God is not leaving the church alone. In the face of the heaviness brought on by the looming pressures of a struggling economy and constant reminders of the tragic loss of life with daily funeral columns passing by, the realities of loss bear on society throughout the country of Ukraine. Being a messenger of hope in this environment is riddled with challenges too lengthy to detail here. It suffices to say that Christian mission work has not been the same since 2022. Yet, from the pain, a youth movement is rising.
A growing hunger to share the Gospel is driving the agenda for increasing evangelism outreaches and training. This seems paradoxical given how bleak the situation on the ground is. Where it seemed that Christians would be inclined to shy away from appearing "excessive" for boldly sharing their faith because pain and fear have cut many so deeply, the Holy Spirit has been causing an ache in believers for holy consecration to the message of Jesus Christ. Having lost so much, young adults are searching for meaning and are finding it in the face of God's Son.
There are many layers to the internal situation of the churches in Ukraine, and so the observations noted here focus primarily on movements among younger Millennials and Gen Z. The stirrings taking place within this age bracket draw on several factors. The chaotic frenzy of the last few years has left the church's leadership spread thin. When large numbers of people fled the country, many churches were left with half of their former attendance. A sizeable number of Christian leaders, such as pastors, have also at some point found it necessary to leave the country.
The needs around us have only increased. With men (25-60 y.o.) increasingly drafted into the military and severely wounded soldiers returning, the need for ministry is greater than before, yet there are fewer qualified ministers to meet it. In the face of these challenges, the response of Christians has been phenomenal. Men and women have devoted themselves as volunteer chaplains and crisis responders, offering a hand to support the humanitarian crisis at hand. Yet, the unexpected duration of the war, coupled with the intensity demanded of volunteers, has led many to suffer critical fatigue.
In this crucial moment, God is calling strength into the younger generation. Evangelism is lighting up the streets, new church plants are continuing throughout the country, and a new wineskin of leaders are emerging. The significance of this development is noteworthy. From the mighty revivals of the 90s that swept through the former USSR, leaders rose who established strong denominational movements that shaped the spirituality of Eastern European evangelicals. Now, as the youth of Ukraine rise to the cause of the Gospel in the wake of the war-induced crisis, a new spiritual reshaping is beginning.
As I reflect on what is transpiring around us, I recognize that the human soul can be inspired like this in only one way: by seeing the face of God in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is making Jesus real to those desiring to find him. Here is the evidence:
When I came to Ukraine in 2014, I could barely find anyone who would dare to stop a stranger on the streets to share the Gospel with them. It was even more challenging to find anyone willing to minister in the Spirit's power by praying for healing or sharing a prophetic word outside of a church or home group setting. You can imagine how ecstatic I was when, at the last Jesus Camp we took part in, we ran into attendees who decided to use their lunch break to go in pairs and share about Jesus in the city center! People were praying for healing and sharing prophetic insights with strangers!
This may seem normal to some of my readers coming from the USA, but this is a groundbreaking spiritual shift in Eastern Europe. During this 3-day school alone, over 52 people prayed to receive Jesus into their lives. Yet, it did not stop there. Every week, our team at home gathers with people across the city and region to pray and go on outreach. As this momentum grows, we ask you to please remember us in your prayers. Below, you can find out how to do that through our WhatsApp prayer community.
A note of gratitude
We thank you for being a part of our mission in Ukraine. For standing with us, for making it possible for us to live here and put on events like this. Without our partners, we would not have a mission base. We would not be able to do our discipleship schools and conferences. We would not have our prayer room or our coffee house. Our sound equipment would be none. We would not be able to pour into the young generation of Christians you just read about.
The prayers of our beloved friends have brought us angelic aid. Their intercession has led us to contacts who have opened more doors for ministry; we have avoided trouble and found miracle answers to serious needs in critical moments. Our meetings and conferences have seen healings and deliverances in response to their and your prayers. What we do is a joint labor together with everyone who extends their hands to do the work of the Gospel with us.
For this reason, we extend our deepest gratitude to each of you. Even reading this letter is an encouragement to us, because we know we have a community that is with us, even when we are far away.
We bless you in the name of the Lord and send you our love. May Jesus' name be lifted up in your lives as He shows you His Kingdom and righteousness, in all the places of your life. Amen.
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