A Call For Unity(Forgive me Lord)

It seems The Lord has put it on my heart, to release some things, that are in my heart, before the close of this year.

The following post will not be the theme of this blog. Except for the unity part. Like my post the other day, I believe that this post is just a type of bridge from what once was acceptable for me to put up here, and what I know The Lord is calling us to enter into.......
Sometimes we see others with similar, deep, heart felt passions about the change that we desperately need in the church, and we connect with them in our hearts. However, if their beliefs have thrown the baby away with the bath water, and totally disregard a huge part of doctrine and scripture, just to prove their point, then it is error, no matter how successful they are, or how many people have connected with them.


They are doing the same thing they started off to correct. They are building a following and a gathered group around their theology. I don’t care if you call it The House Church, The Emergent Church, The Universal Body of Christ, ETC. If it cast off the need for a Pastor or if states there is no authority structure in The Church then it is all off.

I will say, that I agree with much of what this type of belief system states. Some of the core passions are good, GREAT actually. Some of the truths they reveal are 100% true and are 100% the change we need in The Church. They hit it where it needs to be hit, but then miss terribly where WE CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS IT.

I WILL ALSO SAY: I don’t necessarily believe that the commonly held authority structure in most churches today is what The Lord intended, but for other reasons, that are more natural than spiritual. I believe the things that I see, as error, are having a terrible detrimental effect on The Church.

However, and this is where the irony comes in, I believe, that the structure of leadership that we have now, is actually keeping truly called and truly anointed Ministers that are called to be The Apostle, The Prophet, The Evangelist, The Pastor and The Teacher from ever realizing or reaching their call. Matter of fact, I believe that many are lost or left to follow extremes, especially that of The Prophet and The Evangelist, because of the narrow and erroneous way most of our churches are structured.

I will not go in details here. Because I cant tell you how I would “fix it”. It is not that easy. With every answer, there arises a new question of whether that change is balanced or not.

I want to state that again:

I cant tell you how I would “fix it”. It is not that easy.

I am not one to debate much or argue. With every point, one could make, there can be a counter point. No side wins in any of this. The ones that are harmed are the sheep.

That goes for every error and fight in The Church world today. The Leaders are not losing. The TV minster that spews all sorts of non-sense about the triple top secret, doubled green prayer cloth, Teflon anointing isn’t losing out. He is rolling to the bank everyday fleecing the sheep with that non-sense.

You think that late night preacher, that seems to always be camping (as close as I will come to naming names) cares if you buy into his theology, or lack there of. Nope, he is getting paid, he could care less, but he is extorting The Kingdom and her precious people. He will answer for it someday.

On The Flip side: Do you think the Pastor in a poor and closed nation that watches his precious ones die from lack of food, medicine or safety, cares a bit about our little theological debates? Think he is real concerned, when he sees another baby die, or another church burned, about whether or not a celebrity preacher gets offended or "persecuted", for being rich? Let that sink in.

If you have maids, a mansion, perks of a multi million dollar businessman, then please don’t ever talk publicly about “sacrifice” and “suffering” for the Gospel. You slap your comrades in the face, which are actually suffering, being persecuted and dying, every time you do that.

We just have to turn some luxury ships into war supply ships with captains that can live down on earth, lead by example, train the troops and live a humble life, like most of their crew.

Counter that thought with this:

Who are we harming when we pull down one of those celebrity ministers or the pastor of a "mega-church"?

Many of them have been the source of great blessing to those who are hurting. Many people are lifted out of deep pits of depression because of the call on these ministers’ lives.

The Lord has used their television ministries to prevent some from committing suicide, to reach into prisons and into the lives of people that are home bound.

New believers are blessed mightily through their ministries. Many have the door opened to accepting Christ. Some of these ministers that we like to target, have a real call and a real anointing to destroy strongholds and roadblocks people have in their souls and minds.

So who do we harm by making them out to be "apostates" or wolves in sheep’s clothing, or any other silly name some extreme "church police" website can call them......

We only harm the sheep, the babes in Christ and ourselves.

I always seem to be placed squarely in the middle of a battle that should not be. Trying, praying and interceding for the Army of The Lord to turn their swords away from each other and toward their common enemy!

I have from time to time been pulled into the battle and have joined forces with one side or the other. However we can’t afford that anymore, especially those of us with a call to prayer.

It is such a shame, that instead of allowing The Lord to bring our passions together, so that we can accomplish His Mission, we have allowed them to separate us.

We have been so bogged down by religious tradition, a warped sense of what authority means and our own personal missions against error, we have become ships anchored, hindered and worn out by weights, we were never meant to be carrying as part of our load.

Mutiny of true leadership structure and Authority is a spiritual crime that only harms the ones we should be protecting.

Forgive me LORD.

Randy S Furco

Strengthen That Which Remains

The Letters To The Churches
Coming to age
The question being answered
Why do the nations rage

Today Is The Day

This post is a little different than I usually post on here. It started as a personal note to myself.

However, I just have a sense that it will bless others as well. I believe that there are many others at the cross roads of decision.

I believe many ministries and ministers are at this cross roads. To radically forge ahead. Or not.

Today Is The Day.

We answer to The Lord and The Lord alone for our obedience to His Call. One thing I learned after the incident the other night, is that even those you have prayed with and labored for, can not give you an answer that will trump your obedience.

That episode, although was not life threatening, mimicked the last moments of life for many that have passed on in similar ways, taken in a moment.

Even the words, that I fought using, as I was gripped by fear and did not want to tell my wife that something was seriously wrong, burned into my heart. I have heard so many times that the last words of a man to his wife were "honey something is wrong", right before they collapsed and died. I tear up even now remembering those words coming out of my mouth, right before I collapsed to the ground and laid there unconscious.

Thanks be to God that what happened only mimicked the worst and was just a culmination of something that has been building, non life threatening, for quite some time.

I share this with you, not to illicit an emotional response for me, however I pray that it is causing the reader to have an emotional response, that will lead to a response of obedience, in any area of disobedience they may be walking in and putting off for another day.

That day may never come if you don't decide: Today is That Day.

You may find yourself launching in obedience alone, with no one giving a word of encouragement or offering a word of prayer. Those that you once labored with and for may seem to have abandoned you. But be faithful to the call.

As I sit here at work, on Christmas morning, instead of with my family, I had a revelation that I am in this situation not because of anyone else, not because of some mysterious plan God has to test me until I break.

But because, after many warnings and exhortations, I looked to man to confirm, and make a way , for the call on my life, instead of trusting God and God alone.

I realize that my bitterness and anger toward those around me, fully lies within me, and that they are at no fault for it.

I realize that, although I do not believe the same way about how leaders are chosen and trained for FT ministry, as most of the western church does, what they do or do not do, will have no place, when I stand and answer for what I did with the precious gifts and grace, The Lord gave me for His Body.

The Lord has highlighted to me three men and their ministries. I will not use their names because I did not ask. What these three men have in common is that they followed the call on their heart, they did not wait for any man to tell them to "go", they went when The Lord told them to "go". From what I have observed, they would have obeyed no matter what any man said.Today is the day to obey.

You have to decide, I have to decide, that today is the day.

Choose This Day!!!!!!!!

 

The Manifold Wisdom of God

You can't separate Gods Wisdom from Gods Power. Nor can you separate Gods Power from Gods Wisdom. A man that would send his soldiers into battle, with no weapons or authority, would be considered a fool. Also a man that would give great weapons and authority, to soldiers with no training or command structure above them, would also be considered a fool.

God is no fool.


Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.


Ephesians 3:10-11(NIV)

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.      

Prophetic Word

He shall penetrate the darkness with A Great Burst of Light!!


We must prepare our hearts for The World to change suddenly and dramatically. Do not hold on to those things that are passing. Do not hold to the pattern of this worlds thinking. Do not put your hope in the systems of man.

There is coming a revealing that will cause the forces of darkness to come against the hearts of men like never before. The multitudes will be looking for answers. They will be looking for hope. They will be looking to escape the fear and wickedness that will grip the hearts and minds of wicked.

We must allow a place of refuge. We must open our hearts and doors to all who come seeking The Lord, seeking refuge, no matter what they look like, what sin they have been trapped in, or how confused they may be.

Set your face like flint!

Walk, Live and move in The Spirit.
Every minister must know how to walk in The Spirit.


I hear a roar 
Like never before

I see an event, that will bring  fear to His Name
A Burst of Light 
Then nothing will be the same

I hear a cry
A cry for help
A cry for supply
A cry for provision
A cry for hope!!!

The Letters To The Churches
Coming to age
The question being answered
Why do the nations rage


A Burst of Light 
Then nothing will be the same

A Burst of Light 
Then nothing will be the same

A Few More Preperations. Pray!

   He shall penetrate the darkness with A Great Burst Of Light!!

The Almighty With Us-Jesus

If you know who He is: You will know what He is more than Willing, and Full of Ability to DO!



===================================
He isn't laying in a trough!
Or hanging on a cross!

He sits as LORD!
Looking to Demonstrate and Fulfill His WORD!!!!
===================================

Revelation 1:1-8
New Living Translation (NLT)

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia.

Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven.

And everyone will see him—
even those who pierced him.

And all the nations of the world
will mourn for him.
Yes! Amen!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”



JOHN 1:1-16
New Living Translation (NLT)


In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.  The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.



Luke 1:31-33
Amplified Bible (AMP)

And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David,

And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end.



Palm 46:6-11
New Living Translation (NLT)

The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!

God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.

He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
He burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.



Revelation 21:6
New Living Translation (NLT)

And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.


Revelation 22:12-13
New Living Translation (NLT)

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Battle In Prayer

As people who minister in the ministry of Prayer we can't afford to get involved in battles that are not ours to fight.

The outcome depends on our messages getting through. Focus!

Colossians 4:12-13

New Living Translation (NLT)

12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Colossians 4:12-13

Amplified Bible (AMP)

12 Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you earnestly in his prayers, [pleading] that you may [as persons of ripe character and clear conviction] stand firm and mature [in spiritual growth], convinced and fully assured in everything willed by God.

13 For I bear him testimony that he has labored hard in your behalf and for [the believers] in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

Colossians 4:12-13

New International Version (NIV)

12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Daniel 10

New Living Translation (NLT)

Daniel’s Vision of a Messenger

1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.

2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.

4 On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.

7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 

9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.

10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees.11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word.16 Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”

18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning.19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”

As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

20 He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.

My Blog Is Changing

I am in the process of changing the look of my blog. Some past post will not look right. My son has tried to get me to switch to Word Press, however I am a Blogspot Blogger. :)

         God Bless!! 2014 Shall an Amazing Year!!!!!

Biblical Social Ministry

Below are some scriptures that paint a picture and that The Lord has highlighted to me as The Answer that so many outreach ministries are seeking. Soon outreach ministry, apart from The Real Power and Anointing of The Holy Spirit, will become acts of desperation rather than being Empowered Ministries of The Lords Body.

More to come as The Lord Reveals the Mission and Path of Acts 10:38 Ministries!



Acts 10:36-38
Amplified Bible (AMP)

You know the contents of the message which He sent to Israel, announcing the good news (Gospel) of peace by Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all—

The [same] message which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee after the baptism preached by John—

How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.

Luke 10:30-35

New Living Translation

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.  The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

Mark 16:15-20
New King James Version (NKJV)

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.



Matthew 28:18-20
New King James Version (NKJV)

 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.


Luke 10:17
Amplified Bible (AMP)

The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!



Mark 6:33-44
New King James Version (NKJV)

 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. So they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.



Acts 19:11-20
New King James Version (NKJV)

Miracles Glorify Christ

 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was Magnified.  

And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

Pray For Them

Okay Prayer Warriors. This is where the rubber meets the road. Pray. As Christians we must always remember to see with the eyes of The Spirit. Politics mean nothing to us in prayer.

God is moving in Ukraine. In turn the enemy is stirring up chaos, just as he did every time we see mighty moves of God in The Bible.

Pray this scripture over Ukraine and her Church.

Let a man like Joseph arise that will have access and favor with the Authorities, so that favor will be shown to The Church, and the government will not want to crack down on her because of fear.

Let them know that by allowing people to have freedom of worship and religion, they are bringing good to their nation.




Isaiah 14:24-27

The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying,
“ Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass,
And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:
That I will break the Assyrian in My land,
And on My mountains tread him underfoot.
Then his yoke shall be removed from them,
And his burden removed from their shoulders.
This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth,
And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
For the LORD of hosts has purposed,
And who will annul it?
His hand is stretched out,
And who will turn it back?”

Ukraine: divided

PUBLISHED BY RUTH KRAMER ON DECEMBER 12, 2013 BY RUTH KRAMER

(Photo courtesy Ivan Bandura/Flickr/CC)

Ukraine (MNN) — A love-hate relationship with Mother Russia is dividing Ukraine.

Thousands of demonstrators have been camped out in snow-covered Independence Square for days, angry about the refusal of Ukraine’s Russian-allied President, Viktor Yanukovych, to sign an agreement that would strengthen cooperation with the European Union.

Late Wednesday, police used force as they swept through the Square in an effort to clear it of demonstrators. Undeterred by the crackdown, by dawn protesters had rebuilt barricades.

Slavic Gospel Association spokesman Joel Griffith says although the situation is fluid, “Police appear to have actually abandoned their attempt, for the time being, to dislodge the protestors from Independence Square and some of the other places they’re at in Kiev.”

(Photo courtesy Ivan Bandura/Flickr/CC)

(Screen grab courtesy ukrstream.tv)

It also prompted a chorus of condemnation from Western leaders. The United States Department of State issued a statement expressing its “disgust with the decision of Ukrainian authorities to meet the peaceful protest in Kyiv’s Maidan Square with riot police, bulldozers, and batons, rather than with respect for democratic rights and human dignity. This response is neither acceptable nor does it befit a democracy.”

The statement went on to say, “We call for utmost restraint. Human life must be protected. Ukrainian authorities bear full responsibility for the security of the Ukrainian people. As church bells ring tonight amidst the smoke in the streets of Kyiv, the United States stands with the people of Ukraine. They deserve better.”

Griffith adds, “From the perspective of the churches there, our brothers and sisters are very concerned that this doesn’t turn into violence and bloodshed. It really is a very dangerous situation right now, and we’re in a lot of prayer over it.”

SGA’s regional ministry center is in a suburb of Kiev. Their function is to come alongside the indigenous church with support and resourcing. However, the latest developments have been unnerving, admits Griffith. “The concern that they have of course, if this violence escalates, and you begin to see these sorts of political crackdowns, where does it end? They certainly don’t want to see violence or bloodshed on any account, but if this ends up somehow causing further restrictions on access, restrictions on freedom, who knows where it would lead?”

(Photo courtesy Ivan Bandura/Flick/CC)

Past history of the region bears out those concerns. Crackdowns on protestors sometimes lead to crackdowns on anything the State sees as a potential risk, especially after a period of revolt. Griffith says believers are wondering, “Would this, in turn, lead to an eventual crackdown on the churches? Would the government see the Church as some sort of threat? It remains to be seen.”

There still is religious freedom in Ukraine, but the instability creates concerns for community access. SGA hopes to continue their work in supporting the local churches. For that reason, Griffith says they’re praying for cooler heads to prevail. “Pray that the churches would be protected, because they certainly don’t want to be caught in the middle of a political fight. They just want to focus on their ministries and preaching the Gospel.”