It’s often a different story for Russian Protestant churches, says Eric Foley. He serves with The Voice of the Martyrs Korea and has contact with many Russian and Ukrainian Christians.

He says many Russian Baptist and Pentecostal churches were originally planted by Ukrainians. “What happened in 1989 on through the turn of the century was that even though the Ukrainian Church, on the whole, was focused on establishing itself in Ukraine, God put on the hearts of certain young people, including women, this missionary vision of going to Russia.”

“They did it without mission agencies. They did it without training.”

New legislation in Russia

Despite close ties to Ukraine, speaking out against the war can get Russian Christians in a lot of trouble. New legislation criminalizes any “discrediting” of Russia’s military action.

This vague wording led to the arrests of thousands of protestors once the invasion started. Foley says, “There are Russian Christian attorneys who have advised Russian churches to be very careful, even in the prayers that they pray in their worship services. Because even a call for peace could be construed as a statement that was discrediting the Armed Forces of Russia.”

A difficult position

But in many villages and cities across Russia, Christians continue praying for their Ukrainian brothers and sisters. Ask God to protect them and give them wisdom.

This isn’t a new position for Russian Protestants, Foley says. “In some ways, you could say that being Protestant in Russia is a statement of support for Ukraine. Because the Russian position is premised on the idea that the Orthodox Church is the religion of Russia.”

Orthodox fractures

In January of 2019, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church split from the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow. Read more here about how the split helped lead to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Foley says, “That’s created two Ukrainian Orthodox churches, one that’s autocephalous (self-governing) and the other that is connected to the Orthodox global community through the Russian Orthodox Church.”

The header photo shows a Russian rocket that was dug up and defused by Ukrainians. (Photo courtesy of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

The world has watched the invasion with horror. World powers have heavily sanctioned Russia for the aggression. But the conflict carries a religious dimension as well.

The history

The Russian Orthodox Church is Russia’s prominent religion, and Russian laws have favored it above all other groups. But in 2018, several Ukrainian Orthodox churches split from the Moscow Patriarchate. They created the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Putin, along with the Moscow-based Patriarchate, protested.

Greg Musselman with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada says, “The Russian Orthodox Church has, many would say, compromised. Or they have had to submit to the Russian government for fear that they would be shut down, arrested, disappear, whatever it might be.”

Kyiv is an important city in the history of the Eastern Church. In the 980s, the pagan Prince Vladimir of Kyiv converted to Christianity. The city became the center of a new Christian empire, which only later settled in Moscow.

Persecution

Ukrainian Orthodox churches can certainly expect persecution if Russia succeeds in occupying the country. But evangelical churches will too.

In fact, it is already happening in parts of Ukraine which Russia already controlled before the invasion. Any churches not affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate have been declared illegal. Musselman says, “It’s all under the guise of, ‘protecting the spiritual sovereignty of Russia.’ That’s the wording they’ve used.”

Russia adopted new religious freedom laws in 2021, putting pressure on every religious group besides the Moscow Patriarchate. Musselman says, “Some of the language in the amendments is so ambiguous, it can be interpreted in many different ways. And that has led to a lot of problems in Russia.”

How to pray

Pray for peace in Ukraine. Ask God to equip Ukrainian Christians to show the love of Jesus during a very difficult time.

Pray also that Russian Orthodox leaders would raise their voices and call for an end to the violence. Musselman says, “We pray that someway, somehow, Vladimir Putin and his inner circle will change course.”

The header photo shows the headquarters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Haidamac, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Thus far, Russian progress in conquering Ukraine has been slow, but if they succeed, local churches could face increased persecution.

Greg Musselman with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada says, “Vladimir Putin continues to lock down anything that doesn’t go along with his ideology. [There have been efforts] to present religion and even Christianity, evangelical Christianity, as being a threat. Some ministries and Christian organizations have even been labeled as terrorists.”

“It’s been very difficult for the churches in Russia. So if this happens in Ukraine, it definitely is concerning for the leaders there.”

In areas of Ukraine already occupied by Russia before the invasion, Christians face many troubles. Any church not affiliated with the Orthodox Moscow Patriarchate has been declared illegal. One Gospel of John translation was labeled as “extremist.”

Musselman says Ukraine has also sent many missionaries in recent years to “[present] the Gospel in those areas of the former Soviet countries.” Russian occupation could threaten that.

Religion laws

In October of 2021, a new religious law came into effect in Russia. Its stated goal was to “protect the spiritual sovereignty of Russia.” It requires all religious leaders educated abroad to receive new training inside Russia.

Musselman says after the fall of the Soviet Union, churches saw some religious freedom in Russia. “Many ministries, realized at the time that the window may be short. They were proven right.”

Pray for peace in Ukraine. Ask God to protect Ukrainian Christians and equip them to reflect the love of Jesus.

The header photo shows Ukrainians sheltering in a metro station during the invasion. (Header photo courtesy of the Kyiv City Council, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

In a late January attack, Islamic militants targeted a Christian majority area of Nigeria, killing 16 and destroying dozens of houses.

Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries says,  “It seems like the last few years, we can all testify that pandemic conditions on the global scale have caused opportunity for persecution to open up in new ways.”

How to pray

The Russian Orthodox Church has contact with many denominations on the African continent. Ask God to strengthen all of these believers. Godwin says, “As believers in Jesus Christ, we believe in the resurrection, and its power (which is so contrary to anything this world believes in or offers). Who are we? And what can we offer? The believers in parts of the world that are experiencing persecution say, ‘Let me stand strong, Lord, and let my witness be true.’ I think that’s a really great prayer that we can pray alongside them.”

Christians have experienced persecution across Church history, and International Media Ministries creates videos to tell these stories. They recently completed a series on North Africa. Godwin says, “The road we’re on has many faithful people on it. But that also gives us a roadmap for the future of how to keep our faith strong in challenging times.”

Learn more about International Media Ministries’ projects here.

The header photo shows a Russian Orthodox Church. (Photo courtesy of Óðinn, CC BY-SA 2.5 CA <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/ca/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Eric Mock of the Slavic Gospel Association says Slavic Christians see Christmas less as a day and more as an opportunity for fellowship and evangelism lasting from January 7^th to about January 12^th. “A part of their tradition during the Christmas season involves opening one’s home to other guests. In Ukraine, it was a little different. If you entered a house, they would actually hand you a fork and allow you to participate in one of the 12 different little plates they had on the table. And you were singing Christmas carols and sharing a devotion right there in their living room. And then you were praying for the family.”

This is a diduch, a Ukrainian Christmas decoration. (me, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Christmas and evangelism

In the Russian Far East, Mock says evangelism is actually part of the Christmas celebration. “They came out and they went from street corner to street corner singing songs. And then the pastor stood on the corner and started street preaching the true message of Christmas.”

During this Orthodox Christmas season, pray many hearts would be open to the Gospel. Mock says, “You have people that are in more Muslim areas and in the [Ukrainian] war zone. You have people that are in distant villages, like in Far East Russia, where they worship the sun and the moon and the stars. And all of a sudden, they’re hearing Christmas. They’re hearing about the advent of Christ. They’re hearing about His atonement, and they’re hearing about Him coming again.”

Pray these Christians would have safety as they observe Christmas this year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Join them in the celebration that Jesus has come to dwell with His people.

The header photo shows a representation of the twelve dish meal that Ukrainians eat to celebrate Christmas. (Photo courtesy of Jacques Hnizdovsky, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons)

But these believers face systemic persecution for their faith, and it’s only worse now during the COVID-19 pandemic, since Christians often do not have access to the same medical care and sanitation as other citizens.

Research by International Christian Concern says the unemployment rate among Christians hovered around 80 percent even before the pandemic. Employers have the right to fire Christians because of their faith, and believers that can work makes less than half the average national wage.

A mosque in Cairo, Egypt.

Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada says Christians are treated as second-class citizens in Egypt. Many Egyptians see impoverished Christians as “dirty.” “There have been rumors that Christians are actually the ones that are behind what is going on with this virus. So they face a lot of difficulties, and it is a hard situation. The pandemic has made it even more difficult for them.”

Systemic oppression

Egyptian Christians usually don’t suffer actual violence, Musselman says, but a disregard for Christians is sewn into the fabric of Egyptian society. “Many of these people that have been believers for a long time, following Jesus, that has been their life for decades. Unfortunately, that’s also the situation for their children.” Many Christians have left Egypt in recent years, hoping to escape constant discrimination.

Throughout history, the love of Christ has often drawn the oppressed and marginalized. Pray that Christ will strengthen your brothers and sisters in Egypt and provide for their needs during COVID-19 and beyond.

Pray also that bad economic conditions in Egypt wouldn’t feed into actual religious violence, especially as blame falls on Christians for the spread of COVID-19. Musselman says, “It’s not just the Christians that are suffering unemployment in places like Egypt. It’s also the young Muslim population as well. A lot of these young men especially, they’ve got a lot of time on their hands, and they may become resentful.”

The header image shows a Greek Orthodox church in Cairo. (Image by DEZALB from Pixabay)

David Curry of Open Doors USA says the Hagia Sophia represents the heart of the Eastern Orthodox Church and has been special to Christians for centuries. Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor, approved the initial construction. It burned down twice, but the version standing today was completed in the year AD 537.

Ruins of the second Hagia Sophia, which burned down after its wooden roof caught fire, just like the first building. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Used for Muslim broadcasts

Curry says, “What Turkey has done during this current crisis is they have begun broadcasting Islamic messages from this Christian church. They had made it into a museum previously, but you now have the government of Turkey using this crisis to take over territory, to continue to push Christians into the margin of their community.” Read more here.

Turkey has persecuted Christians more and more in recent years, as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has leaned towards more radical Islam.

Curry says Turkay has been the bridge between the East and the West for thousands of years. But President Erdoğan has backed ISIS consistently. “So there’s a battle going on there against Orthodox Christian faith and other manifestations of Christian faith. And I’m very concerned about it.”

Ceiling decoration in the Hagia Sophia. The Christian cross can be seen through later decorations. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Pray for Turkey

Curry points out that Turkey has had no qualms using its legal system and even military to undermine Christian communities in Turkey. He says, “We do need to pray for them because it is a very important country in the Islamic world. And they have tremendous potential and power to shift how the Islamic world sees Christians. And I would hope that over time we can we can see again a reconciliation in that community, for Christians to live peacefully into to practice their faith.”

Pray for Christians in Turkey, that they would be kept safe from persecution against them. Pray that they would not be emotionally crushed as they see Islamic messages broadcasted from a historic church, but that they would take great joy from the risen Christ himself.

Hagia Sophia in Turkey, a historic Eastern Orthodox church. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Blame it on 50 years of communist repression, the growing Islamic presence, or
the sway of changing times. Whatever the reason, many Bulgarians are feeling
disillusioned about matters of faith. In the case of the younger generation,
some have rejected religion altogether.

Some
of Bulgaria’s youth, however, are challenging the traditional meaning of the
Christian faith. Good News Churches, an evangelical ministry assisted by Christian Aid Mission, is helping the movement. In a landscape of shifting sands,
they seek to give Bulgarian youth a firm foundation in Jesus Christ–a faith
that won’t be uprooted by political ideologies or the latest fad.

This
summer the ministry celebrated the 12th year of “New Wave,” a national
Christian youth program that draws thousands of participants to an annual camp
and to other high energy events.

“It
is exciting to see young people on fire for Jesus and with a deep desire to
serve Him,” said a gospel worker with the ministry. He and his wife serve as national
coordinators for New Wave.

“A
lot of parents are testifying of the change that has taken place in the lives
of their children after the New Wave summer camps,” the missionary said.  

Mini-revivals are held in the fall and spring, bringing together 2,000 young people for a day of praising God and fervent prayer. These New Wave events are held in rented sports arenas or cultural halls in large cities which can be easily accessed via public transportation from outlying towns and villages.

These New Waves events are making in impact. Some
attendees commit their hearts to Christ for the first time. Strengthened in
their faith, many teens return to their communities and become a witness for
the Lord to their friends and relatives. Others discover their calling to
become church leaders, pastors, and missionaries whose outreach will have
long-term effects on the future of their nation.

New Wave has borne so much spiritual fruit among the youth in Bulgaria
that a similar national movement has been replicated in Albania. Called “United
Youth for Christ,” the event draws about 400 youth from Albania, Kosovo, and
Macedonia. The “wave” continues to spread throughout the region, as Romanian
churches have also requested assistance in organizing events for the youth in
their country.

Today’s
generation lives in a different world compared to what their parents and
grandparents experienced during the communist years of 1944 to 1989. There is
more freedom, both politically and socially. Gone, too, is the system that
oppressed religious activities of all denominations and faiths.

Although
Bulgaria’s constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion, Orthodoxy is
officially recognized as the traditional religion of the country. An estimated
82% of Bulgaria’s 7 million inhabitants identify themselves as Orthodox.

Evangelical
Christianity, considered a sect by many Bulgarians, is slowly gaining
acceptance, especially among youth. Protestants comprise just 1.9% of the
country’s population, up from a mere 0.4% in 1980.

Authenticity
is what young adults are looking for, and ministry leaders want them to know
what it means to have a genuine, life-transforming walk with the Savior–no
matter what their religious affiliation may be.

“Our
vision is to invest in young people’s lives, to develop the gifts they have and
their character, and to teach them to show mercy to those that are neglected
and rejected in society,” said one Christian Aid-assisted missionary.

One
challenge that hasn’t changed since their parents’ generation is the chokehold
of poverty. According to the National Statistical Institute, over 70,000
Bulgarian young adults were registered as unemployed in August, and 24% of them
are up to 29 years of age. As a result, some of the country’s best and
brightest youth are emigrating to other European countries for jobs and money.

Others
seek solace in alcohol and drugs, or experience failed relationships that
contribute to the nation’s high abortion and divorce rates.

Finding
a sure and steady anchor in Christ is their only hope. Pray for a mighty moving
of God’s Spirit to continue to change lives.

Praise
God for the revival taking place among the youth of Bulgaria. Pray for revival
to sweep across the country and the entire Balkan region.