{"id":42550,"date":"2022-05-25T14:00:40","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T05:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=42550"},"modified":"2022-05-25T13:56:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T04:56:11","slug":"vomk-report-206","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/05\/25\/vomk-report-206\/","title":{"rendered":"MARIUPOL: CHURCHES \u201cCUT OFF FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD, BUT NOT CUT OFF FROM GOD\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”42534″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Images of death and destruction continue to pour out of Mariupol, where the city council announced that they are bracing for the death by year\u2019s end of 10,000 of the city\u2019s remaining 170,000 residents, due to disease and unsafe living conditions. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]Yet today <\/span>other <\/span>images are <\/span>also <\/span>emerging from that besieged city<\/span>: photos and video from Voice of the Martyrs Korea show <\/span>small <\/span>groups of believers <\/span>continuing to meet <\/span>for worship, partake of the Lord\u2019s Supper, <\/span>bury their dead, <\/span>and carry out the work of the church<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”42538″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is wrong to think of churches as the first to evacuate and the <\/span>last to return in the event of wars and natural disasters<\/span>,\u201d says <\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea <\/span>Representative Foley<\/span> Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Typically, Christians are the ones <\/span>who <\/span>stay<\/span>. First and foremost, they worship God from those places<\/span> of devastation<\/span>. Then they <\/span>serve their neighbors<\/span> there<\/span>, through <\/span>intercessory <\/span>prayer and by sharing whatever they have, even at the cost of their lives.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Voice of the Martyrs Korea <\/span>operates \u201c<\/span>\u0413\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0441<\/span> \u041c\u0443\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u0432<\/span> \u2013 <\/span>\u041a\u043e\u0440\u0435\u044f<\/span>\u201d, a Russian language edition of its popular Facebook page on Christian persecution<\/span>. The page has <\/span>12,000 followers from across the Russian-speaking world. The majority, approximately 7,000, live in Ukraine<\/span> and interact with the ministry and with each other through the site<\/span>.<\/span> Representative Foley says the organization also maintains <\/span>private <\/span>channels of <\/span>communication<\/span> with <\/span>Christians<\/span> and churches<\/span> in all parts of Ukraine, including Mariupol.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42540″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Church members and new visitors gather at Gonda Street Baptist church in Mariupol on May 1 (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42541″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Lord\u2019s Supper served in the Gonda Street Baptist church in Mariupol church on May 1 (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that when Mariupol Christians <\/span>write, it is not primarily to ask for help. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>They clearly have almost nothing, but m<\/span>ainly they <\/span>just <\/span>want <\/span>to praise God for his faithfulness to them and let <\/span>their Christian brothers and sisters <\/span>in the \u2018outside world\u2019 <\/span>know that they are still \u2018at their post\u2019 serving God,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. \u201cM<\/span>edia reports keep <\/span>emphasizing <\/span>only <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> the people in Mariupol are \u2018cut off\u2019<\/span> from the outside world<\/span>.<\/span> And that is true. <\/span>But <\/span>Christians in Mariupol <\/span>also want people to know that <\/span>even though they are \u2018cut off\u2019 from the world, <\/span>they are not cut off from God<\/span>, and that <\/span>God <\/span>is <\/span>faithfully caring for them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that t<\/span>ruth was powerfully illustrated by <\/span>photos<\/span> sent by an unregistered Baptist church partaking of the Lord\u2019s Supper <\/span>on the first Sunday in May<\/span> and then<\/span> distributing food to congregation members after the service<\/span>. \u201cThe report from the \u2018house of prayer\u2019 on Gonda Street in Mariupol <\/span>also said that <\/span>\u2018visitors from the world\u2019\u2014meaning, non-Christians<\/span>\u2014had <\/span>attended worship on Easter, and <\/span>that several people <\/span>had <\/span>turned to the Lord <\/span>through <\/span>prayer<\/span>s<\/span> of repentance.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42542″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Members of the Gonda Street Baptist church who stayed in Mariupol (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42543″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Members of the Gonda Street Baptist church in Mariupol gather to bury their deacon, Vladimir Redkokashin, on April 26 (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley s<\/span>a<\/span>ys that the <\/span>Gonda Street <\/span>congregation has not been spared from the suffering <\/span>happening around them in the city. \u201cThe <\/span>church\u2019s <\/span>d<\/span>eacon<\/span>, <\/span>Vladimir <\/span>Redk<\/span>o<\/span>kashin<\/span>,<\/span> died <\/span>as a result of his faithful witness,\u201d says Representative Foley. <\/span>\u201cChurch members t<\/span>ell us <\/span>that w<\/span>hen the <\/span>armed <\/span>conflict <\/span>began, many people left<\/span> the area<\/span>, and <\/span>Deacon Vladimir was the <\/span>one minister in th<\/span>e<\/span> church<\/span> who remained. <\/span>The members say he set up a <\/span>basement <\/span>not only for them but also for the neighbors, and that he<\/span> accepted everyone<\/span> who came, treating them with <\/span>care and love.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Church members told Voice of the Martyrs Korea that they last saw <\/span>Redkokashin<\/span> alive on <\/span>March 19. <\/span>Representative Foley shared their report: <\/span>\u201c<\/span>We brought people to [the <\/span>Gonda Street Church]<\/span>, and after that we were planning to evacuate them from the city<\/span>. He<\/span> prayed on the road, blessed the way.\u00a0 In the evening he went to visit his own<\/span> family<\/span>.\u00a0 When he was closing the garage, a shell flew not far away and wounded <\/span>him in the stomach.\u00a0 He spent the night at home, and the next day he was taken to the hospital.\u00a0 According to the testimony of the medical staff, he prayed all the time.\u00a0 On the operating table, after praying, he passed away.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42551″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Members of the Gonda Street Baptist church in Mariupol gather to bury their deacon, Vladimir Redkokashin, on April 26 (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42544″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Members of the Baptist church on Gonda Street in Mariupol in a recent photo (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says church members told Voice of the Martyrs Korea that it <\/span>took authorities a month to retrieve <\/span>his <\/span>body and bring it to the morgue. \u201c<\/span>Church members <\/span>buried the deacon on April <\/span>26<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Photos from the funeral show <\/span>a <\/span>plain wooden casket<\/span> and<\/span> a simple cross<\/span> and <\/span>handwritten <\/span>name placard marking his grave<\/span>. But the photos also show the congregation <\/span>faithfully <\/span>gathered together<\/span> to worship God at the funeral. <\/span>They wrote us, \u2018<\/span>Thanks be to God for the fact that we have such faithful servants who, not only in word but also in deed, are a light and an example both for us believers and for those non-<\/span>Christians<\/span> around us.<\/span>\u2019<\/span> They did not ask for anything other than prayers for <\/span>the deacon\u2019s adult sons, <\/span>Sergei<\/span> and Maxim<\/span>, who are not yet believers.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Representative Foley says <\/span>it is wrong to think of Christians in Mariupol primarily as people in need o<\/span>f help<\/span>. \u201c<\/span>Their situation from a human standpoint is dire<\/span>, but i<\/span>n <\/span>other <\/span>ways they have more than we do,\u201d <\/span>says Representative Foley. \u201cOne report we received <\/span>from Mariupol <\/span>noted simply that <\/span>a<\/span> church distributed much-needed food, and <\/span>that the church members were deeply <\/span>grateful. <\/span>Another report <\/span>f<\/span>rom th<\/span>e church in <\/span>Myrnyi<\/span> b<\/span>lock<\/span> talked about how the church had three repentances that Sunday. Another report included photos of the church\u2019s blown-up building<\/span> in <\/span>Livoberezhnyi<\/span> District<\/span>, but the report <\/span>was an expression of thankfulness for all those who have been praying for the church<\/span>. Another <\/span>report included <\/span>a video of a female congregation member offering <\/span>beautiful <\/span>special music <\/span>at a <\/span>worship service<\/span> in which their small <\/span>church <\/span>sanctuary was completely full<\/span>.<\/span> Gratitude, repentance, <\/span>praise, <\/span>thanksgiving, <\/span>faithful attendance at <\/span>worship<\/span> despite extreme difficulties<\/span>\u2014these are offerings that please the Lord more than money.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42545″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Church members who have stayed in Mariupol pose in front of their church on Gonda Street (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42546″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Worship at the Baptist Church in Mirniy block in Mariupol on May 1 (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that <\/span>V<\/span>oice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span> is <\/span>provid<\/span>ing<\/span> emergency <\/span>assistance<\/span> to <\/span>local Ukrainian <\/span>church congregations <\/span>and individual Christians <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>continu<\/span>ing<\/span> to engage in faithful witness during the present Russia\/Ukraine conflict. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Other <\/span>Christian <\/span>groups <\/span>and churches <\/span>around the world <\/span>are <\/span>sending <\/span>truckloads of bread and medicine<\/span> and <\/span>funding <\/span>evacuations and <\/span>refugee <\/span>housing<\/span> of Ukrainian Christians<\/span>, <\/span>and that is certainly needed,\u201d <\/span>says Representative Foley. \u201cBut Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s <\/span>calling is to <\/span>help <\/span>support <\/span>the <\/span>tiny Ukrainian churches <\/span>that are<\/span> just trying to <\/span>faithfully <\/span>be the church day-to-day<\/span> where they are<\/span>, <\/span>despite the <\/span>likelihood that <\/span>it may cost them their lives<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42547″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”One of three repentances at the Baptist Church in Mirniy block in Mariupol at a worship service in May (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists). ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”42548″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Food distributed after a worship service in May at the Baptist Church in Mirniy block in Mariupol (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says it is a kind of aid that is not able to be mass-delivered on a truck or airplane. \u201cEach day we are in contact with local Ukrainian churches and Christians. There are certainly financial needs, but sometimes what is needed is just talking or texting or praying with them or listening to their stories. Sometimes they want us to provide them with resources on persecution and martyrdom. They are hungry to understand their experience biblically and in the light of Christian history. More than anything, Ukrainian Christians want their brothers and sisters around the world to know that God is remaining faithful to Ukrainian Christians, and Ukrainian Christians are remaining faithful to God.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Donations can be made to the Ukraine Emergency Fund at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/a><\/span> or via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> (KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span> (Account Holder): (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the phrase \u201cUkraine\u201d with the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”42549″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The building of the Baptist church in Livoberezhnyi District in Mariupol that was recently destroyed (used with permission by the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists). ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=31POZg2ajq0″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”42534″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Images of death and destruction continue to pour out of Mariupol, where the city council announced that they are bracing for the death by year\u2019s end of …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":42535,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}