Poland’s President Andrzej Duda came out in support of the standard, affirming the need to “keep Russia aggression at bay.” Poland already spends more than any other NATO nation on its national defense – over 4% of its GDP.

Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) says, “America has financially borne the burden of much of the defense effort, especially with the war in Ukraine. I’m not arguing one way or the other; just stating a reality and then recognizing with Donald Trump being our president, there’s going to be a requirement for these countries to respond with a greater commitment to their own security.”

The stakes are high for Poland, in particular, which shares a border with Russia and Ukraine.

“Poland recognizes that Russia is basically on its doorstep,” says Mock. “They don’t know what’s going to happen in Ukraine, but if all of a sudden something tragic happens in Ukraine, and Ukraine tends to fall, then you’ve got a situation where they’re definitely on Poland’s doorstep. If peace comes, and we pray that peace comes, Poland still has to look out for its own security over time and take responsibility for that.”

Women’s ministry in Poland. (Photo courtesy of SGA)

Mock emphasizes, “Going into 2025, there’s a tremendous amount of unknown on how this is all going to play out [in the region].”

SGA supports churches in Poland that minister to citizens and Ukrainian refugees. Amidst uncertain times, they offer the certain hope of Jesus. Several churches even hosted Christmas celebrations supported by SGA’s ministry, Immanuel’s Child.

“We’re seeing stories pour in of kids and parents coming to faith during the Christmas outreach. The Church is now focused on not only following up with these families, but seeing the ones who come to faith [be] discipled,” says Mock.

“So in the middle of the chaos, what we’re called to do as servants of Christ, as a Church, is to continue to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples.”

Learn more about SGA’s ministry in Poland.

Header photo: Poland’s President Andrzej Duda on a visit to Kyiv, August 2024. (Photo by Kmu.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=151869489)

At the NATO meeting in Brussels last week (December 3-4), its members discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and elements of the conflicts in the Middle East. They promised continued support to Ukraine, but beyond that, there was no invitation.

The gathering came days after a brief exchange between US and Ukraine officials regarding the war nearing it’s four-year mark.

One unnamed US personnel suggested Ukraine lower its conscription age from 25 to 18 years. But a Ukrainian official said they lack supplies to support the soldiers they already have. With a clear underlying message, he said they won’t compensate with the lives of their youngest men for their partners’ slowness in deciding to send military supplies.

How is this context impacting the Ukrainian church? “According to the vice president of the Ukrainian Baptist union, there’s 300 to 400 pastors or deacons who are all engaged on the frontlines,” says Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association (SGA).

Some pastors are chaplains or medics; others serve in logistics. Mock says while many are pacifists, some choose to take up arms. 

“Regardless of whether they are pacifist or not, they count it a privilege to serve for their country,” he says. “But then, at a personal level, we have to understand that a lot of these men are married and they have little kids.”

Further conscription would increase a heavy strain on believers, “because the churches are already struggling to make sure they can minister to those that are coming to these churches,” Mock says.

There’s a heavy burden on the pastors SGA supports as well.

(Photo courtesy of SGA)

“I’ve heard from the older pastors that are still a fighting age (25–60 years old), that they’re at a point where they know their salvation is secure. They know where their future is. They and their wife understand the threats that are there, and so they serve (in the army) in peace.

“But for the younger men that are in their early 30s and 20s, they are taking care of a church, taking care of a family, and the thought of going to the frontline is quite a bit more daunting.” 

No matter what happens in NATO, God is the one who will bring physical and spiritual salvation to Ukraine. Psalm 20:7-9 says,

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
    but we rise up and stand firm.
Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us when we call!”

Pray for Ukrainian pastors to have a deep sense of God’s presence wherever they go. Pray for their families and churches left behind to continue in faithful gospel ministry. Ask God to raise more leaders to shepherd the churches.

Header photo of a NATO Foreign Ministers family photo in Brussels, Belgium, December 4, 2024 (By U.S. Department of State from United States – 2K0A2601, accessed via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

The United States and other Western countries have provided Ukraine with longer-range missiles, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is asking for the green light to use these weapons to hit strategic Russian targets.

Eric Mock from Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) explains, “He (Putin) would consider that a red line where weaponry that was used to hit deeper inside Russia that came from these developed Western nations would in fact signal that, de facto, these nations were, in a sense, in a war with Russia, and He would respond as though the Western nations were directly assaulting Russia.”

Additionally, Putin hinted in his statement that he would look at a nuclear response if Western long-range missiles were used to strike Russia.

(Photo courtesy of SGA)

As tensions rise, the situation grows more precarious for both nations. Despite the escalating rhetoric, SGA continues to support Christians both in Russia and Ukraine. “That’s why SGA, in hearing some of these threats and from some of these military concerns, has stayed consistent because our vision of serving God’s Church and helping them reach their own really remains untarnished,” says Mock.

The pressure on churches in both countries is immense as they navigate the challenges of war.

Mock says, “For the churches, both on the Ukrainian and the Russian side, it increasingly puts pressure on them to respond, not in national issues, but in a Gospel-centric way.”

Pray for Russian and Ukrainian believers to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and seek unity within the Body of Christ.

You can partner with them to advance the heart of the Gospel in this war-torn region. Get started at SGA’s website.

Header photo of President of Russia Vladimir Putin meeting with government members via video conference on March 10, 2022.
(Wikimedia Commons)

Cutting off more power and heat will spell disaster this winter for Ukrainian citizens.

Slavic Gospel Association’s Eric Mock says, “There literally are people that recognize what it’s like to go to sleep at night when it’s only 30 degrees in your house, to get under the covers night after night and not be able to get warm, no matter how many layers of clothes you have.

(Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association)

“Every day, you’re cold. Every day, you’re dealing with terrible temperatures. Every day, you’re questioning, ‘Do I have enough food to feed my children?'”

Ukrainian villages near the frontlines are especially at risk, even if they’ve been liberated from Russian control.

“What we find is even when a village is liberated, it’s within artillery range. So even though they’re liberated, there’s no way to live in these villages [and] the people are being displaced,” says Mock.

“A lot of the people that are in these frontline villages are the elderly or women with children and nowhere to go. So part of what we’re doing is we’re helping local churches evacuate people out of these zones.”

Also, Mock says, “We’re continuing Ukraine relief. We’re trying to get food, aid, and also diesel fuel so they can rescue people from villages, as well as medical and hygiene items.”

Governments and political parties continue to debate ongoing war support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion.

However, with SGA, supporting Ukrainian churches with relief is not a political question. It’s a humanitarian question and — more importantly — a spiritual need.

(Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association)

“While everyone’s debating the right and the wrong and the politics, think the mom that’s trying to feed the children and she can’t get them warm. Think of the older man and woman who are shivering in the night every single night because of this ongoing war. That’s what the people in Ukraine are enduring.”

SGA and their church partners are being the hands and feet of Christ in places where the needs are increasing and the area is dangerous. Hope is desperately needed. Yet, Ukrainians are reaching for the anchoring promises and hope of Christ.

Pray for Ukrainian believers encouraged by SGA’s ministry and for non-believers finding comfort in Jesus.

You can support SGA’s work in Ukraine here!

Header photo courtesy of SGA.

But it’s not actually new for the people of Turkey, says Bruce Allen with FMI. “This is what they have called themselves since their declaration of independence in 1923. They would like the rest of the world to call them by this name. They cite things like if you try to Google the word Turkey, you will get this large North American bird.”

“Or if you look in the dictionary, Turkey is defined as something that fails badly, or a stupid, silly person.”

Critics within Turkey say the move is simply meant to distract from the country’s myriad of problems. A severe financial crisis makes it difficult for many citizens to buy food. The current government is up for re-election in the coming months.

Turkish Christians

Allen says the Christian community has their own challenges. “A large number of foreign Christian workers are no longer being allowed to stay in the country. The government is not renewing visas for those people.”

That leaves the Christian community in a very precarious situation, Allen says. “Because for so many decades, it has really been the foreign Christian workers that have been doing a lot of the leadership.”

FMI helps build local churches run by Turkish citizens. You can support this work here.

The Christian population in Turkey

Allen says the churches in Turkey are small and scattered. “The church leaders I’ve been meeting with over the years say there’s probably only 10 to 12,000 evangelical Christians out of 85 million people. That means you need to meet more than 7,000 people on average to meet an evangelical.”

It’s an ironic twist, Allen says because ancient Turkey held many churches, including those mentioned in the New Testament book of Revelations.

Header photo courtesy of FMI. 

Newsweek reported May 9’s importance in late March, citing Ukrainian military officials. On Friday, The Moscow Times chronicled World War II victory parade rehearsals in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

“Things are escalating; there’s no question,” Greg Musselman with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada says.

“It doesn’t look like the Russians are backing down; things are getting tense.”

On Thursday, Russia’s boldest attack on Kyiv since forces withdrew weeks ago came barely an hour after Ukraine’s president held a news conference with the U.N. Secretary-General. The assault followed “warnings” from Russia to Western leaders.

NATO members will hold a series of joint military drills in the coming days to deter Russian aggression. U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on Friday:

“The security of Europe has never been more important. These exercises will see our troops join forces with allies and partners across NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force in a show of solidarity and strength in one of the largest shared deployments since the Cold War.”

Global response

As Russia’s eastern offensive gains momentum, Western nations rally support for Ukraine.

The United States is considering a $33 billion aid package, while the European Union’s plans for new pipelines will ease the region’s reliance on Russian gas. Canada labels Russian actions in Ukraine “genocide” and implements more sanctions on Russian officials.

(Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)

“There was total unity, which we don’t often see in our parliament; it’s been very divided,” Musselman says.

“We have seen the atrocities; we know what’s going on, and it needs to be classified that way (as genocide).”

Pray the Lord will help believers, church leaders, and Gospel workers on both sides of the conflict. “There’s the physical reality of war and destruction, but there’s also things going on in the spiritual realms,” Musselman notes.

“In Russia, they’re treating this as a holy war. But, there are Christians [in Russia] that love Jesus and disagree with what’s going on.”

In the header image, enlisted Russian Air Force troops march in the 2019 Moscow Victory Day Parade wearing a ceremonial version of the office uniform. Each year, Russia holds massive parades throughout the country on March 9 to celebrate Victory Day. (Wikimedia Commons)

Currently, Russia is studying a U.S. counter-proposal, mostly dealing with missile placements. The U.S. and other Western countries have argued that Ukraine should be able to pick its own alliances.

Frank Stephenson serves as the Director of Communications for Trans World Radio Europe. He talks about how these different forces tug on Ukraine. “There are those within Ukraine who have always had particularly strong ties with Russia, because of Russian being their predominant language. Then you have the other areas in Ukraine which are predominantly Ukrainian in the language and the culture. So there’s even kind of, in some ways, these two sides already in the country.”

TWR ministry

Despite the political tensions, TWR continues to minister in both Russia and Ukraine. Their radio programs have introduced Jesus to many. Stephenson says, “It’s really a privilege to work with the contacts and the people that we have in both countries, knowing they are doing their best for their people to point them to the One that gives hope and peace.”

One woman in Kyiv says she listens to the programs every day. Another woman living in the countryside says she only knows one other Christian in her village, so she feels connected to the Church through these programs. An 8-year-old Russian child first heard about Jesus on a TWR program and decided to follow Him.

Pray for TWR staff and other Christians on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine border. Ask God to strengthen them with His love. Stephenson says, “Pray they will find the right words to share on the programs. Pray they will take the fears that are there and respond to them in a biblical way.”

The header photo is a collage of scenes from the war fought between Russia and Ukraine since 2014. (Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Growing Tensions

Tensions between Turkey and its NATO allies have been simmering since October. According to AMG International’s Tasos Ioannidis*, conflict with the West is one reason behind Turkey’s growing ‘Islamization.’

(Photo by Svetlana Gumerova on Unsplash)

“For many years he was trying to come closer to the European Union and because not enough progress has been made… The Turks have kind of become disenchanted with the Europeans, and that has also contributed to the dislike for the Western people and for European people,” Ioannidis says.

On top of growing frustrations with the European Union, Turkey has acted as a funnel for fleeing refugees in the region. The country has over 3.5 million refugees within its borders.

Turkey has tried to force the hand of the European Union with threats of allowing refugees to secure trips to Europe if the European Union does not provide Turkey’s monetary requests. Without a doubt, this puts a strain on relationships.

Challenges in Turkey

Ioannidis describes more factors making life difficult for believers in Turkey. Since the 2016 coup attempt, the nation has become more restrictive and paranoid. AMG is experiencing challenges with its work in the county.

(Photo courtesy of AMG International)

“Since the beginning of the year, we now have at least six individuals that have been deported or have been banned from re-entry into Turkey,” Ioannidis says.

AMG primarily uses media to proclaim the Gospel message in Turkey. Ioannidis says there is a small but growing Christian population within the Muslim-majority nation. AMG prays these believers will remain steadfast in their faith and continue to tell others the good news of Christ.

Next Steps

Would you take a moment right now to pray for Turkey, too?

“If history teaches us anything, it’s that whenever [there’s been] growing persecution of Christians in closed societies like that, God has responded many times with phenomenal and unexpected growth of the local church.”

(Photo courtesy of Spyros Papaspyropoulos via Flickr)

Ask God to strengthen local believers. Pray for their boldness in Christ despite growing concerns for their stay in Turkey. Ask God to protect believers in Turkey and to help them continue the work he has entrusted them to do.

Pray God uses the Church in Turkey to advance the Gospel in unprecedented ways so all in the country will hear the message of the cross. Finally, pray opportunities will continue to open for AMG to use media in all of its various forms to proclaim the Gospel.

To learn more about AMG or support its work, CLICK HERE.

Header image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Recently, Gatestone Institute published an article suggesting that Turkey is threatening to invade Greece and start a war in a dispute over the Aegean islands. It’s a pretty startling claim, and so we talked with Tasos Ioannidis of AMG International to get his take on the situation.

For several reasons, Ioannidis says he doesn’t believe that either invasion or war is imminent.

For starters, the international pressure on these two nations is extreme. Not only are they both part of NATO, but Ioannidis adds, “Parties like the US are putting a lot of pressures on Turkey and Greece to basically not let the situation get out of hand.” Turkey is also trying to stay in good favor with European nations in order to join the European Union.

Secondly, the cost of war would be far too great to enter into lightly. Ioannidis says even though Greece may be weakened financially, they have a strong military. The war would be costly on both sides.

Still, the two nations have a complicated relationship. Ioannidis explains:

“Greece and Turkey have a long history that goes back centuries. It goes all the way to when Greece was under Ottoman rule. And Greece gained independence from Turkey in 1821. And then there were a number of wars over the next 100 years, the last one being in the early 1920’s at which time there were a lot of Greeks that were displaced from Turkey, more than 1.5 million, and then a number of Turks were displaced from Greece.”

In other words, there is bad blood between the two nations, even though things have largely settled down in the last century. Even so, Turkey’s actions continue to impact Greece.

“In more recent years the situation has stabilized, they are both members of NATO. Turkey has tried to enter the European Union. But of course, in the last couple of years, things in Turkey have been quite unstable after the attempted coup against President Erdogan.”

If you recall, this coup has been followed by years of crackdown against thousands of perceived political enemies. People have been removed from political offices, professors have been arrested, and so on. Many people even fled to Greece for political asylum, Ioannidis says. But they weren’t the only ones.

Since the refugee crisis began, refugees from both Afghanistan and Syria have traveled through Turkey into Greece. For a long time, there was no regulation to the flow. But about a year ago, Tasos reminds us, an agreement between the EU and Turkey helped stem the flow, but not stop it completely. The refugee population has put even more strain on an already financially taxed nation.

And this brings us to another, related point: Turkey’s involvement in the Syrian war.

“Turkey, in addition to the situation with Greece that goes back a long time, has also had ongoing issues with the very large Kurdish minority in the southeastern part of Turkey. And, of course, the Kurds are also in Syria, they are in Iran, and they are in Iraq.”

Ioannidis explains that with the recent events in Iraq and Afghanistan and Syria, some Kurdish areas are becoming more autonomous.  Turkey feels threatened by this independence, believing the Kurdish population in Turkey will follow suit. And so, they’re making this international statement against Kurds in Syria.

But they have experienced great loss, more than they anticipated.

Ioannidis says it’s possible that the latest tensions between Turkey and Greece are simply a way for Turkey to draw attention away from their costly war in Syria.

“Part of the reason that they are more aggressive in other areas is to mobilize the nationalist sentiments among their own population and draw some attention away from what is happening in Syria.”

Turkey’s actions impact ministry

Since the refugee crisis began impacting Greece, AMG has been reaching out to help with physical and societal needs as well as to proclaim the Gospel to refugees. Turkey’s actions have a direct impact on this ministry in Greece. But their ministry within Turkey itself has also been impacted.

“In the last couple of years, it has become more difficult. Again, there is a rise in nationalist sentiment. There is a rise of Islamists in Turkey. So this is placing greater pressure on the ministry there. It is not the point where it is hindered from happening, but it has become increasingly more difficult and more challenging.”

AMG has been working in Turkey for more than 25 years.

“It has been a very productive ministry using media, using the internet, using Bible correspondence courses. Our partners there have been very effective in proclaiming the Gospel. We have seen a number of people being reached through the Good News and become part of local churches in Turkey. So it has been a very effective ministry.

(Photo courtesy of AMG International)

“The situation presents both challenges and opportunities. The opportunities exist with the ongoing ministry that is taking place in Turkey and also the refugees that are coming out of Turkey which has been a very fertile field to help both practically and to reach spiritually. We are seeing a lot of fruit among refugees.

“So I would ask the listeners and the readers to pray both for the outreach that is taking place among refugees that are living in Turkey, and also for the ongoing ministry in Turkey.”

Pray that the doors to ministry would remain open in both these nations, that the media outreach would continue to be a viable way to reach people with the Gospel, and that people would continue to respond. Ask God to give AMG’s co-workers boldness as they face the increasing challenges. Ask him to provide the resources necessary to continue these ministries.

Altogether, Ioannidis says, these situations are creating an uncertain future.

“Long-term, Turkey is becoming increasingly Islamist. So that is to me is the biggest concern, how that’s going to impact both the stability of the region and also the opportunities for ministry remains to be seen. But it is likely to get more challenging on both of these fronts, so be praying for that.”

If you’d like to support AMG financially, click here.

Some accuse NATO of ignoring the thousands of lives lost in the mess. Some have pointed to the Libya intervention, asking why NATO would intervene there and not in Syria. But Vice President of Church and Ministry Partners for e3 Partners, Tom Doyle, says it's more complicated than that.

"I don't see an international team coming in because basically Syria's being propped up by Iran. They're behind the scenes, and if America went in or a coalition, they're basically inviting a war with Iran," Doyle explains.

Doyle spends a great deal of time in the Middle East and only recently returned from Egypt. He says that international leaders are also aware that the rebels rising up in Syria may set up a regime just as bad as President Assad's if given power.

"I think many of the nations are concerned that the Sunnis–as in the case in Egypt–may end up being even worse for the country than the Alawite leader that they have that nobody's in love with either. But it's the lesser of the two evils," says Doyle.

Essentially, despite the blood bath, entering Syria could invite more conflict for Syria and for the rest of the world. But it's a catch-22. While international groups like NATO don't feel they can intervene, standing by means more lives lost daily.

In recent weeks, rebel forces seem to have grown more violent in attacks on ordinary citizens. On Saturday, a car bomb killed at least nine people. Then on Tuesday, an explosion at a restaurant killed five.

Doyle says even though the forces are fighting the government and not the Syrian people, this tactic is being used as a motivator. "They're not winning against the government. So if they go after the citizens  [and] make them miserable, maybe they'll rise up," notes Doyle.

Other groups are even preying on refugees, taking advantage of their anger and fear to try and get them in on the fight. Doyle says, "They reach out, try to recruit them to get in radical groups: ‘Fight back! Here's how you can make a difference. Join this group!'"

Bombings. Deception. Bloody deaths. Syria is a mess, and international groups are helpless to intervene. Yet hope remains. Although some Christians have fled the area for the country of their families, others continue to reach out to their neighbors with Christ's love. And even in the midst of extreme disaster, people are clinging to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus for the first time.

Pray for an end to this conflict, but pray for believers' strength and safety in the meantime. Pray that the Lord would fulfill His commission in Syria regardless of any earthly factors.