What’s going on in Ukraine?

It’s true that violence has rocked the nation. Several protesters have been killed and hundreds injured as demonstrators clash with police. This protest has been going on continuously since mid-November, and the violence is escalating.

It began when the Ukrainian government shifted its attention from pursuing association with the European Union. Many Ukrainians believe this is another indication that Ukraine is sliding away from democracy and becoming a dictatorship. These protests prompted violence.

For now, churches and missionaries are not directly affected. Cheri and I were in Ukraine when the protests started, but arrived in the USA on a scheduled home-assignment before the worst violence broke out.

Meanwhile, believers, including some of our friends and students, have risked their safety to declare Christ’s love in the midst of this violence. Wearing vests that read “Pray for Ukraine” they have given out over 1,000 New Testaments and witnessed to rioters and police alike. Amazingly, 100 of the New Testaments were given to “Berkuts,” members of a fierce special unit of the Ukrainian militia.

Asked why they posted pictures of the Bible distribution on Facebook they replied, “We want to arouse the faithful and call them to evangelism; to drop everything and go back with the good news.”

Please pray for the restoration of peace and order in Ukraine.

Thanks,

Rich