Today, two years after the original conflict, many Americans have largely forgotten about Ukraine. As often happens after a global crisis, we end up getting too distracted, irritated, or entertained by other news and media. Of course, there have been other, more recent international conflicts that also deserve our attention and prayers.
In early 2022, Ukraine began attracting global attention during the Russian invasion, but much of the initial aid has since waned. Not only has general financial, material and moral support been significantly reduced, but in some circles Ukraine has become a country political pawn for some, especially as the US presidential elections approach.
When the conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted a decade ago, in 2014, the international community knew that Russia was likely preparing for more aggressive actions. But nothing could have prepared me for the morning of February 24, 2022, when I was deeply shaken by the images of explosions and armored vehicles that began to flood the news and the Internet.
I am a pastor in Lynchburg, Virginia, but I was born in Ukraine and have many friends and relatives who still live there. As the initial shock wore off and I was able to communicate with my loved ones, something awakened within me. In the second month of the Russian invasion, as millions struggled to leave Ukraine, I traveled there to encourage and serve those affected by the conflict.
I have visited Ukraine four times in the past two years and witnessed first-hand the devastation caused by the war. In my recent travels, it has been discouraging to encounter brothers and sisters who feel neglected or forgotten by the global Church.
Today, with our limited attention span and many ongoing global crises, it is difficult to center our hearts on individual stories of devastation. Yet I believe it is vital for us believers to constantly remember the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in Christ – and to cultivate this remembrance as a habitual practice in our busy and distracted lives.
Every time I think of Ukraine, I can’t get the words of Hebrews 13:3 out of my mind. The author implores followers of Jesus Christ to “continue to remember those who are in prison as if you were with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourself were suffering» (emphasis mine).
As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are called to give special attention to the needs of the most vulnerable among us (Prov. 31:8-9, 1 John 3:17-18, James 1:27). We are connected in one body, the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12), and our local churches are micro-expressions of a global church designed to function in unity. Just as we would never ignore a part of our body if it was in pain, the body of Christ – the Church – functions in the same way. As Paul says, “If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it” (v. 26). Neglecting or forgetting one limb that is in pain can harm the entire body.
We are called to share the burden of others by allowing ourselves to absorb their pain. This reflects the character of Jesus, who entered time and space to join us in our mortal afflictions. The Scriptures assure us that our Savior is “a man of sufferings and acquainted with sorrow” (Isa. 53:3) who experienced both sorrow and sorrow (Matt. 26:38, Heb. 5:7). And that is why he knows how to help those who are suffering (Hebrews 2:18). The more we share our sincere prayers, presence, and resources with those who are suffering, the more we behave like Jesus.
Even more, continuing to remember the suffering of others prepares us for our own potential suffering. No one wants to suffer, but we are sure to experience this at some point in our lives, because Scripture promises that “in this world you will have difficulties” (John 16:33). No person, community or nation is immune from conflict and tragedy. Christians in countries like Ukraine can teach us resilience and courage, and the power of the Gospel in the midst of calamity and sorrow. We need them as much as they need us!
Finally, and just as importantly, we can use our voices and share our resources. We tend to be great ambassadors for the things we love and we instinctively want to share them with others. I often look forward to telling people about a new restaurant or movie that I enjoyed. If we truly love our suffering brothers and sisters, why wouldn’t we tell others about their plight?
This includes amplifying the voices and stories of those in need, as well as bringing together and sharing our resources, including partnering with organizations on the ground to provide essentials like food , water and medical supplies. God can use the different resources we have in our lives, as well as our spheres of influence, to meet specific felt needs. For example, I started The renewal initiative to connect people and resources with vulnerable individuals around the world, and this spring we partnership with a group of mental health professionals to encourage and support aid workers in Ukraine.
One of the ways we fulfill the “law of Christ” is to bear the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2), but we cannot share that burden alone—nor were we meant to. No individual can meet all the needs of those who suffer. No single organization has all the resources needed to care for those in need. But as individuals and organizations come together, the burden becomes lighter and many needs can be met. To be sustainable, we need others to help us bear the burden of continue to remember those who suffer.
But perhaps our most powerful weapon is to bear this burden before the Lord in prayer. Never underestimate the power of prayer or how the Holy Spirit can use our specific prayers to bless and encourage those in need. Not everyone is able to serve in Ukraine, but we can all make space in our spiritual rhythms to pray for our brothers and sisters there and in other vulnerable communities around the world. .
I wish you could see the expression on people’s faces in Ukraine when I tell them that my Western friends are praying for them. Their response is usually: THANKS! Please tell everyone thank you for praying for us, and please don’t stop..
On one of my first trips to Ukraine, I met a pastor who stayed to serve his church during the first Russian invasion, even after more than 60 percent of his congregation left the region. Hundreds of refugees arrived from other regions of Ukraine and required special care. And yet, one of the things he said that will always stay with me is that he did not feel alone in his efforts because of the sustained prayers of saints around the world.
On the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Russia, let us continue to remember our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. This act of obedience will bless them and enrich our spiritual walks. For as we draw closer to the suffering of others, our hearts can expand to better reflect God’s love for the world at large. Jesus is still at work amid the suffering of men, women and children in Ukraine, and we can join in that work by continuing to remember them.
Andrew Moroz is a Ukrainian-American pastor and founder of The renewal initiative.
