Faith In Action

As the crisis in Ukraine evolves, Christians are standing up and speaking out. Now is the time to share the Gospel. Now is the time to speak truth in love. Now is the time to be bold for Jesus. We are seeing many believers fighting to protect their neighbors, helping with first-aid response, and encouraging those around them with the truth of the Gospel.

We as Americans may ask ‘what can I do?’ There are two main things we can do to support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. One - Pray. Two - Give.

The people in Ukraine need our prayers. Prayers for protection, boldness, courage, and peace. Prayers for healing and provision and shelter. Prayers for miracles and profound moments that bring Jesus glory. Pray through Scripture on behalf of those across the world. Pray Psalm 23 and that the Lord would prepare the perfect place for those in Ukraine. Pray that He would lead and protect them as they literally find themselves in the valley of the shadow of death. Pray Ephesians 6:11-18 over the people in Ukraine. Pray that the Lord would cover them with the helmet of salvation, belt of truth, sword of the spirit, shield of faith, and sandals of the gospel of peace. Pray for strength as they stand against the schemes of the devil. Prayer is powerful and Scripture is full of specific ways to pray for those amidst trials and pain.

Another practical way to support Ukraine is to give to trusted relief organizations. If you have been blessed you can also bless others. Consider giving generously to help provide shelter, food, and medical support to those in Ukraine. A few organizations we support in Ukraine are Samaritan’s Purse and YWAM. Both have been vetted by our organization and you can trust that your money is impacting those amidst the crisis.

Take heart in this trying time. Jesus is not silent. He is at work and will use all of this for His glory. Nothing is ever wasted. May Christ reign sovereignly and may we obediently stand up as His followers.

Samaritan's Purse Relief for the Crisis in Ukraine

Samaritan’s Purse is preparing to deploy an Emergency Field Hospital to Ukraine. Phase 1 of our Tier 2 Emergency Field Hospital deployment is scheduled to start Friday.

Our DC-8 cargo plane in Greensboro will airlift hospital equipment, generators, flooring, logistics, and set-up personnel, as well as doctors and nurses. Once the plane lands in Poland, the field hospital will then be transported overland to Ukraine where it will provide specialized trauma care to people impacted by the conflict.

The field hospital is equipped with 30 beds, an operating room, an ICU, an emergency room, a pharmacy, and it has its own water and sanitation. As many as 100 patients a day can be seen at this hospital, and it will be operated by more than 50 staff (medical and non-medical). The situation on the ground is fluid and changing rapidly, but the hospital could be operational early next week.

Samaritan’s Purse already has disaster response specialists on the ground in Poland, Romania, and Moldova, and we plan to send two medical clinics on an additional flight next week. Assessment teams continue to work to identify the most strategic locations for these units. These health clinics will equip Samaritan’s Purse medical staff to meet minor trauma needs and provide general medical care for some 200 patients each day.

In addition to our medical work, Samaritan’s Purse is also preparing to distribute 20 tons of food inside Ukraine.

The Eastern European nation remains in deep crisis as fighting continues to spread and escalate, with deadly violence hitting the capital, Kyiv, and the second-largest city, Kharkiv. The United Nations reports that more than 800,000 refugees, primarily women and children, have already left Ukraine seeking shelter in nearby nations.

“Samaritan’s Purse has been closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine for weeks,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We have deployed members of our Disaster Assistance Response Team to surrounding countries and are standing ready to help meet emergency needs resulting from the crisis. Please join me in praying for the people of Ukraine and for this conflict to end quickly.”

Samaritan’s Purse also has many ministry partners inside Ukraine, including a robust outreach through Operation Christmas Child. As conflict erupted, we were in the process of distributing 600,000 gift-filled shoeboxes this year. We remain in contact with churches in the country to see how we can assist in this volatile situation. Please pray for God to grant them strength and protection.

Franklin Graham asked for a special day of prayer on Feb. 27, asking Almighty God to work in the hearts of leaders and bring an end to this deadly conflict. He said, “Let’s lift up in prayer those who are enduring these dark days filled with uncertainty, fear, hardship, loss, and suffering. May they know the comfort, presence, peace, and protection of God who is a ‘refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble'” (Psalm 46:1). [via Facebook].

Please continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and for our teams as they seek ways to help in Jesus’ Name.

Source: Samaritan’s Purse

Pray For Ukraine

Two days ago, we talked about the rumors of war, fearing that the peace long enjoyed in the West could be broken. That fear has become reality. As an American official told ABC News, “You are likely in the last few hours of peace on the European continent for a long time to come.” 

After weeks of Moscow’s saber rattling and vain promises that they had no designs on Ukraine, the Russian army has invaded its neighbor. Few were surprised, given the amassing of 200,000 troops on the border. Vladimir Putin made his intentions clear through theatrically executed meetings at the Kremlin where he walked his advisers through a script of dubious historical grievances and attempted to justify his recognition of the independence of territory inside Ukraine that Russia already controlled. 

At the same time, especially at this time in history in which wars are witnessed by the world in real time, it is hard to believe what we are all now seeing. Even up to the very end, there were pundits and politicians suggesting that the Russians would not take such a risk, and Russian officials continued to call warnings of the impending invasion “American propaganda.”  

And, there’s the old military saying that no plan survives contact with the enemy. Putin certainly knew that invading his neighbor would make his nation a pariah in the world community. So, surely, he wouldn’t actually do it, would he? 

He would and he did. Using an alleged call by the newly “independent” regions for aid against the “terrorist” actions of the Ukrainians as pretext, Putin ordered Russian forces into Ukraine. He claimed his actions were to prevent a humanitarian crisis from the supposedly Nazi-inspired government in Kyiv, even though that government had a Jewish president. 

Although most pre-war estimates were that he’d issue a smaller attack, enough to seize just part of Ukraine and place a pro-Moscow puppet in charge, the Russian attack has hit all across the nation. 

As of this writing, Russian forces are said to be in control of the Kyiv airport and the infamous Chernobyl nuclear plant and appear to be making progress out of Crimea in the South and toward Kharkiv in the East. 

Our news feeds are showing the devastation in real time. The low-flying Russian plane, flinging missiles into resident neighborhoods with a child crying in the background; the fathers saying goodbye to their children as they head back to the front; the massed helicopter attack, looking like something out of the movie Red Dawn. 

It’s far from clear what tomorrow will bring. Maybe, somehow, Western sanctions will force the Russians to back down. Maybe the Ukrainians hardened resistance will enable them to outlast their foe. Maybe the Russian people will finally sicken of Putin’s despotism and demand a new regime. Maybe it will all spiral out of control to the point that Europe, America, and other nations will have to get involved. All we do know is that before all is said and done, tens if not hundreds of thousands of people will be dead for the sake of Putin’s vanity. 

Where can hope be found in such dark days? As was from the beginning, is now, and ever shall be…only in Christ. 

When Christ was on Earth, He offered hope to people whose situation was more defined by fear than the affluence we’re all used to today. He knew that their world would, in fact, be further rocked by turmoil, the likes of which they’d never seen. And He knew He would not be with them, at least not in person.  

In Matthew 24 Jesus issued a somewhat vague warning about how bad it could get. Wondering what His words meant, His disciples asked for further direction, clarification, and hope. This was Jesus’ reply:   

“See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”   

Jesus pulls no punches. He issues no false promises of world peace. He assures them that there would be wars, troubles, and calamities, and when they did come, they’d be just the beginning. Still, despite the impending chaos, Jesus said that it was possible not to lose our way. Or, as He put it in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”   

Often recently, I’ve been reminded of something about prayer, especially when we are tempted to wonder, “Other than pray, what can I do?” Praying is doing something. In fact, it’s the most important thing.   

The Anglican Church in Dublin, Ireland, has crafted a prayer quite fitting for this moment:  

O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world:  

We commend to your merciful care the people and government of Ukraine that, being guided by your providence, they may dwell secure in your peace.  

Grant to their leaders and all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness,  

and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve their people;  

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

And, another prayer worth praying in this moment:  

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit  

may so move every human heart in the nations of the world,  

that working and witnessing together,  

we may live in justice and peace  

and change the hearts of those who would make for conflict and war;  

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Resources:

Wars and Rumors of Wars
John Stonestreet and Timothy D. Padgett | BreakPoint | February 23, 2022

Source: Breakpoint, Colson Center

Written By: John Stonestreet and Timothy D. Padgett

Advent Prayers Week Four: A Prayer for Love

Advent is a time of reflection and anticipation in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming". The advent season symbolizes both the waiting for the birth of Christ and his return. A popular tradition during Advent is the advent wreath made of evergreen to symbolize everlasting life in the midst of winter and a circle to remind us of both God's unending love and the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ. 

The Advent wreath has four candles - one is lit each Sunday of the four weeks of Advent. Each candle represents a new focus and time of reflection. The fourth week of Advent is the candle of love. Also known as the "angel candy", it is in this fourth week of Advent that we reflect on the ultimate gift of love - Jesus Christ. Jesus is our true example of love and it is He that came to teach us to love God and love others.

Use these Scriptures and prayer for the fourth week of Advent to reflect on the promise of unconditional love available only through and because of Jesus Christ.

Advent Week Four: Scripture for Reflection

Luke 2:11, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, John 3:16, John 1:16, Philippians 2:8-10, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 23:33-34, Luke 24:46-49

Week Four Prayer - A Prayer for Love

Heavenly Father, The whole meaning of Christmas can be explained in one little four-letter word…LOVE. You sent your gift of pure love to us that first Christmas. Love descended from heaven to be born of a virgin. Love lay in the scratchy hay of a manger in a meager barn in Bethlehem. All of your love, God, was robed in the delicate skin of a baby and wrapped in swaddling clothes. This final week of Advent, help us to reflect on the magnitude of love that was made manifest in Jesus.

Your word became flesh and you made your dwelling among us when Jesus was born. You set aside all of the glory and splendor of heaven and chose the most humble way to enter into your kingdom. Beneath the stars, surrounded by all of the hosts of heaven, Love came. Welcomed by an earthly mother and father, shepherds and wise men, Love came. 

You are King and King and Lord of Lords, Messiah, and Ruler of All, yet you came not as a lion but as a lamb. You came as an innocent baby whose purpose was to walk this earth in complete love and then to sacrificially give his life as an atonement for the sins of His children. Emmanuel. God with us. Love in the form of a man.

That was your plan. From beginning to end, you knew every minute of Jesus' life. You knew that the cross of Calvary was waiting for Jesus, yet you still sent your only Son so that our sin debt could be paid and we could walk blameless because of the shed blood of Jesus.

There is no greater gift than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends. You willingly gave the gift of your life because of your love. Your righteous blood covered our sin. You redeem and restore us when we confess you as Lord and Savior of our life. At that moment you give us the gift of your love for all eternity. We receive grace upon grace and mercy upon mercy in that moment.

The greatest gift of all came that first Christmas. It wasn’t wrapped in a beautiful package and set under a decorated tree. The greatest gift came wrapped in the flesh of baby Jesus and laid in the rough wood of a manger. Our perfect gift would later be rewrapped in the scars of our sin and nailed to the rugged wood of a cross on Calvary, all because of love.

Father, this final week of Advent, fill our hearts and minds with the significance of that truth. Thank you, Lord, for loving us enough to send Jesus. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

Written By: Bobbie Schaeperkoetter

Source: Crosswalk.com

Advent Prayers Week Three: The Gift of Joy

Advent is a time of reflection and anticipation in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming". The advent season symbolizes both the waiting for the birth of Christ and his return. A popular tradition during Advent is the advent wreath made of evergreen to symbolize everlasting life in the midst of winter and a circle to remind us of both God's unending love and the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ. 

The Advent wreath has four candles - one is lit each Sunday of the four weeks of Advent. Each candle represents a new focus and time of reflection. The third week of Advent is the candle of joy. Also known as the "shepherd candle", it is in this third week of advent that we rejoice for the coming King. The shepherds experienced joy at the good news of the birth of the Messiah.

Use these Scriptures and prayer for the third week of Advent to reflect on the greatest joy in the world - the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Advent Week Three Scripture for Reflection: 

Luke 1:14, Luke 2:10-11, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 11:1, Galatians 4:4, Luke 1:45, Romans 15:13, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Psalms 107:1

Advent Week Three Prayer - A Prayer for Joy

Heavenly Father, This third week of Advent, let us remember that the good news of Jesus’ birth has the power to bring us great joy this Christmas season. Our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life, in our world, or the people that we are with. It doesn’t depend on the gifts we give or the gifts we find under the tree. No earthly thing can ever give us complete joy. Our joy comes from you. That joy that flooded the hearts of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the hosts of heaven, and Mary and Joseph is the joy that still has the power to overwhelm our hearts with rejoicing. 

Those who gathered around the new baby were blessed because they believed that you had fulfilled your promises. Mary and Joseph believed and were able to feel the joy of holding baby Jesus in their arms. The shepherds and wise men believed the angles and the signs and experienced the great gladness of worshipping their Messiah.

Those who knew him and recognized him were overjoyed at the coming of Jesus. They saw the prophecies fulfilled and their fear was replaced with happiness as they gazed on the face of the one who would be their Savior. They trusted in your promises and their hearts were filled with gladness as they watched your loving-kindness manifested in the face of a tiny baby in a lowly manger. 

Father, you offer that same joy to us now if we know you and recognize Jesus as our Savior and Lord. You gave us a reason to celebrate when you gave us the unspeakable gift of Jesus Christ. You came to dwell among us. You went to Calvary’s cross for us. You overcame death and rose from the dead for us. You forgive our sin and give us eternal life when we believe in you. 

Our joy doesn’t come from our jobs, our family, our relationships, our finances, or our success. Our joy doesn’t come from what we have on earth or who we are with. Our joy is a gift. It is the gift that you gave us that first Christmas in Jesus Christ. Our joy is encompassed in our Savior, King Jesus. Flood our hearts with joy this Advent season as we reflect on the good news of Jesus’ birth. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

Written By: Bobbie Schaeperkoetter

Source: Crosswalk.com