Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. –1 John 3:18 (NIV Bible)
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. –Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from the Birmingham jail”
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How many friends do you have in your circle today, whom you have been friends with since you were a toddler? For most Americans, that number is probably few to none.
I am blessed to still have two or three, and today an email came from one of them. Because of the sensitive and dangerous nature of the subject, he requested details not be given. However, he has been involved with a Christian ministry for most of his career and it has given him first-hand connections around the globe. Among his many friends are people now in Ukraine. Those believers are both seeking to keep themselves safe but also minister in the name of Jesus to the people around them, many of whom, for understandable reasons, are terrified.
Despite some 70 years of rule under the atheistic Soviet Union, surveys today indicate some 70% of Ukraine’s population identifies as Christian.
Eager to show ways how those of us far away can be of help, the ministry has recommended a prayer guide, from the 24/7 Prayer Network in both English and Spanish, related to the current Ukraine war. As someone has said, prayer is both the least we can do, but paradoxically, also the most we can do.
Moreover, for those who feel led to contribute financially to this Christian organization seeking to help the panicked and war-torn population of Ukraine, here is a link. Based on the integrity and trustworthiness of my lifelong friend, I have confidence in the integrity of this organization he has dedicated his life and career to.
When we watch news reports or read commentaries, we are passive consumers of information that others give us. It is easy to feel panicked, helpless, and depressed. However, when we pray and give, we are actively contributing to something that can make a situation better. It is like the difference between being a thermometer and a thermostat.
Be a thermostat! Make a positive difference today!
–Scott Dreyer
