Praying for Ukraine

February 28, 2022

Ukraine has a peaceful population of more than 44 million people. You can imagine the angst, fear, and insecurity for their families that is sweeping the people since the unprovoked invasion by Russia last week. Already, soldiers and civilians have lost their lives, including reports of 16 children This is the largest ground invasion in Europe since World War II. Causalities on both sides are rising daily.

Ukraine is shaped by a vibrant Church and a number of missionaries. Joshua Tokar, director of English language services at Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary noted, “Ukraine is the main missionary-sending country for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The church is very strong. As far as Europe is concerned, the Ukrainian church is perhaps the strongest and is doing the most for education, training, and sending out workers.”

These brothers and sisters in Christ urgently need our prayers. 78% identify as Ukranian Orthodox, up from 39% in 1991. 10% identify as Roman Catholic Christians. 2% identify as evangelical Christians, but there is much overlap, and evangelicals play an influential role in society. In 2021 Christianity today reported “more than 500 evangelicals were elected to all levels of government. One even heads a major city—Rivne, in western Ukraine—as mayor.” We can pray effectively and urgently for this Ukrainian crisis.

1.  Pray for the president and leaders of Ukraine to have protection and wisdom in the coming days.

2.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and courage for the soldiers who are protecting Ukraine. Pray for their families.

3.  Pray for civilians who have been displaced and for families who have been separated from each other as they have sought safety.

4.  Pray for civilians who are taking up arms for defense to also have wisdom, strength, and courage. Be with their families.

5.  Pray for those still seeking shelter, that they would receive God’s clarity and wisdom in making hasty decisions.

6.  Pray for Ukrainians to actively seek and find the peace and hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

7.  Pray for Ukrainian believers to find comfort, peace, and strength in God and share the source of their strength with others.

8.  Pray for God to enable the churches and missionaries of Ukraine to care for their people.

9.  Pray for the nations of the world to speak up and give the needed help without cowardice and self-interest.

10.  Pray for Russia to have a great spiritual awakening, and for the Church and courageous dissidents to be strengthened by God.

11.  Pray that evil will be overcome and that God will be lifted up.