UKRAINE – News
Pastor Yuri is an SGA supported missionary pastor in Ukraine that has come face to face with the realities of the invasion of Russia. Should he and his family flee or should they stay? “I did not think that I would live in such a time. That I would have to see war planes in the sky, and hear the whistling of rockets, as well as powerful explosions. I thank God for the wonderful peace and tranquility in the heart. I had certain worries about my family, but here God also helped us. He sent a man who offered to take my family away from the war.
My wife didn’t want to go, but because of our children, which stopped sleeping because of explosions, I convinced her and they went to the west of Ukraine. I was also offered to go with my family and even go abroad. But I could not leave my eldest son David, because he would not be let outside Ukraine.” The solution was not uncommon to many families in Ukraine. Women and children move westward and Yuri and his son stayed in their village. Heartbreaking as it is, he had peace in his heart.
By earthly standards, the war and the separation of family should only bring heartache. Certainly there is heartache, but with God’s peace in Yuri’s heart, he and his son pressed on. Yuri added, “My son David and I stayed where we were in our village, and not in vain. The war is terrible, but it was at this time that it became easier to preach Christ to people, who listened and began to come to the worship services. I did not imagine that those people, who once did not even want to hear about God for a minute, would come and listen for 2 hours and pray with us – it’s a miracle! And my son had a strong desire to preach – it is also a miracle! And if I had gone, it wouldn’t have happened. God knows what He is doing. I have new opportunities to serve the Lord and the people. And in the ambulance, where I work, and in the village where I live. Please, keep praying for us.” God ways are higher than our ways! Praise God that through the peace that only He can provide we can stand fast in the storms of life and be show the world the only peace that can be found, the peace that comes through saving faith in Jesus Christ.”
