The following is a report from SGA’s Communications Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Katia Nikonorova, and Pastor Oleksandr Vyalov serving in Kharkiv.
The war in Ukraine has now entered its fourth year. Against the backdrop of exhaustion, the rise of new political figures and a rapidly changing global landscape, the sense of pain and uncertainty within Ukrainian society continues to deepen. The recent cuts in U.S. humanitarian and military support have already had a tangible impact on our daily life: international and local organisations losing funding are forced to downscale or shut down their programmes; and on the battlefield, breaches in defensive lines, loss of ground and rising combat casualties.
All of the above is further aggravated by the unpredictable and often perplexing statements made at the highest political and diplomatic levels. There is growing fear of even more drastic changes, as global political and economic tectonic shifts could lead to unforeseen consequences, most feared of which, for Ukrainians, is the collapse of the Ukrainian state.
With the number of those killed in Ukraine climbing ever higher, it is easy to sometimes forget about those who are left behind – the parents, the widows and the children who so desperately need support as they mourn the loss of those they loved the most.
So this summer, camps were held to help in the physical, mental and spiritual recovery of sorrowful believers. As well as chaplains and pastors, the wives and parents of previously fallen servicemen were also on hand to serve the newly grieving families. Individuals shared their personal experiences, including the spiritual aspects of suffering loss and the important role the church had played in each of their individual lives.
One can’t help but feel small and helpless in the face of global and national calamities. All of this raises deep existential questions about the purpose of life, the nature of suffering, and our role in a world that seems increasingly beyond our control.
We, as Christians, must recognize God’s presence and the work He is doing in the midst of these events. We must remember that God is good, but life is not. But rather than dwelling on what is beyond our control, Christians should ask themselves – Is there anything within my power? With the Lord’s help, we can choose not to succumb to panic and hopelessness and continue the work entrusted to us. This is a time when the foundations of our faith are tested – a time to “be faithful in that which is least.
The church in Ukraine cannot do it alone. In the world of shifting tides and wavering loyalties, there is profound comfort in the deeper spiritual unity of the Church of Christ. In recent weeks, we have felt the support of our brothers and sisters, and we are grateful that you are holding up our hands in your prayers and in tangible support for our ministers, who are faithfully following the Lord’s call to proclaim the truth and Good News in the world where lies and bad news prevail and give practical help and care to souls in times when individual lives are diminished in the scale of global events, but are of immeasurable significance to the Lord Jesus Christ.
