(Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association)

Slavic Gospel Association’s Vice President of Ministry Operations Eric Mock says this time of change is brutal for kids. Torn from their parents, these kids face an uncertain future.

“Add to it that, that orphanage is up in the region of Chernobyl. It’s like double and triple jeopardy,” Mock says.

For teenagers turning 18 and aging out of the orphanage system, many have no place to live, no clothes, and little to no work or skills to help. This makes these young adults vulnerable to drugs, crime, poverty, and prostitution—the same things that first caused their placement in the orphanage system. Perceiving little to no hope for the future, some evenchoose suicide.

Orphans Reborn in Action

In Kyiv, God has raised up one of many churches to reach out to these kids, offer them physical aid, and encourage them in Christ’s love. SGA supports this church through its Orphans Reborn ministry.

(Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association)

In ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of these kids, the church members tangibly share who Christ is without even speaking, making their words that much more impactful.

Their presence also shows these kids they are not alone, and the local church deeply cares for and loves them.

“Whether it’s compassion ministry or ministry to the kids, [these churches] need your prayers. They need prayers for open hearts. They need prayers for God to continue to encourage faithful servants that do this work,” Mock says.

“It’s a labor of love. A lot of these faithful pastors and pastors wives are, in my mind, heroes of the faith.”

Pray for these kids in and around the Chernobyl region. Pray for healthy reunited families where possible, and for healing in these kids’ hearts. Ask God to reveal His truth and love to the kids in Ukraine’s orphanages. Pray He equips the local church to carry on the work of showing up for these kids and ministering to their physical and spiritual needs.

To give to Orphans Reborn, click here.

Header photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association.

Mass Celebration

(Photo courtesy of Mission Eurasia via Facebook)

On Sunday, around 500,000 evangelical believers gathered in the central square of Kiev, Ukraine to celebrate the Protestant Reformation’s 500th anniversary and to thank God for His faithfulness in their country.

Rakhuba was in contact with colleagues attending the event, and he says, “They reported over 500,000 across denominational lines from all the churches in Kiev and surrounding areas. Many traveled from all four provinces there just to be a part of that celebration, to thank God for the freedom to worship, to thank God for the freedom to preach the Gospel in their country, and to celebrate God’s faithfulness.”

He shares, “It was so exciting to see on the screen of my computer where I was watching young people with so much joy. They glorify God in the midst of their capital. This was the same place where they were protesting just a few years ago fighting for their freedom. But also this is the place where many years ago, communists would force people to demonstrate and propagate socialism, atheism, communism, and other ‘isms’ in their country.”

The celebration was due to a signed order by Ukraine’s president to celebrate the Protestant Reformation’s 500th anniversary. It may have been a move to associate Ukraine more with Western Europe, even as Ukraine works to distance itself from Russia amidst ongoing fighting and protests. But the turnout yesterday showed how powerfully the Holy Spirit is moving in their nation.

In a space used for mass demonstration, the Church used it on Sunday for mass celebration.

“Ukraine is still in the midst of war. Eastern Ukraine and territories are still occupied by Russian or pro-Russian separatists. Crimea was annexed by Russia. So yes, Ukraine is struggling politically, economically, but Ukraine is striving today spiritually, pleading to God to bless that nation.”

‘Radio Silence’ in the News

However, one of the most puzzling things is that this gathering of half a million people in downtown Ukraine…well, it barely made a blip in the news anywhere.

For comparison, about 500,000 people turned out for the widely-covered Women’s March in Washington, DC in January this year.

A church in Kiev, Ukraine.

Rakhuba speculates, “Very few like to recognize that the Evangelical or Protestant movement is taking such a powerful step forward. So the Evangelical Church is growing in that nation, and somehow we see that this all spread through social media, but official networks barely report anything.”

Even as a mass gathering of believers in Ukraine went widely unnoticed by the general public, Mission Eurasia celebrates with the Ukrainian Church and calls on believers worldwide to stand with them in prayer and support — to let them know that they are not alone as the Body of Christ.

A Persistent Church

Rakhuba says empowering the Church in Ukraine and the surrounding countries to advance the Gospel is their mission. “That’s what Mission Eurasia is doing, working with the next generation, those who take the baton, those who get into the generational gap and take the Gospel to their communities.”

(Photo courtesy of Mission Eurasia via Facebook)

One of their unique initiatives is School Without Walls which equips young leaders in Eurasia with biblical training, leadership skills, and practical ministry experience. Click here to learn more!

Rakhuba says Ukrainians are even taking the missions mindset beyond their own communities, and that Ukraine is becoming a hub for sending out the Gospel to neighboring countries and beyond!

“I just talked to a group of young people, they just came to this celebration from their mission trip to Mongolia in China — young Ukrainians who felt like the Holy Spirit was leading them to take the Gospel to…Mongolia where they reached thousands of young people through summer camps!”

Prayer Points

For critical prayer points, Rakhuba says, “I would encourage many of your listeners to continue praying for [Ukraine], that the nation becomes a true hub for the Gospel in the midst of all those Eurasian countries.

“Pray for Mission Eurasia when we bring these strategic missiological initiatives into those nations equipping the next generation, preparing them to lead, and equipping them to serve.”

And finally, he asks, “Pray for peace between Russia and Ukraine. While Ukraine is celebrating God’s faithfulness, Russia is still after lots of Evangelical groups today trying to monopolize or politicize the spiritual field and limit lots of Evangelicals from their activity, trying to push them behind their church walls.”

(Photo credit: Roey Ahram via Flickr)

Ukraine (MNN) — Many important conversations take place over a cup of coffee.

Future spouses take their first steps toward “happily ever after.” Business leaders discuss deals and discounts. Diplomats negotiate and talk world peace.

As important as all of these conversations are, none can rival the chit-chat between coffee shop counselors in Kiev and the vulnerable women they’ve met online.

“Babies are being saved in coffee shops in Ukraine,” says LIFE International’s Melinda Delahoyde.

“At our last count, when we last heard, 1 to 2 unborn babies were being saved every week.”

What?! How?

Portrait of a young pregnant woman in summer park
(Photo, caption courtesy LIFE International)

Delahoyde’s claim sounds unusual until you’ve heard the back-story.

Last summer, at LIFE International’s Eastern European annual training summit, Delahoyde’s colleagues connected with a young couple from Kiev.

The couple had been wanting to save unborn lives, but since their city was so war-torn, they couldn’t start a pregnancy center.

Instead, they had started a Web site.

“They’re reaching them online–the women who are determined to have abortions,” explains Delahoyde.

“The first place a woman will go, when she thinks she might be pregnant, is to her phone. And, she Googles things like ‘morning after pill’ [or] ‘abortion.’”

By encountering women at this point–when they’re searching for options and answers, coffee shop counselors trained by the pro-life young couple from Kiev get an important opportunity.

“Instead of doing the counseling with these young women in a pregnancy center, they talk with them online,” Delahoyde explains.

“They text, they chat, they build that relationship online, and then they meet with them at coffee shops around the city.”

When coffee shop counselors and the troubled women meet up, talk eventually turns to Christ. Over a cup of coffee, pregnant women don’t just find answers for today: they find hope for eternity.

What now?

(Map courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

The young couple who attended LIFE International’s training session want to reach beyond Kiev.

“They’re building across the country an online network to reach women who are most at-risk of having an abortion,” shares Delahoyde.

As you pray for this couple, would you consider helping LIFE International train more pro-life leaders just like them?

Delahoyde states, “People ask us, ‘How can we be part of this work?’ The motto at LIFE International is: pray, sow, and go.”

Click the links below to learn more about each opportunity:

• Pray
• Sow
• Go

(Screen shot from Russian television of protestors in Ukraine)

Ukraine (MNN) — November marked the two-year anniversary of the current Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The conflict began over protests against Ukraine’s president’s choice to abandon joining the European Union in order to pursue a deal strengthening ties with Russia.

Amy Richey with EFCA ReachGlobal Crisis Response says, “What started as a frustration of Ukrainians with the current corruption of a government eventually ended up in their former president fleeing to Russia and seeking asylum in Moscow.”

But why would Ukrainians ever want strong ties with Russia, considering their history? In 1932, when Ukraine wouldn’t comply, Russia cut off supplies and starved Ukraine out. So why trust a country that starved you?

Needless to say, Ukrainians took to the streets in the capital city of Kiev to renounce a deal with Russia in November 2013. But the ending could not have been what they had in mind.

“And today unfortunately has turned into an act of war between Russia and Ukraine. When the world has been silent, Russia has continued to cause problems and create havoc in eastern Ukraine,” said Richey.

But to Richey, hope isn’t lost in Ukraine. “The great thing is: God is bigger than all of this. And you will find a sense of encouragement and a sense of hope for Ukraine and for it’s future generations and a continued openness to the Gospel,” said Richey.

Some of the 100+ refugees cared for at The Logos Center.
(Image courtesy EFCA)

ReachGlobal works in Kiev, Ukraine, through it’s project, Kiev Logos Center, serving the at-risk population. ReachGlobal is also helping care for refugees coming from Eastern Ukraine where the conflict with Russia is heavy.

And unique to Ukraine is the long history of strong orthodox ministry, despite the communism it’s experienced. A lot of people know about religion and God, but they need to know and experience Jesus.

“The challenge remains for Christians to help Ukrainians understand that it is a personal relationship with Christ and that that personal transformation is what brings about life change and heart change and the hope and salvation of the Gospel,” said Richey.

Please pray for all involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Pray also for peace and for the work of the Gospel there.

To learn more or to donate, click here.

Please keep Ukraine in your
prayers today!
(Image courtesy Sergey Rakhuba via Facebook)

Ukraine (MNN) — Tensions are escalating again in Ukraine. On Sunday, pro-Russia protestors took hold of three cities in eastern Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, and Khariv. Yesterday the interim government issued a 48-hour ultimatum to activists in these cities: enter into talks or face force. Russia says civil war could result if Ukraine uses force against the protestors.

Sergey Rakhuba of Russian Ministries says they have workers are in each city held by pro-Russian activists. He speaks with them regularly, sometimes hourly, he adds.

“The situation in Ukraine is changing by the hour; the more we watch it, the more concern we have in our hearts,” Rakhuba states.

Concern partly centers on the extent of Russia’s involvement in current unrest. U.S. officials have expressed suspicion based on similarities between the take-over in Crimea and the seizure of government buildings in these three cities.

“This is the same scenario, same plan, same strategy, and I would be very doubtful if somebody would say ‘Russia has nothing to do with it.'” Rakhuba adds.

“The propaganda in Russia today on the national TV and state-owned media channels, they just simply pour lots of disinformation about Ukraine and [are] encouraging Russians to support the invasion.”

Gospel Opportunities
While the struggle for Ukraine is continually evolving, a few things are staying constant. First, uncertainty is causing a new hunger for the Gospel.

“I see how the country has awakened. Because of all this turmoil, uprise, concern, anxiety, the nation is open for spiritual revival today,” says Rakhuba.

“I’ve seen people kneel down on the ground, on the main squares in Ukraine…raising their hands, crying out to God so that God would intervene and bring peace, restore peace, and bring reconciliation to their communities, to their nation.”

Following initial unrest in Kiev, Russian Ministries began equipping churches with copies of Scripture to give protestors. Now, they’re sending another wave to churches in eastern Ukraine.

Last month, Ukrainians gathered in Kiev to pray for their nation.
(Image courtesy Russian Ministries)

“We want to equip the Church to use this opportunity, use the momentum…to help people find the source of true hope in Jesus through reading the Scriptures,” Rakhuba notes.

“We plan to print another 200,000 copies of Scripture–Gospel of Luke–that is designed in Russian language for [the] eastern regions of Ukraine where people mostly speak Russian.”

Each copy also includes a suggested prayer of personal repentance and restoration of fellowship with God. There is also a suggested prayer for healing of the nation and community.

“We would greatly appreciate if people go to www.russian-minsitries.org and join us in partnership to help equip the evangelical Church, evangelical Christians and leaders in Ukraine,” says Rakhuba.

Click here for a direct link and select “Scripture for Ukraine” in the drop-down menu.

Prayer Needed
The second consistent factor in Ukraine’s unrest is the need for global prayer.

“There are lots of concerns that Russia has chosen the politics of separating Ukraine, of dividing Ukraine, breaking Ukraine up,” Rakhuba shares.

(Image courtesy Sergey Rakhuba via Facebook)

“I want to encourage your listeners to continue praying that God will give wisdom and courage to the interim government of Ukraine now and especially Mr. Turchinov, who is an evangelical Christian. He’s calling upon the rest of the world, asking for prayer support.”

Ask the Lord to guide and direct Ukraine’s interim government according to His will.

“Continue praying for the church leaders in Ukraine,” adds Rakhuba. “This is a very difficult time. They need wisdom, direction, courage now.

“[Pray that] they will lead their congregation, that they will make right choices and fulfill their Christian evangelical responsibilities in times of turmoil, when they will become the salt and the light.”

Pray that the Church will step up as a spiritual force in Ukraine. Pray that believers will be bold about sharing the Gospel.

Write your prayer for Ukraine on our Facebook wall.

(Photo courtesy SEND International)

Ukraine (SEND/MNN) — On Tuesday, 18 March, Russia claimed Crimea.

On Wednesday, almost 300 armed pro-Russian supporters took over the Ukrainian navy’s headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Tens of thousands of heavily-armed Russian and pro-Russian troops reportedly are now patrolling in Crimea.

Ukrainian government officials angrily protested the take-over, leading to concerns about the tensions between forces igniting into a bloody conflict.

U.S. and EU officials imposed sanctions on a group of Russian and Crimean officials and have urged Russia to avoid escalating the crisis, but Moscow has ignored those calls.

(Photo courtesy SEND International)

What follows is an update posted by a team from SEND International:

Please continue to pray for peace in Ukraine. We are thankful that the referendum held in Crimea (March 16) and its immediate aftermath have been relatively peaceful. Russian lawmakers will vote on Friday concerning whether to make Crimea a part of Russia. There are other critical decisions being made this week in Ukrainian courts Russian troops continue to build up in Crimea and along the borders of Ukraine. The Ukrainian military is also moving toward those borders. The situation remains volatile.

Over the weekend, SEND relocated or evacuated our workers in three cities east and south of Kyiv. Many of our workers in Kyiv have also relocated or evacuated; those who have chosen to remain have access to vehicles and are prepared for a quick exit if necessary.

Please pray that all of our workers will sense the strength and sustaining grace of our all-wise, sovereign Father and will turn their anxieties over to Him, receiving His peace in exchange. Pray for protection for our workers still in the country and for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. And pray that God will accomplish His purposes and that the gospel will continue to flourish in this great country, for His glory!

I would encourage reflection on this truth from Isaiah 40.

 

The radio program “Faith, Hope, and Love” draws listeners from Ukraine, Russia, and other countries
in the former Soviet Union.
(Image, caption courtesy Christian Aid)

Ukraine (MNN) — Ukraine is a powder keg ready to explode. Russia is keeping a tight grip on Crimea, and pro-Russia protests are spreading throughout Ukraine’s eastern and southern cities.

But there’s good news: the crisis in Ukraine is driving people to Christ.

“During this difficult time, my radio program [is] going on, don’t stop. And people are very, very hungry, especially now,” says Slavik Radchuk, a Ukrainian missionary supported by Christian Aid Mission, your link to indigenous missions.

“People [are] still coming to Christ like never before, [in] all churches.”

Listen to the interview here.

Christian Aid supports a total of six ministries in Ukraine. Their leaders are telling Radchuk that people are desperate for hope.

“From Crimea, we have reports that former Muslims or Muslims are coming to our churches and saying, ‘Can we pray together to God?'” says Radchuk. They don’t want to die without hope, he adds.

“This is a very difficult time for us, and all people stay together now and pray to God for peace.”

Over the weekend, thousands of people gathered at a Christian Aid-supported church in Crimea and prayed through Monday morning.

“[Missionaries said attendance was] 1806 in one church, but over 2,000 people came and stayed,” Radchuk shares.

“All night they prayed because it was a very difficult time in Crimea.”

Slavik Radchuk, Ukrainian evangelist and area director for the former Soviet Union at Christian Aid Mission, delivers a message for his Christian radio broadcast.
(Image, caption courtesy Christian Aid)

A voice of hope
Despite ongoing protests and the tension that’s enveloping Ukraine, Radchuk’s radio program is still on the air. Three times a week, families hear about hope and peace that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

“My message is simple,” Radchuk recently told Christian Aid. “I don’t promote a certain church or denomination. I preach the message of salvation, deliverance, of healing broken hearts and families. I just invite people to read the Bible and follow Jesus.”

Read the remarkable story of how Radchuk started his radio ministry.

Today, Radchuk’s radio ministry has a reach of 100 million people in Ukraine, Moldova, Belorussia, western Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and others. Many listeners send thank-you letters to Radchuk, and others request copies of his messages on CD so they can pass it along to their family and friends.

“Our neighbors come over to our house when your programs are on the air because they do not have a radio at their house,” writes a listener from Kbmelnitskiy. “After your programs, we pray together.”

Prayer needed
Radchuk says literally thousands of Ukrainians are gathering together to pray for their nation. Will you join them?

“Pray for protection, because war can start any day,” he urges.

“We don’t want to have a fight with our Russian brothers, and we want to have peace. Please pray for peace in Ukraine.”

The European Union is meeting today to discuss the implementation of sanctions on Russia for their involvement in Ukraine’s crisis. Pray that their decision will not invoke further violence.

The radio ministry has received thousands
of letters from faithful listeners.
(Image, caption courtesy Christian Aid)

“[I want] to give a big thanks for all Christian people around the world who pray and intercede for our nation in this very, very critical time,” says Radchuk.

2014 marks Christian Aid’s 20th year of support for Radchuk’s ministry. Along with his radio broadcasts, Radchuk shares the Good News through television programming in more than 135 nations.

See how you can support indigenous missionaries like Slavik Radchuk through Christian Aid.

Please continue to pray for Ukraine.
(Image courtesy Sergey Rakhuba via Facebook)

Ukraine (MNN) — The battle for Ukraine has shifted from Kiev to southern Crimea. Protestors took to the streets of the regional capital yesterday as officials met to discuss their options and Russia flexed its military muscle.

As interim president Oleksandr Turchynov prepares to build a new government, Ukraine’s unrest shows no signs of stopping.

Christian Aid Mission, your link to indigenous missions, helps six ministries in Ukraine. They’re still planning to move forward with a major outreach project, despite the unrest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered some 150,000 troops to test their combat-readiness in tests scheduled to run through the weekend. While Russian defense officials denied a link between Ukraine’s unrest and their military developments, some analysts were skeptical.

“By holding up the prospect of intervention…it’s a way for Moscow to signal to the Ukrainian elite that it should be cautious in terms of how it moves forward,” a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Russian expert told Deutsche Welle.

At the same time, Russian state media says the Foreign Ministry is calling on Orthodox clerics in Ukraine to prevent religious conflict. Officials issued a statement yesterday calling on “all sober-minded forces in the country to avoid further escalation of tensions and prevent the country from plunging into a religious confrontation.”

Meanwhile, Christian Aid-contacts share the effect Ukraine’s unrest is having on students studying at their Bible Institute.

“The young people we are training for ministry are watching the news and seeing other young people die on the streets…. It is motivating them to go and preach the Gospel,” shares a ministry leader.

Christian Aid is supporting a major initiative to distribute New Testaments in thousands of villages and small towns where there are no churches. Called the “Summertime for Jesus” project, hundreds of Christian youth and college students plan to hand out New Testaments from May through September. They will receive training in how to share their faith and serve as effective witnesses for Christ.

“Just pray for Ukraine, pray for peace,” implored one Christian leader. “What is happening in Ukraine is like a sign from God of the urgency to share the Gospel. We will keep preaching.”

Pray that this upheaval can be used to share the hope of Christ. Pray that violence will not escalate.

(Photo courtesy Russian Ministries)

UPDATE: Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov saysFormer President Viktor Yanukovych is wanted for “mass killings of civilians.”  An arrest warrant has been issued, but thus far, Yanukovych remains in hiding.

Meanwhile,the Parliament voted to oust Yanukovych, and appointed seasoned lawmaker Oleksandr Turchinov as a new speaker who will take on Yanukovych’s duties until new elections in May.

However, as Ukraine tries to reshape its political landscape, the rifts still need to be healed.

Ukraine (MNN) – The big question mark going into the weekend was: will Ukraine’s peace deal hold for the next few days?

Now, it’s how fast can things move forward? Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday he would call early presidential elections in a bid to put an end to bloody street battles that have left at least 80 people dead this week in Kiev.

This new peace is  fragile. “People are really hoping that in the next couple of days, they will reach the full agreement, stopping the violence, and that peace will be restored”, says Russian Ministries president, Sergey Rakhuba. Will it hold?  “There’s always a risk because the government broke their word before, many times. But also, we have to understand that in the crowd, there are many radicals that don’t really follow any rules and don’t follow any side. They just want to provoke violence and fight.”

The next step is the presidential election. There’s no time frame. Rakhuba explains what’s at stake. “They are arguing now about restoring the constitution of 2004, because in 2010, President Yanukovych, when he took over the office, he applied those changes, so he basically took all the power into his own hands.”

(Photo courtesy Russian Ministries)

RMI has a field office in Kiev that had to close its doors for a while. Several conferences were cancelled, as well as some training events. Some operations have resumed, but everyone is a little on edge.

Rakhuba explains, “They’re almost on the front line. There’s lots of anxiety, there’s lots of concern, but all of them are involved, to a certain degree, through their churches, in some of the events organized to mobilize churches to be involved in helping the injured and distributing the Scripture.”

(Photo courtesy Russian Ministries)

Even though their original plans went awry, Rakhuba says, “We’re refocusing and already kind of regrouped so that we’re reaching churches and trying to encourage them, especially in Kiev, to get involved in reconciliation ministry so that the Church will play the major role in all of this, will bring the light into a divided and broken society.”

In an urgent plea on his Facebook page, Rakhuba noted three ways they need your help:

Pray: Please pray for God’s intervention, protection, hope, and comfort, especially for those who have lost loved ones on both sides of the conflict. Some of our closest friends have lost family members. Please also pray for healing and reconciliation for Ukraine, which only God can do!

Emergency Fund: We are starting an emergency fund to provide practical help for those affected by the violence in Ukraine. Evangelical and Orthodox churches in Kiev have already opened their doors to care for the wounded and provide shelter for families who were forced to leave their homes because of the violence. We are asking for resources to help provide food (which is in short supply), medical assistance for the wounded, and support for those who have already lost loved ones. Please consider helping.

Scripture/Gospel of Luke: The Word of God is the most reliable source for faith, help, and healing. I firmly believe that desperate times cause people to think about their own faith and to open their hearts to God. For this reason, we have decided to print another 200,000 copies of the Gospel of Luke in the Ukrainian language that will contain prayers for salvation, comfort for families, healing for the nation, and hope for peace. Please consider providing copies of God’s Word for this hurting nation.

Riot police face off with protestors in Kiev’s
“Maidan” or Independence Square.
(Image, caption courtesy SGA)

Ukraine (MNN) — Hope is a scarce commodity after a week of Ukraine’s unrest. With offices in Kiev, Russian Ministries and Slavic Gospel Association are knee-deep in turmoil. They’re pleading for prayer from believers around the world.

“Pray that this conflict would be resolved quickly. Pray for families who are grieving for lost loved ones,” said Russian Ministries on its Facebook page.

While reports vary widely, yesterday afternoon Ukraine’s health ministry confirmed the deaths of at least 60 people and says more than 500 have been wounded.

“Our Ukrainian Baptist leaders in Kiev are now using churches in the city as infirmaries for the injured and sick,” national church leaders told SGA in a recent report. “Christian doctors take turns and are helping those who need medical care.

“We see this as an opportunity to witness our love of Jesus to our neighbors.”

Read the full report here.

Tumultuous times

This is Ukraine’s bloodiest week since breaking away from the Soviet Union in 1991. What began as peaceful protests in November 2013 have escalated significantly.

(Photo courtesy Sasha Maksymenko)

Protestors initially took to the streets because Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych favored a move toward Russia instead of a trade deal with the European Union (EU). Tensions spiked toward the end of January, pushing both sides to a ceasefire at the end of last week.

When protestors became aware of the government’s failure to uphold their end of the bargain, they took action. Renewed frustrations resulted in Ukraine’s worst day of violence in modern history. At least 25 people were killed and hundreds more wounded in police-protestor violence.

While Wednesday’s truce was a ray of hope, it didn’t last long. Clashes ramped up again on Thursday amid EU and U.S. sanctions, distributions of combat weapons to riot police, government disintegration, and a greater fortification of opposition strongholds.

Bogdana Matsotska and her father/coach
at the Sochi Winter Olympics.
(Image found on Faceook)

In support of their countrymen, two members of Ukraine’s Olympic team decided to pull out of the Sochi Winter Games early and head home.

“My friends are there at the Maidan–people I know, close friends of mine,” 24-year-old Alpine skier Bogdana Matsotska told Reuters Television yesterday.

“To go on the start line when people are dying and when the authorities broke the main rule of the Olympic competition which is peace, I simply cannot do it.”

Ukraine has a total of 43 athletes competing at Sochi. Team officials and some athletes observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims, Reuters reports. In the athletes’ village, black ribbons were added to Ukrainian flags hanging from balconies.

Divisions are deepening

November’s protests brought Ukraine’s divisions to light. Western Ukraine favors freedom and democracy and was pushing for an EU deal. When Yanukovych rejected the deal for pro-Russia alignment, Eastern Ukraine rejoiced while the western region pushed back.

Now, as international voices chime in and violence escalates, those divisions are deepening.

“Ukraine is at a critical turning point, and we realize that only God can prevent the nation from sinking in blood,” penned SGA church associates.

“We urge you to lift up prayers to the Lord in this crucial time for Ukraine’s future.”

Russian Ministries’ photo of protests in Ukraine.

It’s also deepening the East-West divide. As the U.S. and EU use sanctions to push for diplomacy, Russia criticizes the move, describing the sanctions as “blackmail.” Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Ministry described the unrest as an attempted coup.

Though diplomatic efforts are ongoing, some fear the crisis could escalate further.

Pray for a resolute end to the country’s violence. Pray for healing for those injured in Ukraine’s unrest. Pray that God would use young Ukrainian Christians as instruments of His peace and healing.