Ukraine (MNN) — Persecution is constant for Protestant churches in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine. A report from a religious freedom watchdog describes substantial fines, barriers, and even church closures handed down by Russian courts this year.
Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association describes the plight of these churchs as a trifecta of difficulties – and living in a war zone is only the start.
“The first part — this is dating all the way back to 2014 and the Orange Revolution — [is that] Protestant churches are seen as Western agents, Western connections,” he says. “Protestant churches are seen as those churches that undermine Russian Orthodoxy, Russian tradition. They are not to be trusted due to their relationship with the West.”
These believers are often viewed within occupied territories as staunch Ukrainians.
“When these particular churches, or evangelicals continue to hold to their Protestant evangelical identity, and may hold to their Ukrainian identity, their lives are very complicated,” Mock says. “They don’t have access to the same resources, and a lot of these churches are shut down.”
All these factors notwithstanding, these believers still step forward with a sense of God’s calling. Mock says many believers have fled occupied regions, going to Russia, Belarus, or sometimes to other parts of Ukraine. But others stay.
“That’s the key part that we need to remember when we’re thinking of the believers that are struggling in these occupied territories: if they leave, who will advance the gospel? If people struggle and seek comfort, rather than to be a light in the middle of darkness, who will step up?” Mock says.
“Even in these occupied areas, the faithful believers recognize that God has raised them up for such a time as this.”
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“It’s very difficult to serve these churches, so the primary thing we do for them right now is we pray. We passionately believe that there’s much power in much prayer,” Mock says. “The greatest tool we have to see a situation transformed is to appeal to our sovereign God, who is the one true God who even allows these difficulties for the purposes of declaring His greatness among the nations.
“I think secondly, we need to appreciate the churches around the exterior of these regions that are also praying, also helping with refugees. We do our best to help them as people flood into their regions looking for answers.”
Learn more about SGA’s Ukrainian relief fund here.
Header photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association.
