Update on Ukraine #11 Easter in War

As we approach Resurrection Day, consider what is happening in Ukraine. During the war I noticed video footage of people mentioning God, thanking God, or calling out to Him. War often does that. This reminds us that Ukraine has become a kind of Bible Belt of that part of the world.

Before the collapse of the USSR the primary church there was the Orthodox. It started in Kiev about 1000 years ago after Ukrainians saw a huge Catholic Church in Constantinople. They brought ideas back to Kiev and made their own Orthodox Church. There were Catholic aspects to it but it is very different from what us Evangelicals in the West might imagine.

Lavra the birth place of the Orthodox church in Ukraine.

The buildings are extremely ornate with gold covered onion domes. Inside icons are everywhere. Icons may be pictures painted on wood, holy figures, images, and sometimes even small body parts under glass. People come up to kiss the icons. A small box by it is for offering. There may be dozens of them out all day as people come and go.

During special holidays people come to get a blessing. During Easter this may be done outside as families bring a basket with butter, bread, cheese, sausage, salt, and cake in it. The priest blesses it as he sprinkles water on it. Then the families go home and eat.

Church buildings rarely have chairs, pews, or things to sit on. People come in and out at will as they kiss icons. There is little bible teaching or congregational singing. They respect the Bible and often have it displayed. But it is rare to hear a sermon. While they are religious and respect the Bible they may be not right with God.

They may think salvation is by being in church, baptism, or by trusting Jesus and your good deeds. They can completely miss the mark. True salvation is in Christ alone and by His grace alone.

There the church is not the people but the building. Yet Scripture tells us the church is God’s people. The Greek word church (ekklesie) literally means an assembly or group…not a building. Buildings are where the “church” meets.

In Russia today there is no separation of church and state. Both are one and the same. Patriarch Kirill, age 75, is the top leader. He endorsed the current invasion of Ukraine and is a personal friend of President Putin. There are also spy churches in Russia. Putin is said to have built many of them to keep track of the people.

Recently the Orthodox church in Ukraine distanced its self from Russia because of conflicts. Ukraine now more freedom and a constitutional separation of church and state.

Evangelical and other protestant-type churches have been increasing since the Cold War. Baptists were among the early groups. I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of these heroes. Their pastors suffered greatly for teaching God’s Word. Today churches there are alive, and I believe growing, and many people are coming to Christ during the war.

Ukraine celebrates Christ’s resurrection a week later than we do so keep them in prayer the 24th.

Want to know more about the reality of Christ’s Resurrection? I suggest you read what my friend Dr. Ernie Zarra wrote. It will stretch you. Thanks Ernie. Click the link below to read it.

https://drerniezarra.com/dr-zarras-blog/f/he-is-risen-he-is-risen-indeed

EASTER EVENTS AT DISCOVERY BAPTIST

Good Friday Service 6:30pm

Sunday Worship #1 8:30am Watch on livestream.

Easter Potluck Fellowship, Sun, 9:30am. No Sunday School so bring a main breakfast dish and side dish to share (for your family plus a guest or two). Side dish ideas: fruit, pastries, little yogurt cups, etc.

Sunday Worship #2 11:00am Watch on livestream.

Note that parking can be tight on Easter. If no spots are left, then parking on the shoulder on our side of the road is legal.

Update on Ukraine #10 Borderland Bible Belt

It’s been difficult watching this war unfold. In recent days Russia started backing off and focusing more to the East. If that continues it is good news. Why? A quick look at history may help.

Ukrainian’s desire to rule itself came out strongly during WWI when the Ukrainian People’s Republic was formed. It later became part of the Soviet Union which existed starting in 1922. It was made up of 15 republics of which Ukraine was the largest (about like Texas). Russian was the stated language vs. Ukrainian.

“The Breadbasket of the USSR” was what Russia called her since she raised so much grain. In the 1930’s Stalin sent government agents to cruelly steal the grain crops and take them to Russia. This caused a manufactured famine as four million Ukrainians starved to death. The hunger we are seeing today is a result of Russia’s attacks again that bring back bad memories, So far 3,455 civilians have died there since February. About 15,000 Russian soldiers and 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers have also been killed. That is the negative side of things as we reflect.

Believers in Makarovo, Ukraine welcoming Norm and our team with traditional bread and salt gift which symbolizes the good and bitter of life.. .

Believers in Ukrainian village having outdoor service by their new building.

Suddenly on December 26th 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine became a free country again. What happened spiritually in Ukraine next was incredible. Pastors who had been imprisoned under atheistic communism now were released. They soon asked for assistance from the West to help their churches.

Believers at new Makarovo church.

That call was heard by my son Caleb and I via our mission agency (ABWE). We went in 1994 to help build a place for pastors to be better trained in the Scriptures. Previously they were self-trained. We made multiple trips with groups from our church as did others across the US. Soon a Training Institute was established in Odessa. This was one of many theological institutes that were started in the country. Even Pastor John MacArthur established a seminary in the Irpin area near Kiev. Two of my children became full time missionaries there at the turn of the century. They still minister there today helping evangelize, train and start churches for the generations to come.

Ukraine became the “Bible Belt” of what was the old Soviet Union. As you may know DBC helped establish or support various churches in Ukraine as well as Moldova. Baptists was one of the largest groups. Some Ukrainians went to Russia to preach Christ and establish churches.  One young Ukrainian friend went to Siberia to serve.

New church being built in Moldova several years ago Pastor Vasiliy Kaletnik.

Many of these churches in country are helping with Ukrainians caught in the current war. They are praying and helping in many ways. Christ is building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Click below for an update on the Gospel in Ukraine & Russia and the impact it makes today. My friend Duane Early paint a great picture about what is going on in the midst of war. God is at work. Continue to pray for our and other missionaries over there.

https://www.abwe.org/blog/jesus-among-soviets-duane-early-russia-ukraine-and-god-s-faithfulness

Pastor Mark

Palm Sunday is Apr. 10th. Join us for a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 8:00am. Early service starts at 8:30.

Update on Ukraine #9 Is this the Tribulation?

Apartment buildings in Ukraine

“Remember the Alamo”, was a saying from the 1836 siege of the Alamo, an old Spanish Mission built around a church. Just 160 men defended it against 6,000 soldiers. It is said the 160 were the original “Band of Brothers.” Santa Anna attacked and overwhelmed the Alamo killing almost all. However, the extra time allowed General Sam Houston to gather a force that won Texas its independence. Note the parallel between the Alamo and Ukraine today. Both were far out numbered.

Today is day #25 of the Ukraine/Russia war. Is this the Tribulation? There has been massive damage done to many cities and many lives lost. Instead of winning the war it made Putin looks bad. Putin expected the war to be over in no more than four days, not so. Therefore, he now claims he has resorted to using hypersonic missiles this week. They travel much faster and are hard to intercept. But this make Russia look even worse since many civilians are killed. On the other hand the new leader of the free world appears to be Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine.

But God continues to work. My son-in-law Mike wrote, “I talked today with a small church pastor in western Ukraine who is feeding, housing and speaking with over a hundred people from Kyiv who fled the luxury and wealth of the capital for simplicity and humility of the village. (well for water, wood stove and outhouse). He was surprised they never heard of Psalm 23. He explained it to them and preached the good news. The church is responding during this times of great evil, death and fear.”

Also my son Caleb is going to be baptizing new believers in Romania and Moldova soon. Having said that both Mike & Caleb’s families are refugees of the war themselves. Pray for their ministries during this special time.

Our daughter Rachel also told us of refugee pastor Yuri, who yesterday just found out his house near Kiev was burning. This is especially sad since in 2014 Yuri and his family had to move from the Donbas region because of the war there. It seems the war has dealt him a double blow. But we are thankful for the work of missions among these refugees.

Is this the Tribulation? No it is not but it is moving that way so don’t be deceived.

Jesus said there will be “wars and rumors of wars” before He returns. We are seeing that. Difficult times come with war. But there are also positive things you don’t expect. It is amazing how the church has come together to proclaim the Gospel in the recent war. That is exactly what Jesus commanded us to do in Mark 13:10. "The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” That is happening through our missionaries helping the helpless that are fleeing Ukraine. With that comes many opportunities for proclaim the Gospel of Christ in words as they make contact with the many refugees. Christ is speaking through them. Pray for Ukraine and our refugee fund. This reminds us that not just deeds of kindness but the actual words of the Gospel are needed.

Bottom line is preach the gospel which means good news. See 1 Cor. 15:3–6 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas,… and then to the Twelve.

Pastor Mark

Coming up this weekend…

-Marriage Sunday School Class begins this Sun, 9:50am. Led by Michael and Heather Stephens. Meet in the gym.