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For Your Heart and Mind
“HOPE for our FAMILY in Ukraine”
Encouragement from Pastor David on what God is doing

The news is particularly difficult to watch these days. Almost unbearable. The brutality of Mr. Putin’s mad invasion of Ukraine quickly sickens the heart. We ask God, “How can you allow this to happen?”

In the arena of the world’s nations, Tony Abbott, former prime minister of Australia, has openly rebuked the West for its short-sighted weakness. Writing in the Wall Street Journal two weeks ago (WSJ, 02/28/22 A21), Abbott noted our recent steps of surrender. “Both militarily and culturally, we’ve been derelict in our duty to defend our civilization,” citing annual troop-reduction numbers and lowered military spending, all of which invited Putin to eventually pounce.

Even more sadly, Mr. Abbott calls out America for a pattern of retreating from risk-taking for the protective sake of others. “America’s unwillingness to take risks to protect Ukraine, a democracy of more than 40 million people, is now fueling doubts about the risks the U.S. might run to help defend other countries that were once controlled by Russia…it’s little wonder,” Abbott, observes, “Mr. Putin thinks the West is weak and easily distracted.”

OUR FAMILY IN UKRAINE

As disciples of the Lord Jesus, aware that His “body” includes brothers and sisters in war-ravaged Ukraine, we quickly wonder about those we love in the Lord there. Reports from the region reveal hearts of courage and habits of desperate prayer. Pastors in Ukraine are staying to shepherd and preach. “Pastors are not leaving the area,” reports the Sr. VP of the Baptist Union of Ukraine. “Christians are determined to take an active part in the needs of people around them” (Christianity Today news, 02/28/2022).

CAN WE HELP?

Of course, we can pray. Please do!! Join with others and seek God’s face and merciful intervention.

But we can also give. Our Free Church Outreach Committee is discussing ways we in Cañon City can respond to the need.

Our denominational fellowship, the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America, www.efca.org) has set up a Ukrainian Refugee Response fund, with a giving goal of $500,000 (cf. https://www.efca.org/ukrainian-refugee-response). So far, just over $205,000 has been given). Please visit the website and open your pocketbook.

A generous response is so much in the spirit of the New Testament. In the early church, a famine was devastating the region of Jerusalem and Palestine. Paul began asking the churches around the Roman Empire to collect a gift for providing relief. To spur the Corinthians Paul wrote: As you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you – see that you excel in this act of grace (giving) also…(let) your abundance at the present time supply their need” (2 Corinthians 8:7,14).

As we come to worship this Sunday, let’s be ready both to praise God for His goodness to us and to pray earnestly for His provision for our fellow Christians in Ukraine. May God’s grace flow through us in this time of sobering challenge.

On Sunday morning, March 13, you will find in our bulletin a PRAYER GUIDE for praying over the next 3 months for our Senior Pastor search effort.

In the month of March, we’ll be asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in selecting a search team.

In the month of April, we’ll be asking for the Spirit’s guidance and discernment for the team which He has designated. The search process can be very challenging, and requires much discernment and wisdom.

In the month of May, we’ll continue to support the search team in prayer, but also leaning in to ask the Lord to identify for us – in these late spring and early summer months – qualified candidates, and specifically, the one whom the Lord would have for us.

Please take note of the inserted guide, and join us both this weekend, and in the months to come, in a unified, focused prayer effort. Thank you so much.

Daylight Savings Time Is Here!

This Sunday at the Free Church

For more information, find our website at www.efreechurch.org