“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:13-16
“Alms coldly and harshly given irritate rather than soothe. Even when we cannot give, words of kindness are as a precious balm; and when we can give, they are the salt and seasoning of our alms.”
Perpetuus of Tours in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 8 April reading.
In visiting parts of Ukraine that have been occupied by Russian forces, you see “car cemeteries” along the road like the one pictured above. It’s hard to hold back tears. Sadly, thousands of civilians have been murdered and their cars set ablaze by invading troops. We have met some of their surviving family members or friends.
Society refers to them as IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) who used to live in places like Kharkiv, in Eastern Ukraine, where we arrived today. Others we will meet in Moldova next week who have fled the country, largely women and children, represent refugees of this war. IDP’s and refugees need alms and kindness.
For safety reasons, we have little cash on us. So, we plan to send aid we receive at GTP to trustworthy caregivers on the frontlines. One example is Andrey Kratsev. Watch his video here. I will preach in his church tomorrow. Pray for IDP’s and other lost souls to come to Christ as I lift up Jesus.
And it’s been rewarding to start conversations for setting up a peer accountability group (like ECFA in USA) with ministry, seminary, and church workers. That will happen in time. For now, people appreciate most the ministry of presence with kindness, hearing their challenges, and later sending alms.
To give to GTP efforts in Eastern Europe and Ukraine, click here. And thanks for your patience in receiving this as we’ve had very limited phone service and wifi in Eastern Ukraine. Just after a five hour train ride from Kyiv with no service were were welcomed by city wide air strike alarms. Hard to imagine how difficult life has been for the people here.