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| Exploding shells are destroying homes and churches in the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian security forces and pro-Russian rebels have been battling for control since March. (Image, caption courtesy Christian Aid) |
As if the crisis in Ukraine wasn’t complicated enough, Christians are being caught in the crossfire. The separatists (the ones that want to break away from Ukraine and join Russia) are believed to be targeting Christians. According to Christian Aid Mission, Christians are targeted because of their support of the Ukrainian government and their aid to families affected by the crisis.
Six weeks after the abduction of a pastor, his two sons, and a church elder, the families have finally received word of what happened to them. A Ukrainian minster had this to say about the incident:
These four brothers in Christ were kidnapped a month ago by
terrorists. All the while their families prayed for them, not having any
information of their whereabouts.
Only a week ago, witnesses revealed that on the night of June 8,
terrorists abused and tortured them, and in the morning they let the men
go. The elder deacon was driving the car. Once they left the city, the
terrorists reappeared, chasing after them in a vehicle. They started
shooting at the deacon’s car.
The pastor and his sons jumped out of the car to try to escape.
They were shot to death immediately. The driver was also killed, and his
body was burned when they set the car on fire. On the second day, fighters took the bodies and buried them with other victims in the same grave.
Just now the families of the four men received this information.
All this time they have been waiting for their husbands, fathers, and
sons to come back home.
The oldest of the pastor’s sons leaves behind a wife and two young
children. The other son had three children. The elder deacon had eight
children, and his wife is due to give birth to their ninth child in
August.
Christian Aid reports that this is by no means an isolated incident. For the past few months,
church leaders from various Christian denominations have been
threatened, kidnapped, beaten, arrested, and in some instances, killed,
allegedly by pro-Russian supporters and militants. Some pastors have
fled to the western part of Ukraine.
However, Christians are still standing tall and arranging for aid to the families suffering in Ukraine. They are still providing to the Soldiers and are doing their best to aid those in need during their country’s crisis.
Be in prayer for our Christian brothers and sisters in Ukraine. They are facing a tough situation. Their country is in turmoil, starting with protests to change a government, to Russia trying to overtake them. It’s complicated and rough. Now they are facing atrocities just because they try to help those in need.
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