War in Ukraine
We want to provide you with the latest update from the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada on the Ukraine war situation and the status of our missionaries and their work in that country. We are calling our PPT family to join us in fasting and pray for peace in Ukraine for this month’s day of fasting and prayer.
PAOC has an associate global worker in Ukraine — Ed Dickson and his family. In God’s sovereignty they returned to Canada on furlough some months ago, long before the current problems started. They are safe and sound in southern Ontario and helping to co-ordinate the PAOC humanitarian response in Ukraine through ERDO (Emergency Relief and Development Overseas).
We thank God the Dicksons are safe, but that said, we are extremely concerned for our national partners and their families still in Ukraine. Lines of communication remain open, and we are in contact with them. Thankfully, the banking system is still working so we are able to send support to help our national partners buy food and other necessities needed to get through these dark days.
We also remember the family of one of our global workers who is from Ukraine. We pray that God will protect her family during this time of war.
We pray for all those friends in Ukraine who have people in Canada who love and are very concerned about them.We know that many of our pastors and churches in Canada have direct relationships with the church in Ukraine.
Russian forces are advancing from Crimea in the south and threatening cities where we have partner churches that also house satellite campuses and extension students. Again, pastors are concerned but not afraid and are staying with their people at this time.
The faculty and staff of our primary educational partner are also all safe with their families in their homes. They have offered housing for students and their families displaced by the heaviest fighting in East Ukraine.
Praise God our precious ChildCARE Plus sponsored children in are also all safe and sound at the moment. There was bombing of some military installations outside of town but the city itself has so far been spared from attack.
Another pastor and his church planting team are also all safe although they are experiencing heavy fighting. That pastor and his team are also determined to stay with the churches now—during their darkest hour. They are obviously concerned but not afraid.
One pastor and his church planting team are still alive but in an area of heavy fighting.
On Wednesday they were able to evacuate their wives and children to a safe city where they have family. They have vowed to remain to continue ministering to their flocks during this terrible time.
Prayer Points
For divine protection of Ukraine—especially of our national partners and families and our precious ERDO ChildCARE Plus children.
There are young men from our churches in Ukraine and Russia. Pray for a peaceful solution to the crisis and an immediate end to hostilities. fighting on both sides of this conflict.
That our pastors and churches would continue to be shining examples of the love and compassion of Christ, not only to their own people but to all the people of their communities.
That somehow God would use this terrible situation for His glory and for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
That lines of communication and supply remain open so we can continue to be in touch with our national partners in Ukraine and continue to send them much-needed help on the ground.
Let us also pray for Russia. The church in Russia is strong and will also need our prayers. Let us remember the Bantseevs and the Pankovs and our many church partners in the country.
Scriptures
1 Samuel 17:4-10,23
4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5 He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7 The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
8 Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! 9 If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! 10 I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!”
23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.
Exodus 14:24-25
24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
Psalm 11:6
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
punishing them with scorching winds.
Psalm 46:9
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
Psalm 65:5
You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.
Psalm 121
1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
Prayer Declaration
Ah, Lord God! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and out-stretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you our Lord, our Father. Indeed, he who watches over Israel, never sleeps or slumbers. Father, we decree and declare that the advancement of the aggressors of Ukraine will be stalled in Jesus’ name. Hide the people of Ukraine and the vulnerable in the world under your wings. Rain down your blazing sulphur and burning coal on the agenda of the wicked. Father, like Pharaoh, break the bow and spear of all tyrants in our world today. Lord, crush and uproot the spirit of Goliath that the devil has unleashed upon the earth. So shall it be.
Conference Call
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