Note: since recording this video, the short term team in Israel has safely left the country.
As we continue to look for ways to share our corporate story across Canada, would you consider sharing this video with your church and constituents? I believe it is important for us to hear and see just a small portion of the way Jesus is working among us, and this is one way me might do so. You could share all or part of this video in your church, or include it in a newsletter or other update rhythm as appropriate. Thank you in advance for considering this and participating in this important way. I trust you'll be encouraged.
~darren
Download the video here.
Thank you again for the trust and generosity towards our Global Emergency Response Fund.
Transcript:
Rev. Darren Herbold:
Hi, everyone.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was extra special for Naomi and I to have our kids with us, and I saw many of your posts on Facebook and Insta pictures highlighting similar moments. Time spent with our loved ones, family, and friends provides opportunities to reflect on the many gifts the Lord has given us … and how much we have to be thankful for,…especially in light of the terrible conflict we are watching unfold with attacks occurring in Israel and their response in Gaza.
I want to provide you with two important updates related to the conflict in Israel and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The events of the last few days have been distressing to watch, and it is challenging to comprehend the suffering endured by so many. Processing this on the backdrop of a Thanksgiving weekend, where we have so much and are enjoying the peace we have in our country, can be jarring, can’t it? And yet, because of Jesus, we are a people of hope. A few verses that come to my mind this morning are:
- 1 Peter 4:12 where we are reminded that as followers of Jesus we are not to be caught off guard by suffering.
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – We are to use our experiences of suffering as a basis to comfort others…in fact, it says our comfort abounds through Christ”
- And of course, Heb 12:1-3 – that we continually fix our eyes on Jesus and as we do, we do not grow weary or lose heart
I want to let you know that our International Worker couple in Israel is safe. We currently have a team in Jerusalem, who is also safe and trying to get on a plane scheduled to depart in the next day or so.
Alliance Canada, I want to personally thank you for your generosity in giving to our Global Emergency Response Fund. This fund is a vital tool for us to corporately respond with humanitarian aid to crises worldwide—for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus and alleviate suffering. Over the past two years, over $1 million has been given, so far, toward helping the most vulnerable in many, many ways. Thank you for your continued generosity.
This week, I had the profound privilege of spending time with our Polish partners and pastors who help facilitate the emergency response and aid being provided to Ukraine and the Ukrainian church during this protracted war. While we continue to hear countless stories about profoundly challenging and difficult situations, they shared with us deep stories of hope—Jesus is alive, working, and expanding His Church in Ukraine and around the world! The more they shared, the more excited and encouraged I became as they reflected on the God we serve, the God who can do more than we ask or imagine, Our God who is unmoved and unhindered by circumstances, no matter how challenging.
I know that some of our pastors have also seen firsthand the incredible work that is being done. And I want you to be encouraged, too, so let me share two stories of hope in the face of so much uncertainty:
First, when the war in Ukraine began, many people understandably fled. Numerous churches, even well-established churches, saw 50-90% of their congregations literally disappear overnight as people sought the security of regional countries and other areas. These pastors reported that many of these churches now have congregations of equal size or even greater than when the war began. Not because people have returned but because new people have found the hope and peace that can only be found in Jesus. Incredible! Please pray for new leaders to be raised up, as much of the church in Ukraine is now filled with new believers. These are great days in difficult times.
Second, just prior to the war, there was a new church being built in a very developed town just outside of Kiev, located in what the pastors described as “the blocks,” which is an area of high-density apartment buildings. They explained how, before the war, the community had complained about this new church because of the increased traffic, noise, and many other reasons they did not want this facility in their neighbourhood.
For context, it is important to understand that this church was being built between two buildings. On one side of the church is a very large school. On the other side, there are multiple apartment complexes. The war started, and during the fighting, a massive bomb was dropped on the school beside the church (both were empty at the time). The school and the surrounding area was utterly destroyed—except for the church, which remained standing. Yes, the windows were blown out, not only was the church still standing, but it had also taken the brunt of the shockwave and completely protected the many people living in the apartment complexes on the other side of this church! The community was amazed.
In my mind, I was thinking, that’s a miracle, that’s so amazing….and then the pastors said, stopping me in mid-thought…, “While this is miraculous, what is even more miraculous is that since the bombing happened, more than 500 days ago, and that church has been holding service with people coming, not just coming, but on many days packing out this church for more than 500 days straight—and still going!
Alliance Canada, we are witnessing God answer our Vision Prayer—multiplying disciples everywhere—and it is being answered in ways we would never have imagined!
I am filled with many emotions these days, as I am sure you are too. My heart is being turned increasingly to prayer: for the needs in our churches, personal difficulties, the need for Jesus in our communities, and for His saving love to be known globally.
With all this in mind, I am asking us today, this week, perhaps in a fresh way, to fix our eyes on Jesus, to not grow weary or lose heart, to proclaim, just like Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles that, “we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
As I sign off, would you be encouraged by the current story, just a day or so old, by a new Ukrainian believer.
Bill Finnemore:
Hi, everybody. I'm standing in front of one of our partner churches here in San Dimas, Poland. 17 months ago, this church received a number of women who had fled the war in Ukraine. This morning, I sat down with one of them, Genya, who we interviewed at that time, and asked her the question, What's changed in your life since coming here?
Genya:
A lot of things changed in my life, not on the accommodation, not only my surrounding friends and so on. I met so great people here, Christian people. I wasn't a believer before. Really. Never. I heard the church in the park and every time I walked past, they said poor guys. So they're like, broken. So that's why they can't deal with their things.
So they need to find god, well, okay, it's just, you know, I was so always skeptical. Well, but when I came here, I was suspicious. Why these people help me? Why—-why did you come and do the video? And the video? And so and on. But just understand, I have never met Christians before. Maybe it's funny, but my mind I couldn't believe that people can have this open heart. They can help. And so on.
So now I am a believer. I get baptized a few months ago. 11 of June. Well, so this my. My heart. This why my heart is full of joy. Like, is it an in my life really, really changed. And, you know, not only the material things.
It's very good. And thank you very much for now all people foundation that they gave us visibility. We have food. We have, you know, place to live a safe place to stay. And my kids, they they're happy. They can sleep in a good environment. And they know for sure that tomorrow they can wake up, and they will have breakfast, and go to school.
It's simple, but very important, amazing things.
Bill Finnemore:
Genya It's great to hear how God's been working in your life. And yeah, and, and I just want you folks back in Canada. I know this, this is a short video. We could talk much, much longer. But please continue to pray. Pray Genya is just one woman amongst literally thousands in this situation separated from family. But it's great to hear how God's work in your life and he's just giving you a new life.
And so we're so thankful for that.
Genya:
And he gives me support Before that was from, you know, this society, from my husband. But now I have God's support. So that's why I live in, you know, this joy, happiness. Yeah. To do it, to serve other people, to say yes to glorify. It's an amazing experience.
Bill Finnemore:
Well, thank you for telling your story today.
Genya:
Thank you very much.
Bill Finnemore:
Okay. So please keep praying. And please don't forget what's going on here and how the church together is is reaching people, not just with the material help, but with the gospel and bringing new life.