Meeting with Pastor Paul
Yesterday 3/8/22, I met with Pastor Paul of the Ukrainian Baptist Church to learn more about the ministry in Vancouver and the relief efforts conducted through the Baptist churches of Ukraine. As we talked, I discovered the Ukrainian Baptist Church is part of the Northwest Baptist Convention (NWBC). The Crossing is also a member of the NWBC, supported by it in the earliest years of our church. The Ukrainian Baptist Church was started in the early 2000s and has grown from 24 to over 200. It has been very involved in the ministry of the Gospel in Ukraine.
Over the last 20 years, the ministry presence in Ukraine has also grown substantially. In the late 1900s, there were only five baptist churches today, and there are over 50. This network of 50+ churches actively provides care and resources to the refugees of this war. Pastor Paul is engaged with the president of the Baptist Convention in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Baptist Church supports the Baptist Convention in Ukraine and specific local churches in Kiyev, Vinnytsya, Chernivsty.
How God Is Working
When Brother Paul opened the envelope containing the check The Crossing provided, it brought him to tears. “Let me tell you something, brother Troy,” He continued, “Last week, we sent $5000.00 to one of the churches. This week I learned of another small church near the border of Romania that is in great need of supplies. I told our treasurer to send them $3000.00. He said to me, “Where will the money come from?” Now you give us this check. Pastor Troy, God is teaching me to trust him. “What a blessing it is to show the love of Jesus. God does provide! By the power of the Holy Spirit, He urges us to glorify the Son through the display of love.”
Spiritual Warefare
Pastor Paul translated a video of the president of the Baptist Convention in Kiyev praying just this week. Two things about his prayer stood out to me. He said, “God, please position your angels around our city.” I was reminded of the 40-mile convoy of Russian armored vehicles now stuck and stranded outside Kiyev. He went on to pray, “Father, through this war, may a thousand churches be planted for your glory.” I asked Pastor Paul about the Baptist churches in Russia. He said, “there is a convention of Baptist churches in Russia. I spoke with the president of that convention. He is a good and godly man. They are forced to meet in secret for fear the government will arrest them and send them to prison for 15 years.” Our eyes must be open to what is going on in the world. The enemy is striving to shroud the Gospel and keep it from spreading. Satan is defeated! Jesus has crushed his head. This is not ultimately about politics, the EU, NATO, or global empires. It is about eternity—the power of the Gospel and the redemption of the human soul.