TUPELO, Miss. -- As Ukrainians continue to flee the Russian war machine -- 1.2 million have left the country, and as many as 4 million refugees are expected -- many around the world are supporting the Ukrainian effort to rid the country of the Russian invaders. For Christians, this support must include fervent prayer for the health and well-being of all those involved.
American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) recently responded to the European crisis, commenting that it is imperative for Christians worldwide to focus prayers on the fellow believers in both countries, along with lifting up their countrymen who need the Gospel.
"This tragedy in Europe seems to have awakened many people to the reality of evil," Ed Vitagliano, AFA executive vice president, stated. "They see that human wickedness can be brutal and causes so much human suffering. In response, it is a good thing to see so many Christians in America heartbroken and praying for their brothers and sisters in Ukraine. AFA encourages the church here and abroad to not only pray for peace in Ukraine and for the Ukrainians, but also for the Russian people. We all need Jesus, and the power of the gospel is the true source of hope," he said.
Ukrainians have previously faced brutal government policies enforced by a more powerful Russia, most notably during the Holodomor in the 1930s, where an estimated five million people died within four years. The Holodomor has been called "the first genocide that was methodically planned out and perpetrated by depriving the very people who were producers of food of their nourishment (for survival)." The current situation in Ukraine is startlingly reminiscent. Families are again being torn apart in yet another European war, with some staying behind to resist the invasion while others escape to refugee facilities in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and other neighboring countries.
About AFA
For more than 40 years, AFA has operated within the mission to inform, equip and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture and give aid to the church here and abroad in its task of fulfilling the Great Commission. Founded in 1977, AFA has long been on the front lines of America's culture war. Today, AFA is one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country, with nearly a million online supporters and approximately 110,000 subscribers to The Stand (formerly known as the AFA Journal), the ministry's monthly magazine. In addition, AFA owns and operates nearly 180 radio stations across the country under the American Family Radio banner.