Ukraine

On Monday, over 260 Ukrainian fighters abandoned the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, Ukraine, as Russia prepared to capture the port city.

On Sunday, Evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization Samaritan's Purse airlifted 28 Ukrainian refugees to safety in Toronto, Canada, from Poland.

That the US has been and continues to walk a very fine line in Ukraine does not mean that what the government is doing to support their defense is wrong. There are very good reasons to oppose Russia’s aggression and attempts to claim land over which they have no right. That said, it would be naïve to assume that the conflict in Ukraine will stay in Ukraine. Maybe it will, but every choice our government makes should be weighed against the possibility that it will provoke something more. I bring all of this up today as a reminder that the biblical command to “pray for all people,” and specifically “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” is just as relevant and important for us today as it was for the first generations of Christians (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Russians, like in so many other European nations, simply aren’t having enough babies. The country’s population is shrinking by more than a hundred thousand people a year, with no clear end in sight. Some parts of the country are simply becoming devoid of people. According to West, about 20,000 Russian villages have been abandoned in recent years, with tens of thousands closely following. This is a factor that could ultimately affect the outcome of the war.

In this time of widespread deception and the rise of authoritarianism, it’s difficult to know where to turn for the truth or security. But please don't imagine that Russian tanks are a greater force than the Spirit of God. I assure you they are not. The threats of dictators—no matter the nation—do not intimidate our Lord, but they do create instability in our world. But in those struggles, there are opportunities. That is the story of Scripture.

On Sunday, which was Mother's Day, First Lady Jill Biden made an unannounced visit to Ukraine to express her support for the Ukrainian people amid the war with Russia.

This week, Russia’s foreign minister warned that a nuclear conflict “should not be underestimated,” adding that the violence could spiral into World War III.

"I'm grateful that music is a healer," Smith said "You know, it always has been. I'm just praying that this song will give these people some hope. And that they'll be able to come back stronger than ever, and that this war will end."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is asking President Joe Biden to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

On Sunday, Evangelist Franklin Graham delivered a Gospel message during a special Easter service in Lviv, Ukraine.