Page 16 - Voice of the Persecuted Christians - Apr-Jun 2023 - 122

UKRAINE
Doing church in a warzone
‘G
‘A city under occupation is not what you think. It is not suddenly full of foreign soldiers; it’s just that things like the police and the tax system have changed. The occupiers don’t care about you, just their own needs and goals. You still live in your city but
The conflict in Ukraine has created a hunger for the gospel as well as strengthening the church. Here three pastors, whose identities must be protected, describe life under Russian occupation
‘We tried to renew worship services because people were afraid. There was no news, people didn’t know what was going on so the church became a place where people could receive support and care.
‘When the Russian soldiers said to us, “We set you free”, we asked, “From what? Water? Electricity?”’
od knows what war means; we didn’t,’ said Pastor T, whose church continued to
it’s not your city any more. Shops are closed; some days people didn’t have food, water, electricity, the internet... but we tried to be a church and help people to survive by sharing food, medicines and water.’
operate under occupation after the invasion by Russian troops.
Pastor T had to flee his hometown six months after the invasion but while he was there his church became a much-needed resource for Christians and non-believers alike.
Every day they came to church because everything else was closed. It became
a place where they could open their minds and receive encouragement. We shared with non-believers as well.’
To try to win the hearts and minds
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