In a recent report, a Ukrainian seminary leader described what life is like in these terms: “Our ministry students and faculty now find themselves torn from scholarly refuge to confront blood, tears, and trauma in rubble-strewn streets. Surrounded daily by blast wounds, loss, and mounting grief . . . class is in session not in hallowed halls but in basement hospitals and bombed-out hovels . . . Today’s seminaries stand battle-tested, propelled from passive faith into active hope.”
I am sharing with you direct reports from Christian educators who will remain unnamed for their safety. These young leaders are a part of a “hub” of 14 educational institutions in Ukraine that are committed to “comfort, sustain, and revive a devastated but resilient population.” I will use their words to describe the challenges they face. The 14 hubs “have mobilized a relief movement to rescue families crushed under the wheel of Russia’s brutal invasion. Teams from theological institutions across Ukraine now deliver truckloads of emergency supplies monthly to the most vulnerable victims – the displaced, bereaved, and impoverished stranded in the wreckage or still under bombardment. Tirelessly, they feed the hungry, heal the wounded, house the homeless, and counsel the traumatized.”
Daily news reports update us on the violence and brutality of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its abusive treatment of the residents of the Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine. But there are many stories of heroes that also need to be told, because they show the deep commitment of the Ukrainian people for freedom and independence. This essay focuses on just one part of this collection of heroes - the students, staff, and faculty of Christian educational institutions. One key Ukrainian leader described this community as “Bonhoeffer’s Children,” named after the martyred German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Following his example, “our seminarians abandoned the comfort of ivory towers to plunge into chaos and rubble below when the war came . . . They wade into the war’s bloody wreckage to feed the starving, shelter the homeless, and comfort the grieving. In so doing, they validate Bonhoeffer’s conviction that when faced with radical evil, faith demands radical sacrifice and resistance.”
One remarkable initiative that has not been shared broadly in Ukraine or elsewhere is a new counseling program for Russian POWs. Ukrainian prison officials contacted a number of pastors asking them to serve as chaplains to these prisoners. The chaplains accepted the invitation, and they now travel to prisons that are usually located 60 miles or more from major cities. The chaplains meet with groups of 40-60 POWs at a time to share Bible study materials, prayer, and counseling; as the Ukrainians build more prison capacity, there will be even more opportunities to work with Russian POWs. For a number of these prisoners, these sessions have been life-changing, especially when delivered by Ukrainian chaplains. Many of the prisoners have promised not to return to combat again if they are selected to be a part of a future prisoner exchange.
Prisons for enemy soldiers are notoriously brutal places, especially in Russia, but the Ukrainians are demonstrating a radically different approach – they are treating their enemies as potential friends. Ukrainian democracy is showing how to treat people, even war prisoners, in stark contrast to the tactics of the Russians who are committing genocide every day of this war.
Unlike the Congressional blockage on approving further support to Ukraine – blockage caused by a handful of radical right-wing Republicans in the House of Representatives – you can make a donation that will get used right away to meet the needs of the Ukrainian people who struggle with daily missile and drone attacks. Please join me and our family in making a substantial contribution to either or both of the following programs, which directly support these heroes who are defending democracy and trying to rebuild their country.
Overseas Council & Scholar Leaders – Ukraine Refugees Assistance
https://uwm.org/projects/48505
Donations to United World Mission will support all the various ministries that deal with the needs of the refugees. If you want to directly support the ministry to Russian POWs, use the link above and add these words in your memo line: “For the initiative: sharing Bibles with strangers.” These donations for the POWs cover travel expenses for chaplains, Russian POW Bibles, and Bible study resources. Mailing address: United World Mission, 205 Regency Executive Park Dr., Ste. 430, Charlotte, NC 28217-2958.
Mission Eurasia
missioneurasia.org
This ministry, which I have partnered with for years, is active in providing ICare food packages, clothing, medication, Bible distribution, trauma counseling for children and teens, and leadership training. Mailing address: Mission Eurasia, P.O. Box 496, Wheaton, IL 60187-0496.