Ukrainians in Diaspora #3
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By Tom Boone
Associate Director for Mission
We think we have lost our homes, but in Jesus, our home is always secure (Sermon on Sunday 6/12 by Pastor Saulius Karosas, City Church). Under normal circumstances, such words would likely have passed almost unheard as predictable preaching. Yet, sitting in worship being interpreted in Russian, Ukrainian, and English while surrounded by grandmothers and mothers with eyes welling with tears, such words took on fresh meaning. “In my Father’s house there are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). Our homes are destroyed, but Jesus has made a home for us with the Father that Putin can never destroy.
Move deeper with me and my people. Several times, the Holy Spirit has tugged at our spirits to go more deeply with him because we showed up. Like Jack Baca coming up to Saul who stood frozen without words while trying to lead an online prayer service for Ukraine. Like Josh playing his guitar and singing a song about hope for a small group of Ukrainians in a language they did not understand, mesmerized. Like Lisa finding connection through her broken Russian language speaking with three grandmothers weepingly telling of their villages in Eastern Ukraine being destroyed – they have nothing to which to return. Like Noura, our student from Syria, embracing three Ukrainian women out of their shared experiences of cruel suffering – we are sisters.
It was difficult to leave worship this morning. These dear friends at City Church are our touchpoints with Ukrainians, we are so thankful for them! Thank you, Lord, that you have invited us to be part of this.
Two hours later we were visiting what has become a significant place of pilgrimage in Lithuania. The Hill of Crosses has for decades stood as a witness of the church that perseveres. Tens of thousands of crosses, maybe a hundred thousand, planted by people from around the world on a small Golgotha-sized mound of dirt. A proclamation that before there can be triumph, there must come suffering – and God is mysteriously present. Plowed over several times by Russia during the Soviet era, it has become a symbol of peaceful resistance to evil. A nation saying By God, you will not destroy us. The war in Ukraine has given this sacred space fresh meaning, and for 30 minutes we lingered there. Move deeper with me and my people.
Hope, Jesus, faith, perseverance, anger, peace, mystery, the cross, suffering, frustration. Such were our one-word summaries of this experience; it is clear that the Spirit is stirring something in each of us.
