“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35
“Those who are in high positions should consider themselves as stewards rather than masters of the wealth or power entrusted to them for the benefit of the poor and weak.”
Elphege of Canterbury in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 19 April reading.
Visiting and serving people during wartime has deeply impacted us and touched those we have served. They have all reported benefits. The blessing to us far outweigh any sacrifice.
After sharing biblical teaching and practical tools in Lviv, stewards say they felt spiritually and strategically equipped to navigate the crisis times and to help others.
In Ternopil, a group of pastors and administrators (or “dreamers” as they describe themselves) want churches and ministries to follow standards with peer accountability.
In Kyiv, an alliance of seminary and university administrators want to strengthen institutional capacities by following consistent standards for sustainability.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, a seminary that lost everything in Kherson has relocated and started entrepreneurial business as mission activities to fund operations and looking for investors.
In Kharkiv, we saw empty playgrounds. Younger families have fled for their lives. Largely speaking, only elderly residents remain. Many rely on assistance from a few local churches to survive.
In Saltivka, humble servants have planted churches called “Hope Family Centers” to minister to those who have suffered injuries and loss (another one of their damaged buildings is pictured above). But hear the gain.
Many said, thanks to the war, they found Jesus. And it was in Saltivka, that after preaching, the congregation would not let us leave. They wanted us to sit in front of them and just talk, back and forth .
With tears they thanked us for the aid we brought, for air defense systems to counter daily drone strikes, and for coming to give them hope and help. It was one of those moments we will never forget.
As today marks “Independence Day” in USA, we have come to appreciate more deeply the value of freedom. We pray that Ukraine does not lose the freedom they have enjoyed for 31 years. God save Ukraine.
We have resolved that in times like these, we must do what we can. As a ministry President & CEO (me) and spiritual director and supervisor of spiritual directors (Jenni), it has been our privilege to use our positions to benefit others.
What about you? What position and wealth has God entrusted you? How can you use it in service to the poor and weak? You may not visit a war zone, but you can deliver help and hope where God has you.