Over a series of voice messages, WOL Ukraine’s director, Matias Radziwiluk, describes the conflict that has been building between neighboring countries, Russia and Ukraine, since 2014. He calmly explains that this conflict has been their reality for eight years, and in fact, the country has learned to flourish in spite of it–all while the world forgot about it, and it faded out of general consciousness. Rather than the events of this week being unexpected, they are the eruption of almost a decade’s worth of unresolved conflict.
As tensions have grown over the past few weeks, the ministry team gathered wise counsel to make decisions for students and staff. Though they did not know what lay around the corner, they knew the last two weeks of February had the potential to become explosive and cause significant damage. As they faced the unknown, the team made the call that made the most sense at the time: a two-week hiatus (or early Spring Break) for the Bible Institute. Students went home or stayed with friends and they pared down the staff on property as they hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst.
Over voice memos, Matias describes what the following days looked like. He tells of countless meetings where staff debated and prayed, considered and weighed their options. They prepared contingency plans, built bomb shelters on property and had conversations with their families and friends about evacuation in case of emergency. Though the meetings were challenging, the Lord gave them great unity. The plan would be to stay put in the Ukraine.
As Matias explained his desire to stay put, it is hard to miss the way God has designed us to belong to a land and minister to our neighbors. In the midst of political turbulence, his voice came through the recorder crystal clear:
“If we evacuate, there are always more steps to take after that. Regardless of our location, we are called to be ambassadors of the gospel–but this is our country. Many foreign missionaries have been recalled for their safety, but this is our homeland. We can’t just leave. These are our people and our land. We love this place and we are called to it. But it’s also hard because we are thinking about the safety of our families. But even in the face of danger, people here need the gospel and they need Jesus desperately–even when the circumstances become dire. The more we think about evacuation, the more we realize that we need to stay. No matter how much things change, God doesn’t change.
So the question is: How can we serve and work more in Ukraine, even now?”
Within 12 hours of receiving this voice memo, the situation took a turn for the worse. Around 2 AM, Matias received a tip that there would be military action on the ground in the next few hours. The missionaries made a hard call: Women and children would load up and drive 17 hours to the Western border of Ukraine, where they would find refuge in a church for the night before eventually crossing into Hungary and staying on the Word of Life property there.
Eight men stayed behind at the Ukraine property.
Almost immediately, however, the violence had escalated so much that it was not viable for the men to stay. They loaded up their vehicles and began a caravan drive to the Western border to join their wives and children. Their drive was interrupted and detoured by the violence and its effect on the roads, but they have made it to the church and been reunited with their families.
However, the government has just released a mandate: All men within the ages of 18 and 60 must stay in the country. As of now, our missionaries are resting, praying, and considering what comes next. It is likely that the women and children will continue their journey to our property in Hungary and the men will stay and serve their country physically and spiritually.
In this moment, something Matias said in his message rings loudly: “We cannot just halt our ministry during this time. Even though we have moments of fear and panic and desire for physical safety, those moments pass and what is left is the deep peace of the gospel and the unchangeable nature of God.”
How Can You Pray?
- For physical peace – that the violence would end and that Russia would retreat
- For spiritual and emotional peace – that the missionaries and those in Ukraine would experience the peace offered by Jesus Himself.
- For wisdom for our missionaries as they make hard decisions and choose obedience to the Lord in times of uncertainty
- For wisdom for political leaders as they take next steps in addressing the conflict
- For safety while traveling families seek refuge
- For safety as the men stay in Ukraine
