I remember standing in the sunflower field: the thick stalks and huge flowers taller than I was, yellow leaves so vibrant in the sunshine they seemed to glow.
I remember looking over the long, green, perfect rows of grapevines graceful and abundant across the hills.
I remember the missionary we stayed with who guided us and taught us about Ukraine, the people, the Christians, the seminary, the work there and the churches.
Gary and I were blessed to go to the Ukraine several years ago on a prayer walk. We saw different areas of the country, he preached at a Ukrainian Baptist church, and we visited the seminary and several more churches there. We walked and prayed for the country and the people. We stopped in parks and in the city and prayed.
We rode the streetcars, bumped over the rough roads in taxi or Uber, and learned when we would be able to get hot water in the missionaries’ apartment for a bath.
We sang as best we could with them, we listened, Gary’s sermon was translated and we talked with our brothers and sisters in Christ in church and in fellowship in the community. We prayed.
We have continued to pray. As a Missionary Journeyman returning from Japan, I traveled by boat from Yokohama to Nahodka, Russia, took a train, and then a plane to Moscow. The city was awe- inspiring with its wide streets and towering buildings. There I also visited a Christian church and prayed with the Christians wearing shawls over their heads and crowding into the sanctuary and balcony. Leningrad was the next stop.
Riding the train, we saw the beautiful countryside, ate the black bread and drank the hot tea. And the country and people became a reality as I experienced it in my limited way on a short trip through it.
Now, Ukraine is being invaded by Russia. I remember the people I met, the beautiful land, the seminary, the churches, the art, the parks, the restaurants, the children, the precious people and the homes. I think of Christian brothers and sisters who are facing danger and oppression. Will Christians around the world join in prayer for them?
Will you?
It could be us.
We could be sending our children to school with papers pinned to their jackets with their blood type on it.
We could be bracing for attack — from someone.
In reality, we are under attack by the devil as we live in a fallen world.
But we have God who answers prayer and who has overcome the evil one. We can pray to im for ourselves and intercede for others: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1
And we can hope in our time of trouble, Christian brothers and sisters will lift us up in prayer for deliverance.
