Thoughts on Ukraine
Article By: Wiley Cooper, Pastor Emeritus at Mars Hill United Methodist Church
“Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin? Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and expression in whatever forms they present themselves?” Each of us answered “yes” when we took our membership vows or presented our child(ren) for Christian baptism.
What does our “yes” mean when facing horrors like the Russian invasion of Ukraine? A few thoughts:
First, it means joining Methodists and Christians across the world in the action of prayer, thanking God that our resistance to evil is a part of worldwide pain, response, resistance, and reconciliation. Remember: we serve Jesus as our Lord IN UNION WITH the Church which Christ has opened to people of all nations, and races. Last week (February 26) United Methodists from around the world gathered at noon EST for an online prayer vigil for the people of Ukraine. More are planned.
The Rev. Oleg Starodubets, a Ukrainian United Methodist District Superintendent reported from Kyiv that United Methodists there are opening churches as shelters. He asked for prayers for peace and a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine. The Rev. Volodymyr Prokip in Lviv says they are keeping vigil in their church, just to be available for any support for people in need.”
Nordic-Baltic Area Bishop Christian Alsted wrote “We stand with the United Methodists in Ukraine in prayer for protection, reconciliation, and peace. We pray for pastors, leaders, and congregations in the United Methodist Church in Ukraine; may God grant that their witness of reconciliation and peace will bring strength and hope to the Ukrainian people.”
From Moscow, Eurasia Area Bishop Eduard Khegay oversees UMC church in BOTH Russia and Ukraine. He wrote: “I am ashamed of my country and hurt for the loss of human lives. This is a disgrace. How many corpses of war should appear in Russia and Ukraine in order for this nightmare to end?”
We are grateful for and praying with and for Russian United Methodists who are standing firm, risking real danger in the face of Putin’s madness. Christians cannot allow our country to make the mistakes of WWII’s condemnation and incarceration of people simply because of their race and historic nationality. The Russian people, the Ukrainian people, and all caught in this horror are our sisters and brothers to whom we reach out in fellowship and love. That may mean welcoming refugees and people of various nationalities to Madison County.
“United Methodist Women (UMW) is watching this Russian aggression against Ukraine in horror and in fervent prayer”, the group stated. “ We have worked for years with women’s peace networks in Eastern Europe and we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian women and people against this unjustified invasion and war.”
Second, we can give. The United Methodist Committee on Relief’s (UMCOR) International Disaster Response and Recovery through Advance #982450. United Methodist Global Ministries’ Advance # 14053A supports pastors in Ukraine and Moldova. We can give individually or through our Mars Hill Church, marking our gifts “for Ukraine”.
Third, we can keep informed by subscribing to UMNews.org’s e-newsletter (HTTPS://WWW.UMNEWS.ORG/EN/NEWS/UMNEWS-SUBSCRIPTIONS). There you will receive free daily and weekly digests of important news and events in the life of The United Methodist Church.
Fourth, we can make sure that our leaders, church, state, and private sector know of our deep concern and support and our resolve to be a part of a reconciliation of faith and love.
Faith, Hope, Love, Faithful Resistance, and Reconciliation always and in every circumstance.
Wiley Cooper
Pastor Emeritus at Mars Hill United Methodist Church