A congregation in Illinois has distributed hundreds of handmade wooden crosses for people to place in their yards as a reminder to pray for Ukrainians caught in the Russian invasion.
According to The Christian Post, East Jordan United Methodist Church of Sterling began making the white, 18-inch by 12-inch crosses in February after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Pastor Jim Miller said the church has since handed out more than 700 crosses.
“Everybody in the nation, if they got a heart, wants to do something,” Miller said. “We don’t have the wherewithal to go there and help out. Most people would be too afraid to go, but if we truly are Christian, then we believe that God will help them.
“Ukraine is tremendous as far as being a Christian nation, but they’re being persecuted,” he said. “So we decided since they can’t plant crosses, we will.”
The church offers the crosses to drivers by planting them near the church’s marquee sign, which reads, “STOP! TAKE A CROSS HOME - CHRIST IS RISEN.”
“The biggest problem we see in our human condition in this nation and for the world is that every morning, you turn on the news and you get a new crisis and our interest and our attention on the previous crisis wanes and disappears,” Miller said.
“I’m hoping that putting out the crosses will remind people of those poor people that are suffering,” he added. “Just because we might turn it off in our minds, we can’t turn their needs off.”
East Jordan is also working to gather funds for needy Ukrainians and takes up a special offering for them every Sunday. On Wednesdays, the church also holds a special meeting to pray for Ukraine.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 11,500 civilians have been killed or injured since the invasion began.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Dario Hayashi
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
