Shoulder To Shoulder #1280 -- 2/28/22 ---- "The Future Interrupted By War"
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER is a weekly letter of encouragement Bob has written since 1997, covering many topics selected to
motivate people to be strong students of the Word and courageous witnesses of Jesus Christ. It is a personal letter of
encouragement to you, written solely to help "lift up hands that hang down".
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." -- Albert Einstein
“There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have -- a cheap Christianity which offends nobody,
and requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing, -- and is worth nothing.” – J. C. Ryle
Shoulder To Shoulder #1280 -- 2/28/22
Title: "The Future Interrupted By War"
My Dear Friend and Fellow Kingdom Seeker:
By now you will understand what has been capturing our attention the past week -- that despicable invasion by Russian president Vladimir Putin. Nothing like this "scorched earth" act has taken place anywhere in the world since World War II and Hitler's demonic attack on Europe. Even as I have been trying to write, there have been dozens of e-mails, Facebook messages, and phone calls from so many whom we hold dear in our hearts.
As you can rightly conclude, our hearts are heavy -- almost beyond bearing -- and our minds fully occupied with what is happening in Ukraine just now.We have many, many, many dear friends and former colleagues who are being dramatically impacted by Putin's invasion. Some of our friends have relocated to other countries or to outlying areas away from the major cities. We have been unable to have contact with many of them, but with others we've been able to keep up to date somewhat via various social media channels.
So, today I am again interrupting our study on "Facing the Future With Fortitude", for it seems the future has now arrived right in our faces. I do not have it in me to try to do justice to the remaining three areas in which we must live with consistency. Hopefully next week I will resume it.
In the meantime, I want to accomplish two things ---- give you some good sources I know of to which you or those you know might like to offer financial aid that will go directly to the victims who are suffering from this war; and list some of our friends for whom I'd like to ask you to pray.
SOURCES FOR GIVING:
We’re getting numerous questions about how to give funds to help the citizens of Ukraine. Unfortunately, there are scammers trying to take advantage of the situation and make a financial killing. You need to be extremely careful in your choice, but we would definitely urge you to give. Just be sure you find the right one.
Look for speed in getting funds "on the ground" and look for the level of "administrative costs" that are withheld by the organization. Here are some that we know of, listing those we know will get "on the ground" quickly:
+ Arise Ukraine -- https://ariseukr.com/
+ One Challenge International -- (Joel and Ira Colon are associated with this ministry. Write "Ukraine Relief Fund" on any check's memo line) -- https://missionalchallenge.com/oc-international/
+ Feed the Hungry -- https://www.feedthehungry.org/ukraine-emergency-aid
+ International Fellowship of Christians and Jews -- https://www.ifcj.org/
+ World Help -- https://worldhelp.net
+ SendRelief -- An SBC humanitarian ministry jointly enacted by the IMB and NAMB of the SBC -- https://www.sendrelief.org/ (select the Ukraine fund)
+ GiveSendGo -- A fundraising organization available instead of GoFundMe -- https://www.givesendgo.com/
+ Samaritan's Purse – Franklin Graham's renowned ministry -- http://www.samaritanspurse.org
+ Convoy of Hope -- an Assembly of God outreach humanitarian ministry -- https://convoyofhope.org/
+ Operation Blessing -- CBN network outreach -- http://www.ob.org
We don’t trust GoFundMe anymore, so are not listing it as an option. Obviously we also do not recommend any of the United Nations programs because you end up supporting things potentially against your values.
There are also some reliable "on the ground" organizations and publications that will provide up-to-date information about the war and other important news items. Here are some you might consider:
+ Kyiv Post (an English newspaper we've received since we lived there) -- https://www.kyivpost.com/
+ EuroMaidan Press (a new one we just learned of that was formed after the 2014 Maidan uprising following Russia's invasion of Crimea) -- https://euromaidanpress.com/
SOME OF OUR FRIENDS IN HARMS WAY:
Jo Ann and I have lost count of how many friends we actually have in Ukraine, but they number in the hundreds. For the past several days we have been trying to make contact with as many as possible, knowing that we will surely miss someone we intended to contact. We've not heard from everyone we're tried to contact, but from some. I wish I had time to tell you about them all -- Zhenia, Valentina, Vitaliy, "M", Ira, "Helen", Masha, Anna, Maxim, Vlad, Vlada, . . . . the list is endless.
In addition there are many others who are expats or missionaries -- Paul and Nastya, Charles and Ira, "M" and Iryna, Joel and "Erena", Paul P. and his family, . . . again, the list is endless.
We have learned of the whereabouts of some of them, but not all. It seems that most of those with whom we've had contact have been able to get to other countries -- especially Moldova, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia,and Germany -- but others are still in Ukraine. Several of them are in very close proximity to the bombing. I just finished messaging with "Helen" and found that she and her mother have left Irpin where heavy bombing has taken place and are now with Masha in an 8th floor apartment in Kyiv. That's not a good place to be.
Today has been a whirlwind of trying to make contact, do searches, keep up with the news, messaging, writing/answering e-mails, and so forth. Frankly, my mind feels like a "whirling dervish" and I just want to throw up my hands and quit. But, I cannot do that because I want our friends connected with Ukraine in any way to know how much we care and how hard we are praying.
Here is an update from one of dearest friends and her husband that came to us Tuesday morning. Irena (Ira to us) and Joel are a missionary couple we've been personally supporting for several years. She is Ukrainian from a wonderful pastor's home, and Joel is American who comes from an American missionary's home. They met in our apartment when we were considering planting a new international church in Kyiv. They have a missionary training ministry in Ukraine where they train young men and women to become evangelists, missionaries, and church planters in other countries, primarily throughout eastern Europe and Eurasia. It is clear to see the wear and tear on their faces, as they try to "keep their heads down" while continuing to minister to the hurting and suffering people around them. Check out her brief report at https://www.facebook.com/irena.savochka/posts/10160043370412082 and then add them to your long prayer list.
I have posted numerous times on my Facebook page, so if you are interested -- even if you're not one of my Facebook friends -- you should be able to access it. My Facebook page is found at https://www.facebook.com/bob.tolliver.52.
Let me ask that you pray specifically for the following:
+ Paul and Nastya Logan with Arise Ukraine (I think safe in Moldova, but still many staffers and volunteers in Ukraine)
+ "M" and Iryna, coordinator of Farsi ministry and directors of a major Christian translating service (still in Ukraine in far west)
+ Charles and Ira Bell, with Kyiv Christian Academy (made it to Moldova)
+ Vitaliy and Liudmila Babych, key leader in both churches I pastored (still in Ukraine, in western area)
+ Helen Marchenko, first person baptized in our second church (still in Kyiv in dangerous area)
+ Masha Kolos, key leader in Spanish church (still in Kyiv in dangerous area)
+ Galena Bondar and daughters, members of first church I pastored (whereabouts unknown)
+ Nikolay Karpan, member of first church I pastored (whereabouts unknown)
+ Joel and Ira Colon, helped establish Spanish church and KIBC, and Ira was my translator (too close to Kyiv for comfort ministering to others)
+ "M2" and family, major leader in Farsi ministry (in Romania enroute to Germany)
+ Anna and family, key leader in Spanish church (in an undisclosed area for security reasons)
+ Vlada Boute and family, a young lady we met in a restaurant who came to Christ (in Russia with family)
+ Randy and Annette Hillebrand, friends and key leaders with a major ministry (currently in Africa trying to get to Poland)
+ Paul and Christine Pierquet, lead pastor at International Christian Assembly Church, Kyiv (whereabouts unknown)
I know I've left out many more I could list, but, frankly I'm spent. My mind is a fog, and it is nearing the day's end.
PRAY!!!!
Putin has become a madman who reminds many people of Hitler. I've been asking God how to pray for this situation. So far, here's what I feel He is telling me:
1. Pray for safety and protection over innocent people in Ukraine.
2. Pray that God blinds the eyes of Russian forces so that they do not see the Ukrainians. Pray that He brings conviction and remorse upon them. Pray that more and more of them will do as others have and either sabotage their own equipment (punching holes in gas tanks, etc.) and then defecting or surrendering.
3. Pray that God covers Ukraine with His hands and myriads of angels to protect the people.
4. Pray that supplies to Russian troops will continue to be destroyed, delayed, or held back.
5. Pray that God will use this horrendous event to rally the nations of the world around truth, justice, and freedom.
6. Pray that someone in Russia has the courage to stop Putin and his supporters.
7. Pray that God will touch the hearts of Christians around the world with such intensity and conviction that they cry out to Him in desperation.
With that, I have nothing left to give. You might pray for us along the way as well.
In His Bond, By His Grace, and for His Kingdom,
Bob Tolliver -- Romans 1:11
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." -- Dr. Luke (Acts 17:11)
"A fire kept burning on the hearthstone of my heart, and I took up the burden of the day with fresh courage and hope." -- Charles F. McKoy
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Copyright March, 2022
"If Jesus had preached the same message that many ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified." -- Leonard Ravenhill
"The time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the Church will have clowns entertaining the goats." -- Charles H. Spurgeon
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