Ukrainian Baptists aks Russian Baptist brothers for help towards peace

For nine years, Ukraine has been suffering from armed aggression by the Russian Federation, the appeal reads. And on February 24th, 2022, "a full-scale invasion of the territory of Ukraine by Russian troops under the guise of a so-called "special military operation" began. As it has already become obvious, the "operation" has turned into a destructive and bloody war to completely destroy Ukraine as an independent state and subordinate the Ukrainian people to the complete control of Russia."

The Ukrainian Baptists further state that all churches were deprived of legal rights when under occupation. Furthermore, the Baptist Union was called an extremist organisation.

Missionary

Although the Ukrainian Union sent hundreds of Ukrainian families to Russia for missionary work, the warm feelings for the countries are not being returned by their Russian brothers, they write. "The Russian brotherhood at the congress in 2014 welcomes "the return of Crimea to its home port" and prays for "an end to the intra-Ukrainian conflict." Confirming the state policy of seizing foreign territories." They continue by stating that it is "difficult for us to understand and accept statements that you are "out of politics" and at the same time sign a political statement about "discrimination of the Orthodox in Ukraine", while in the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine the "new power" destroys and closes houses of prayer, arrests and asks church pastors and bombs, including Orthodox churches."

The Ukrainian Union concludes that it perceives the current position of many Russian ministers as "unacceptable and irresponsible". "We urge you to realise your responsibility before God - to be a prophetic voice in your country and this sinful world. We urge you to uphold the principles of freedom and human rights, which have always been characteristic of ministers of Evangelical-Baptist churches.

We pray for you with pain in our hearts, aware of the situation in which EHB churches in Russia may find themselves. We believe the Lord will help His Church pass through this difficult and responsible time."