Praying for Ukraine

Nick Minerva • Feb 24, 2022

As I’m sure you are aware by now, Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We don’t know how this will ultimately end yet, but devastation is sure to follow. Putin has ignored global condemnation of his actions and an ever-mounting pile of sanctions and has threatened “consequences never seen” towards anyone who would interfere. Coming from a modern-day tyrant and the world leader in nuclear arms, this is concerning, to say the least. He is a murderer and tyrant and deserves universal condemnation for his actions. 


Naturally, there is a lot of confusion, anger, and even outrage over these actions. These are good and right responses. But let me encourage us to not get swept up in the political outrage we are seeing across social media. It’s natural to look for a place to vent our frustration, but none of us are experts on this situation and if you are reading this, chances are you haven’t been in situation rooms or seen the intelligence reports needed to become one. Let me encourage all of us to follow the instruction of Scripture (1 Peter 2:13-17) by honoring and praying for our President and the other leaders of our nation and the leaders of nations around the world. They need it. God has given us an outlet for the confusion, frustration, and concern that we are all facing. Prayer. 


Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.


The Bible also models for us HOW to pray. Last year I wrote an article on praying through imprecatory Psalms. In it I wrote:


“Using the language of these Psalms also helps us pray for the sin we see on a global scale. Psalm 10:12 says “Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed.” The following verses can be tremendously helpful as we pray for issues like terrorism, human trafficking, racism, or the persecuted church around the world. We can pray “God, break the arm of these wicked institutions until this sin can no longer be found.” (Psalm 10:15) Rise up and go to war against them. (Psalm 10:12) Do justice for those who are stripped away from their families and those who are oppressed. Bring the people who are involved in these evil organizations to a place of repentance before it is too late.”


We should also be in prayer for the citizens and the Church in Ukraine. Below is a list of 10 ways we can pray for this situation from sendrelief.org. Be in prayer as the Church in Ukraine seeks to be a place of refuge. These aren’t just nameless strangers. They are our family. We should applaud such courage and stand with them in prayer. 

PRAY FOR: 

1. The people of Ukraine as tension builds on the Ukraine-Russia border. Pray for strength, courage and perseverance as their home is threatened by imminent conflict. 

2. Safe passages out of conflict zones for displaced populations. 

3. Government officials to lead with wisdom in this tense time. 

4. The estimated 4 million displaced people who will be forcibly removed from their homes. Pray that in the face of conflict, they will find psychological, emotional and spiritual healing from this trauma. 

5. Soldiers on both sides of this conflict to be safe from harm. 

6. Local churches, relief workers and humanitarian aid organizations to care for what could be a massive wave of displaced peoples in Ukraine. 

7. Disciples Church in L’viv, Ukraine, and its church plant in Bryukhovychi. Many of the people there are displaced from the East. Pray for peace for these believers as they had hoped this conflict from eight years ago was over and now, they are facing it again. 

8. The Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary as it wrestles with how to assist its students in this time of crisis. 

9. Ukrainian believers as they seek to be a light in the darkness. 

10. Ukrainians who have never heard the gospel to have an opportunity to experience the hope of Jesus


Send Relief partners are also preparing to provide more food relief, continue meeting shelter needs, and offer transportation to those impacted by this crisis. You can financially be a part of that relief by clicking here. If you are financially able to do so, let me encourage you to be generous.


Throughout this crisis, there will be times when our hearts are overwhelmed. We are seeing the nation’s rage and the people plot. (Psalm 2) But let me remind you that we are not ultimately citizens of this earth. (Philippians 1:27) As such we are never without hope. Every Moment Holy is a book series of liturgies that help us remember our true hope throughout the different moments of our life. They have all these liturgies available for download on their website but there are two that are especially helpful right now that they have made available for free. 


Liturgy For Grieving a National Tragedy

Liturgy For A Time of Widespread Suffering


I would encourage you to avail yourself of these free resources and read them by yourself, with your family, or in your connection group as a way to turn your heart towards Christ and pray during this tragedy. 


Filling your mind with scripture via song is another way you can direct your heart towards Christ. Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call is a fantastic song based on Psalm 42. 

Let me encourage you to make attending your local church this Sunday a priority. Now is the time to gather and pray. At Fresno Church, we will be spending a prolonged time of prayer for human trafficking as well as the Ukrainian people. 

A Creed To Remind The Gathered Church Of Its New Life In Christ

By Nick Minerva • 14 Jul, 2023
When I was pastoring I wanted to read a blessing over the church that would remind all of us of our new life in Christ. So I wrote this new life creed and every week I would read it and remind us of what Christ had done for us. We gather together as believers professing our great need We acknowledge that we have fallen short We confess that we are rebels who have gone our own way Apart from Christ, we stand condemned, guilty, and unable to save ourselves But what we are incapable of doing, God did In his infinite love, God made a way of salvation for all who would believe Jesus willingly laid down his life and received the just punishment we deserve So that could walk in new life So yes, we confess our great need We humbly recognize that apart from Christ we are incapable of any good thing But we also proclaim that because of the finished work of the cross we will never be apart from Christ We are forever secure in the love of the Father We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit All because of the sacrifice of the Son, Jesus Christ. We are no longer in bondage to sin We are no longer facing righteous wrath We have been declared holy by our King And nothing on heaven or earth will change that reality This gathering is a testimony to our redeemed state We pursue holy living to be an authentic demonstration of the love we have for Christ We believe that we have been empowered by grace to meet our every need And we gladly anticipate the complete fulfillment of our adaption and the remaking of this world at the coming of our Lord To Christ be glory forever and ever Amen

A Praying Church: A Book Review

By Nick Minerva • 23 May, 2023
Prayer is one of those topics that always seems to convict me. I have never heard a sermon or read a book on prayer and not been challenged. Even as I am writing this review there is a bit of imposter syndrome because I know I should pray more. In A Praying Church , Paul Miller writes about how to become a people of hope in a discouraging world through prayer. And he does so in a way that was very authentic and accessible. While I was consistently challenged, I was also consistently encouraged. Throughout the book, he takes you on his journey of developing a personal prayer life plus countless stories of ministries that developed communal prayer as a vital component of their life together. One thing that struck home with me throughout these stories was the reality that prayer always grows out of desperation for God. There were several things that I found very helpful in this book. One of them was the connection between a life yielded to the Holy Spirit and a vibrant prayer life. The power to do anything of eternal importance comes from the Holy Spirit and the Spirit moves in response to prayer. Paul shows us a biblical pattern we see throughout the New Testament. Prayer-Spirit-Jesus-power. However, this is not a simple formula to get God to do what you want. Another thing I appreciated about this book is Paul tells us time and again that the Spirit often moves in ways we don’t expect and that almost always includes difficulties. The Spirit enables us to look more like Jesus and that means joining him in the fellowship of his suffering. So this is not a “how to turn God into your personal genie” scheme, like many books on prayer. God often answers in ways we don’t expect and in places we don’t anticipate. This book is also full of practical help. I’ve already mentioned the stories he tells, but Paul also offers several helpful charts, strategies, and ideas to help put into place what he writes about (and lives by.) At the end of each chapter, he has a section called “A Word To Pastors” with a few paragraphs of wisdom to help them become a person of prayer and then lead their congregation to become a church of prayer. This book also made me thankful that I am a part of a church that has sought to grow in corporate prayer over the last few years. This would be a great book for any ministry leader who is burdened with the prayer life of his or her church. But it’s also a great read for any believer seeking to develop their own prayer life. Crossway was kind to send me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can get a copy of it at the affiliate link below.

Non-Toxic Masculinity: A Book Review

By Nick Minerva • 28 Apr, 2023
Let me start this review by saying everyone should read this book. If you've grown up in Evangelicalism, you‘ve no doubt heard of purity culture. For the last several years we have seen the harm that has come as a result of this sub-group of Christianity. In Non-Toxic Masculinity, Zachary Wagner does an excellent job unpacking its teaching and the damage that has come as a result. He explains so well the angst I've been feeling with the movement and how often the Church falls short and winds up doing more damage. But unlike many critiques, this one also points a way forward. We know what toxic male sexuality looks like. We see it in the news and unfortunately, in the Church. But what does healthy male sexuality look like? What does it look like for me? What will it look like for my boys? In my heart, I know what I want it to look like, but so often I struggle to find the right words to express it. Non-Toxic Masculinity paints a healthy picture that is (re)humanizing and ultimately looks like Jesus, who, like all of us, had a sexual body. Zach is also very transparent in this book and God used his transparency to encourage, challenge, and convict me. As you read his story you will no doubt find yourself resonating with him on some level. Every man should read this book for themselves first and foremost. But if you have sons, nephews, grandsons, or young boys in your life, reading it is a must. Non-Toxic Masculinity is a breath of fresh air that will prove to be a tremendous resource for generations. Thank you Zach for writing it and sharing your story to serve us.
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