven.'" Dave added, "If the light truly shines brightest when the darkness is darkest, this is the time for the proclamation of the Gospel in Ukraine and beyond."

Recommended Action Steps

Perhaps you are like I am, wondering, "What are my action steps? I'm just one person. What can I do?" Here are some key action steps that we'd like to propose as a result of this article in this publication.

* First, get informed. Pick a dependable news source and invest some time in learning the background for this conflict. By learning about these questions, it's like you're saying to the people of Ukraine, "We see you."

* Second, pray. Do we really believe that prayer changes things? If your answer is yes, would your church be willing to dedicate 5 entire minutes to pray for peace in your main worship service this weekend? Ask for peace. Pray for help for those who are without food, water, or power today because of this conflict.

* Third, would you and your church begin asking God to speak to you about making a gift to help those who are in danger inside the country of Ukraine and those who have fled for safety as refugees outside the country? By God's grace, a long-time worker in Team Expansion has agreed to move to the scene of the action to coordinate our aid over these next 6 months. His background includes helping Team Expansion with this exact challenge in Kosovo following the war there. This led to a 20-year ministry that helped virtually 1/4 of the country return to some sense of normalcy, while also helping usher many souls into the Kingdom. We'll call him John (full name held for security). John will be ready to roll, living at the scene beginning April 15th. Please pray that God will speak to your church about how you might partner with Team Expansion to help in these desperate times.

Thank you for reading, learning, praying, and, if prompted, giving. May God bless the people of Ukraine.