Updated: Ukraine - Eight Responses
Last week a friend of mine flew to Kraków, to work alongside Ukrainian refugees.
She freely expressed the deep relief she felt, following the devastating events of the past few weeks, to be finally doing something. I know many of us (myself included) desperately wish we could hop on a plane right now, and overcome the feeling of powerlessness that distance sometimes brings.
Below are some brief thoughts on the power we do wield in a situation like this, and some practical (and spiritual) things we can do to help.
Pray:
Don't skim this bit! The God of Psalm 46, who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and makes wars cease to the ends of the earth is attentive to your cries. Praying as an individual is great, but gathering to pray (whether online or in-person) with your church family, as well as brothers and sisters around the world will encourage you, energise you and just generally ensure that the weight and worry of the situation doesn't drown out hope. Keep an eye on joint prayer opportunities as they become available by following the Catalyst network (one of many Newfrontiers spheres joining to pray for the region), as well as Krish Kandiah who is quick to respond and create online gatherings to pray. Likewise 24-7 prayer,run by Pete Greig, have produced a helpful prayer guide for individuals and groups to use. For more helpful ideas around how to pray for Ukraine more effectively, this Premier Christianity article is really helpful.
Give (goods and finances):
Start considering now what you could give, and look out for central funds administrated by established charities and church movements with pre-existing links in the region. Scroll to the bottom of this post to watch a six-minute video showing how the Newfrontiers Ukraine Fund is supporting relief efforts in the region. For refugees without a bank account based outside the country, finances will be difficult or impossible to access, and churches and charities are well-placed to distribute. If you can, why not consider committing to giving on a monthly basis? This enables those on the ground to plan more effectively for what is likely to be a protracted crisis.
You could also look for community groups and local charities gathering good quality clothing, toileteries, medical supplies and alike - if finances are tight, there may be other ways you can meet a need.
Reach out to Ukrainians and Russians in your community:
If there are Ukrainian or Russian believers in your church, take a moment to drop them a text and remind them of your love and support to them as individuals. While their minds and time may be occupied, could you pray for them, make them a meal, or help them in another way? If there is a specific grocery store or community group in your town or city, why not take the time to drop in? There is (rightly) an outpouring of support in our nation for Ukraine. How can we, as Christians, demonstrate the distinctive reconciling power of Jesus by loving, praying for, and reaching out to all?
Welcoming Ukrainian refugees
The Sanctuary Foundation is working hard to equip churches, companies and individuals to meet the needs of Ukrainian refugees arriving in the country. You can express your interest via their website, and find out more by attending their webinar on Wednesday 16th March at 7.30pm (sign up here). If you are able and willing to provide a safe home for a refugee individual or family you can also register via the Homes for Ukraine government portal.
See the bigger picture:
It seems at first sight that there is no connection between the war in Ukraine and the Nationality and Borders Bill currently making its way through parliament; however there are in fact significant implications for any Ukrainian making their way to Britian via irregular means. This statement from the Boaz Trust explains why. Consider using their letter template to write to your MP and effect future change for refugees from every nation.
Put up a map:
Very simple, but Ukraine borders seven countries. Familiarise yourself with the geography, and be quick to see the implications for surrounding countries, and friends in your community.
Lament, but don’t despair:
Rosie Hopley (advisor to the J+ team) recently spoke on the importance of lament in the healthy Christian life (catch up on her #margins2mic episode here). The Psalms give voice to the full range of human emotion, and model ways to cry out for justice and mercy. Lament finds its landing place ultimately on who God is; as we bring our weighty prayers to him they are matched, and surpassed by the weightiness of his character and capacity. In contrast, anxiety tends to encircle us, and never find a landing place.
Cultural commentator, and church leader, Mark Sayers suggests that one of the most distinctive ways that we can demonstrate a gospel witness in the world today is to be a non-anxious presence in an anxious world*. That seemed like a tall order in the height of the pandemic, and much more so today. However, Christ never calls us to strive alone for the impossible, but rather to walk closely with Him and become grateful stewards and vessels of his peace.
Remind yourself of the omniscience and omnipotence of God
In her book, None Like Him, Jen Wilkin so helpfully points out that a 24hr news cycle and constant scrolling gives us the illusion of omniscience, but with none of the power of omnipotence**. We are able to see, and know about, more than any other generation in human history. Going back to the beginning of this post, the dissonance between what we see and what we can do about it feels overwhelming. But God is under no illusions. He sees every injustice, injury, and perpetrator acting with impunity, and his arm is strong to save.
Written by Rachel Wilson
*Jen Wilkin, None Like Him, (Crossway Books, 2016)
**Mark Sayers, A Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World Will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders (Moody Publishers, 2022)