THE SHORTER SWORD

What a glorious day last August when the old hammer and sickle symbol on the Motherland statue was removed and replaced with Ukraine’s new national symbol, the Trident. It is the coat of arms for Ukraine now. This all happened on the same day which is Ukraine’s Independence Day. It was a historical event for Ukraine since Russia was still at war with Ukraine. I heard this caused a “wave of indignation” in Russia.

On the other hand we saw the country opening up more during war. People turning to God more since churches are generally full again as people come looking for answers in God’s word. In one church it was so full (300 plus people) that I had to sit on the window sill.

There is something unusual here about the stubby sword in the woman’s hand of the Motherland statue; it looks more like a dagger. Ukrainians told me that the statue was originally taller than the tallest church spire in Kiev. The churches protested about this, so the sword was shortened making the monument slightly shorter than the tallest church. See the tall church in the valley below and the tall nature of the white church.

Note the white Baptist church in the distance and to the left of the Motherland statue.

In other words God’s people prevailed on that one. Note that it is common since the Reformation to build churches with tall spires or steeples. Why? It makes the buildings stand out. The church I grew up in was like that in Warden, WA. Every Sunday they rang the bell also to call people to worship God. I know this impacted me that this was something important and I should pay attention. God calls us to worship in many ways so listen for him calling you. See the church I grew up in below. It is where I first heard about Christ and the Gospel.

Mark Suko

Pastor Redeployed

Watch our Ukraine video: Click here.  Bombs & Blessings - Discovery Baptist Church (churchcenter.com)

Sat Oct. 7th 7:45-9:15 Men’s & Boys Discipleship After breakfast we’ll chew on Acts 6, which has a lot of meat in it. How does this apply to our church and homes?

Church work day follows at 9:15. Bring tools & gloves. Weather will be good.:-)

HOW INDEPENDENCE CAME TO UKRAINE

This year Nancy & I celebrated Ukrainian’s Independence Day in Ukraine (August 24th). It is something American’s know little about. Yet our country has spent millions helping Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s attacks. What is going on here and should we care?

My son Caleb and I first visited Ukraine in 1994. My grandparents immigrated from Ukraine in 1902. Russia was still under the Czar. My grandmother, had ten chidden, was a hard working woman who could cook, made rugs out of rags, and handle a long-handled hoe. Most of all she was a godly woman who read her German bible. She often visited us on the farm they homesteaded near Warden, WA. She didn’t want to go back. “America is my home now” she said. She was right; life under the Czars and the Soviets was not good.

Things began to change in Ukraine. In 1991 it officially declared itself an independent state from Russia on August 24th. Change was coming. Then in 1994 my son Caleb and I were invited to help build a seminary in Odesa. Things were opening up. Other churches in America were helping. Christians who had been imprisoned for their faith were now free. They needed education so seminaries were essential. As we worked that summer in the hot sun I sensed the Lord was calling me to somehow help in the years ahead. Therefore, we have been doing that for nearly 27 years. Soon two of our children and their families, the Sukos and Gustafsons, became missionaries there. Each time we returned we saw improvements in the culture, infrastructure, and number of churches springing up without fear of persecution. God was at work!

How is the spirit of the country today? That first step of independence is still happening today even while at war with Russia. Last month we were in Kiev during their independence day celebration on August 24th. A focal point in Kiev was a massive Motherland statue which sits on a high hill in the city. The statue is similar to our Statue of Liberty.

The statue was built in 1981 to remind Ukraine about their socialistic Soviet background. A hammer and cycle emblem was on the massive shield held by the image a woman. That emblem pictured Communism as a governing system in which no one owns land or factories. Instead everyone in the community shares…or is “supposed to share their wealth.” That all failed in the revolution of 1989. But, the statue continued to stand with the old hammer and cycle emblem on the shield as you see in the image below.

However, on Independence Day (Aug. 24th, 2023) Ukraine removed the old communistic emblem from the 43 foot high shield. Note below the workers hanging in a basked as they worked. That was a brave step for a country still at war with Russia. That day workers quickly placed a massive Trident symbol on the shield. It is now the Ukrainian coat of arms. There are still a few small statues from the Soviet period in the cities. But they are mostly gone and will likely be completely removed soon. Russian has been the main trade language but now the Ukrainian language is being used much more recently. I am told it is easier to learn too.

What does the Trident mean? The Trident symbol is about a thousand years old. It has been found on ancient stones or bricks in that period. Some say it pictures a large bird diving into a field to catch something. There are plenty of fields there where such a thing could happen. It may be a symbol of power used by various rulers of the area to represent the unity of the Slavic peoples in the region. Others say the three prongs represent the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy spirit.

That day all over the Ukraine images of the Trident were in stores, on clothing and decorations and everywhere you looked. I even bought a small silver one for my Nancy that she now wears.

The picture below shows part of the city of Kiev in the background.

That independence day we expected to be bombed for sure. Perhaps the workers on the statue were quick to get the job done. However, we thank the Lord there were no attacks that day.

Many ask who is winning this war. This week Russia attacked in Odesa a massive hotel on the waterfront in Odesa. We have seen it many times. Caleb said the attack was the loudest they have heard keeping them up most of the night. Later Russians declared they had killed thousands of people when hitting the headquarters of Ukraine military leaders. However, in reality the old hotel had been abandon for years and was scheduled to be destroyed by the new owner and something new built there. It seems God directed the enemy to help Ukraine remove that deserted old building. We would guess that cost Russia lots of money for missile that hit nothing of any value.

Thanks for reading. We are on our way back to the US from Moldova. :-) Mark & Nancy and some of our kids.

Special Notice: Last Sunday evening (9/24) we did a one hour power point presentation that we narrated of our six weeks in Ukraine this summer. Soon the media desk will have it available on line. I am also available to do it for small groups so just let me know.

Monthly MEN’S DISCIPLESHIP BREAKFAST Saturday Oct. 7th 7:45-9:30 . We’ll enjoy breakfast and some pics on Ukraine from the front lines (about 4 minutes worth). Then look at Acts 6, a short chapter with a lot of punch. Then think about how that applies to our church and home and world. See you then. -Pastor Mark

Pray for…

• Pray for Ukraine in the days ahead since the war is not over yet.

• Pray for the churches and the pastors we met that are working hard to help people.

• Pray for the soldiers we visited in the hospital.

• Pray for the soldiers on the front lines whom we met. They are working hard for their country..

INDEPENDENCE DAY #2

Did you know today is Independence Day #2?  No joke!  The first Independence Day we celebrate on July 4th (1776). Like usual we had a picnic at our daughter’s home, saw fireworks, finished off the snacks and headed home like millions of Americans. I don’t remember us talking about the historical meaning of that day. You probably didn’t think about it either. For most of us it was a good picnic and lots of fireworks.

But today in Ukraine it is Independence Day August 24th. It is the day that many Ukrainians are literally fighting for; we are too. Ukraine gained their independence in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR. Today it is a time of real war to keep their independence. We are glad we are here and can be an encouragement.

Every day for a year or more air raid sirens warn of possible incoming drones, bombs or missiles from Russia. Nancy and I have been in Ukraine before but not like this. Yet we have enjoyed fellowship with our children and many friends here. We have had opportunity to be with injured soldiers in a hospital. We’ve also been with soldiers on the front lines. We sought to encourage and pray for them. We’ve heard guns firing not far away and talked with pastors about what is happening after their churches and flocks were attacked. They are thankful we came. Since today is Ukrainian Independence Day, we know it might mean more attacks from Russia. Last night was amazingly quiet…but the day is not over yet. 

When we think of our American Independence Day we might think of the statue of Liberty. I’ve been up to her head to look out the windows. Recently my son Ezra, an artist, completed a stunning painting of that statue in New York harbor. My grandparents first saw this statue when they came from Ukraine to America in 1902. I am sure it was an emotional moment for them. Their names as immigrants are inscribed in the stone near the statue. See more of Ezra’s incredible art at www.ezrasuko.com.

When I think of Independence Day in Ukraine, I think of the Motherland Statue in Kyiv. It is like our Statue of Liberty. It was created in 1981 and overlooks the Dnieper River here. Originally it was focused on Communism. The woman held a shield with a hammer and sickle on it. But today the Soviet heraldry is replaced with Ukraine’s new coat of arms pictured in the Trident with a three-pronged spear pointing downward. I have heard the symbol is a thousand years old and may picture a bird flying down into a field to catch a mouse. Today that newly placed symbol was officially revealed in Kyiv. In the other hand she still holds a sword pointed upward. That sword reminds me of our all powerful Lord who points toward heaven. I am sure the Soviets didn’t mean to imply.that.  But it does!

Pray for Ukraine.

For pictures online look for Motherland Statue.

Pastor Mark