Sign up with your email address to be the first to know about new products, VIP offers, blog features & more.

This isn’t Victory Yet! A Call for Reconciliation in Ukraine

Last week revolution happened in Ukraine. The demands of the opposition were met when former president Victor Yanukovych fled on Friday leaving his post and giving the opposition parties a chance to gain power.

Over the weekend the protesters in Maidan shed both tears of joy and grief as they celebrated the change in government and mourned for at least 75 Ukrainians who had lost their lives in the past few days.

reconciliation in ukraine

An alleged sniper apprehended by opposition protesters -Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images

But is this victory? Not by a long shot!

Yes, there have been some major changes over the past week but now Ukraine has more against it than ever before.

  • The people are in mourning.
  • The government is broken and struggling to rebuild.
  • Kyiv is in shambles.
  • The country’s treasuries are empty.
  • Many harbor hatred and disdain for whoever is on the opposite side of the political fence.
  • Eastern and Southern areas of the country continue to support the former president’s party.

I will tell you what I told everyone as I preached last Sunday,

Ukraine needs your prayers now more than ever!

Ukraine has a long and difficult road ahead of it and the next few weeks and months will decide the long term future.

Revolution is not enough

Last weekend we witnessed a political revolution in Ukraine but revolution is never enough, without true reconciliation the country will never rise from the ashes of burning tires and Molotov cocktails.

This week Valery Antonyuk, vice president of the All Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Churches, Baptist issued a statement calling for reconciliation in Ukraine. I appreciated his strong call to both sides to seek forgiveness and a deeper more lasting victory that can only be found in Jesus.

Below is a translation of Anonyuk’s statement, you can read the original in Ukrainian on the ECBUA website.

A Message of Reconciliation:

During this time of fateful change in the life of the Ukrainian nation, the Church and each Christian individually cannot remain spectators on the sidelines of the battles and losses. The Church serves society and mourns together with it. We went through difficult days together with the nation – we served through prayer, evangelism, volunteers, medical help, clothing, and food.

Today a time has come for a ministry of active reconciliation, which will help maintain unity in our country and nation.
We supported the nation’s demand to put an end to the tyranny of the authorities and repressions by the police. Now it is important to restore justice and due process of law in the country, to form a government that has the people’s trust, and provide fair presidential elections. We believe that those guilty of crimes against the people will be justly judged, and that peaceful citizens will be protected.

But on behalf of the Church we must say more, we must speak the whole truth; we must say that which is still hard to accept and fulfill; that, which is a precondition for a better future.

Therefore the Church calls the Ukrainian nation to more than just feelings of human justice – to Christian forgiveness, grace, and reconciliation. We pray to God for repentance for the guilty. However at the same time we ask victims to forgive those who are already repentant as well as those who are still lost. In order to unite the nation, in order to reconcile its various parts, its various social, cultural, and political groups, laws and justice are not enough.

Without repentance, grace, forgiveness and reconciliation, the country will remain divided and in conflict. This is the precondition for a deep spiritual transformation of Ukraine.

The Bible says that there is, “a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace” (Ecc. 3:7-8). In accordance with these wise words, we declare today to be a time to mend, and not a time to tear the nation apart; a time to seek peace, and not a time to fan the flames of war; a time to learn to love yesterday’s enemies, and not a time to continue to hate rivals and those who have hurt us.

We call on the Evangelical churches of Ukraine to serve to bring peace between people and healing to the wounds of war. We do not call black white and do not justify crimes or even mistakes. But we, as Christians, forgive, because we have been forgiven by God. He reconciled us to Himself, and gave us a message of reconciliation. This grace-giving Word to our whole nation should be heard from Lvov to Donetsk, from Kiev to Simferopol.

We also call upon the international Christian community asking for prayer and intercession for the Ukrainian nation and for help with peacemaking. We mourn for the victims, and thank God for His grace toward Ukraine, and pray for peace and spiritual revival in our nation.

Question: Will you pray for reconciliation in Ukraine!

12 Responses
  • floyd
    February 26, 2014

    Praying for Ukraine. May the Word and Heart of God be adopted, not the spirit of humanism and earthly enlightenment. Only God’s power can make lasting change.

    • Caleb
      February 27, 2014

      Yes, that’s exactly what Ukraine needs, thanks Floyd!

  • Barb Raveling
    February 27, 2014

    I have been thinking of you and your family as I’ve heard the news on Ukraine, Caleb. That must be so hard as I’m sure you have loved ones there. Thanks for sharing the pastor’s letter and your thoughts on the situation. I was struck by what you said about the people harboring hatred and disdain for whoever is on the other side of the political fence.

    I think we have that in our country too – we just haven’t had enough of it to cause problems yet. Makes we think we should also continue to do what we can do to promote love in our country regardless of views. Will continue to pray for Ukraine.

    • Caleb
      February 27, 2014

      Barb, the last week or so has been a real roller coaster and especially because I have a sister in Kyiv and other family in Ukraine. Thanks for your prayers.

      • Barb Raveling
        February 27, 2014

        Oh no, I didn’t know you had a sister and other family there as well. So sad. I will pray.

  • TCAvey
    February 27, 2014

    I’ve been following this on The Blaze and praying. I keep words like “Cold War”. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    • Caleb
      February 27, 2014

      Things are really heating up now with Russia, so please keep praying!

      • TCAvey
        February 27, 2014

        I heard America might loan some money…so much is unknown right now. You’re right, we must keep praying.

  • Loren Pinilis
    February 28, 2014

    God is in control, Caleb. So sad and scary to hear about all of this, but I hope you and yours remain OK.

    • Caleb
      February 28, 2014

      Our family is doing fine there but they have some concerns mainly about the financial stability of the country.

  • Lisa notes...
    February 28, 2014

    I especially like hearing your take on what’s happening in Ukraine, Caleb. I know this is more than just a “current event” to you–it’s personal and affects people you know and love as well as your own family. I will continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, for an honest government, for the end of violence, and that more will recognize Jesus as the answer.

    • Caleb
      February 28, 2014

      Thanks Lisa, we appreciate your prayers.