“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
“I have learned from Jesus Christ Himself what charity is, and how we ought to practise it; for He says: “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye love one another.” Never can I, therefore, please myself in the hope that I may obtain the name of a servant of Christ if I possess not a true and unfeigned charity within me.”
Basil of Caesarea (339-370).
We spent Maundy Thursday washing the proverbial feed of God’s workers in three eastern oblasts of Ukraine, where the situation is getting much more difficult. Lord have mercy and protect them from harm as they lead many to Christ.
We woke in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovska, and traveled to visit and pray with Michael Cherenkov’s mother, brother, and sister, who had been recently evacuated from Myrnohrad in Donetska and now reside to a village outside Dnipro.
From there, we traveled to Kharkivska, and Poltavska, and can report that the conflict seems to be escalating. I counted this morning that my phone had 58 air raid notifications yesterday, and we saw only one explosion.
Russia seems to be taking out infrastructure. It’s working. Many parts of Kharkiv had no power, but our visit encouraged workers creating supply packages for soldiers and ministering to hurting people. How has the church grown?
Valerii Kuzmych, pastor of Redemption Church (where I preached last July) said his church had 100 before the war, now 1,300. Most are new believers. We visited their facility making recycled can stoves for soldiers to warm themselves and cook.
They have a wick, paraffin, and filled with recycled cardboard. They last four hours, and the church makes them. It was a moving moment to hear how everyone in the church is working together. I took a picture to show the good side of war.
You need not see rubble and destruction. Imagine how these candles warm the soldiers in the trenches in the freezing cold of night. Our visit warmed them as well and showed unfeigned charity. We left money and part of our hearts there.
We also visited Hope Relief Centers, holding the line in Saltivka, despite constant shelling. Andrey Kratsev, Oleg Bratishko, and others with them have been tempted to give up, but they have persevered and seen tons of people come to faith.
These are just a few stories from the front lines. We wish we had more money to leave with these churches. In the last two days, the biggest thing that impacted us was hearing the same message two days in a row.
“Thanks for coming to encourage and help us in Kherson. No one visits Kherson” … “Thanks for coming to encourage and help us in Kharkiv. No one visits Kharkiv.”
I woke this morning to air raid sirens and an explosion in Poltava. I still have power and wifi somehow so I will post this. It’s undoubtedly the most unforgettable Good Friday of my life.
Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. Our world is so broken and you are our only hope. May our unfeigned charity reflect your love to a lost and hurting world. And please bring peace to Ukraine. In your mercy, hear our prayers.
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