Earlier this year, we were fortunate to hear from our Partners in Ukraine and Lebanon in-person, as they encouraged Australian Christians to keep our eyes and hearts open to our hurting world. Their insights issue a challenge to us in the relative comfort of our lives here in Australia.  

From our Partners In Ukraine: Hope In the Midst of War 

Igor, from Ukraine Baptists, described life during the war in Ukraine.

‘Every day, you wake up happy you’re still alive. You go to work. You pray and faith reshapes your thinking, giving you a different perspective. We rejoice in the Lord. We minister to people in need because we have found the more we give away, the easier for us to get through this war.

Despite three and a half years of war, the church in Ukraine is thriving.
‘Only God can stop this war,’ said Igor, ‘but we do not live without hope. The gospel is still powerful.’

Since the very beginning of the war, churches in Ukraine have been opening their doors to refugees, in need of food, shelter, and prayer. ‘When people come to us, they don’t just get a box of food.’ Igor said, ‘They get a bed, someone to listen, and someone to pray with them.’ Many people have felt welcomed and loved by the Church across Ukraine, and in the context of that love, and literal nourishment, many have come to know the love of Jesus also.

Igor shared one story of a woman who came to him to confess that she did not come to church to hear about God, she came because they gave her bread. But as she returned in need many times and was accepted and fed, she also found faith in Christ.

 I wish the war had never started. But when God is in control, out of terrible things something good happens.

From Our Partners In Lebanon: Costly Love 

Lebanon has faced decades of turmoil—civil war, economic collapse, and an influx of one and a half million Syrian refugees into a nation of just four million.

Wissam, who leads our Christian Partners in Lebanon, admitted that most Lebanese Christians grew up hating Syrians. ‘I did too, I’m not proud to admit’ he said, ‘But God had different plans. He was teaching us forgiveness and love through the people we hated the most.’

A young mother, Senna, fled Syria after ISIS attacked her village. Tragically, her toddler son was killed as they escaped. When she arrived in Lebanon, she faced hostility—until a church welcomed her.

‘She didn’t come to church because someone was good at apologetics,’ Wissam said, ‘She came because she felt loved.’

Senna now leads a child-friendly space for other refugee families.

Wissam reminded us, ‘Costly love is visible love. When love costs, people notice and ask why. Then we can say, “We’ve been loved freely first, so we can love freely back.”’

We’ve been loved freely first, so we can love freely back.

God Is Not Overwhelmed 

Both Igor and Wissam urge us to keep praying and acting here in Australia—standing alongside the people of Ukraine and the Middle East for the long term. But also, looking out for our neighbour locally also.

Wissam said, ‘do not waste a crisis, because every crisis is an opportunity for the church to be salt and light.’ While Igor said, ‘Fight with us through prayer because prayer is a weapon.’

This is central to the work of Baptist World Aid—standing prayerfully and practically with our global neighbours in the places most of us will never be able to visit—partnering with local churches bringing hope to the places it’s needed most.

Together, we pray for our Partners serving in some of our world’s hardest places.

Lord, thank you that you’re never overwhelmed. Thank you for the courage of your people in Ukraine and Lebanon. Strengthen them as they serve with costly love. Stir our hearts to pray, act, and to give so that your people can continue to shine your light even in the darkest places. Amen.