{"id":43330,"date":"2022-08-02T14:00:15","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T05:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=43330"},"modified":"2022-08-02T14:45:53","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T05:45:53","slug":"vomk-report-214","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/08\/02\/vomk-report-214\/","title":{"rendered":"UKRAINE: CHRISTIANS EVANGELIZE DPR, RUSSIAN SOLDIERS"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”43317″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”For most people living in the parts of Ukraine now under the control of pro-Russian forces, being detained for hours at a checkpoint is an inconvenience or a cause for concern. ” 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]But <\/span>according to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley, <\/span>many <\/span>Christians in the region <\/span>see the checkpoint delays as <\/span>the perfect opportunity <\/span>for <\/span>evangeli<\/span>sm<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Voice of the Martyrs Korea operates \u201c<\/span><\/span>\u0413\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0441<\/span><\/span> \u041c\u0443\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u0432<\/span><\/span> \u2013 <\/span><\/span>\u041a\u043e\u0440\u0435\u044f<\/span><\/span>\u201d, a Russian language edition of its popular Facebook page on Christian persecution. Representative Foley says the organization <\/span>remains in contact with <\/span>Christians and churches who are currently in areas of armed conflict, including <\/span>Ukraine and <\/span>those <\/span>parts of Ukraine now under the control of pro-Russian forces<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/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=”43321″ 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

She says Christians <\/span>there<\/span>, speaking on condition of anonymity, report that <\/span>churches <\/span>are facing new restrictions on their activity but are finding new ways to share the gospel, including what Representative Foley calls \u201ccheckpoint evangelism\u201d<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cChristians are <\/span>\u2018turning the tables\u2019 <\/span>on who is asking questions to whom at the checkpoints,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cSoldiers ask them<\/span>, \u2018Where are you going?\u2019 \u2018Why are you traveling?\u2019 But then<\/span> Christians <\/span>are <\/span>ask<\/span>ing the<\/span> soldiers<\/span>, \u2018Do you know Jesus?\u2019<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>One Christian doing \u2018checkpoint evangelism\u2019 told us, \u2018<\/span>I<\/span> talk to <\/span>the soldiers<\/span> at the checkpoint <\/span>about God, about the need for repentance<\/span>. <\/span>T<\/span>hey are <\/span>also <\/span>the souls for whom Christ died.<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says <\/span>that <\/span>Christians from the regions of Ukraine now under control<\/span> of pro-Russian forces <\/span>have turned to <\/span>\u201ccheckpoint evangelism\u201d and other forms of <\/span>mobile evangelism <\/span>as their day-to-day lives have been disrupted.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Believers tell us that t<\/span>he conditions in the<\/span> war-torn <\/span>cities <\/span>where the<\/span>y<\/span> live <\/span>are extremely difficult,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>M<\/span>ost s<\/span>tores <\/span>are not operating.<\/span> Water is <\/span>only <\/span>available <\/span>in <\/span>some places. <\/span>Whole villages are without electricity. <\/span>People are experiencing financial difficulties because they <\/span>cannot <\/span>earn money<\/span>, or if they have money, they cannot access it because the<\/span> banks <\/span>are closed<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span> continue<\/span>s<\/span> to <\/span>document <\/span>many cases of the incoming authorities <\/span>ordering churches to register or even close<\/span>. Christians tell us that authorities arrive <\/span>from <\/span>the regional center<\/span>, photograph <\/span>church <\/span>sign<\/span>s,<\/span> g<\/span>i<\/span>ve instructions to <\/span>church leaders to <\/span>close the church and not to gather<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201cChristians tell us that authorities<\/span> seize and confiscate<\/span> books and tracts at the churches on the grounds that they are foreign periodicals<\/span>.<\/span> We have received multiple reports of th<\/span>e <\/span>authorities<\/span> tell<\/span>ing believers in the region <\/span>that <\/span>Russian <\/span>Orthodox<\/span>y<\/span> is the only correct faith and <\/span>that <\/span>other<\/span> faiths<\/span> are illegal<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”43326″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Servicemen of the RF Armed Forces at a checkpoint near the territory of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol \u00a9 RIA Novosti \/ Alexei Kudenko” 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]Ch<\/span>ristians<\/span>, she says, face an added burden.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Christians mainly <\/span>focus on <\/span>evangeliz<\/span>ing<\/span> other <\/span>local residents<\/span>. <\/span>But she says that <\/span>when <\/span>authorities<\/span> come to investigate the<\/span>ir<\/span> churches<\/span> or <\/span>when <\/span>soldiers<\/span> stop them at checkpoints<\/span>, Christians see it as an opportunity to evangelize.<\/span> \u201cThey\u2019re responding in faith, not fear,\u201d says Representative Foley.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>One brother told us that <\/span>he uses every opportunity<\/span> to testify about God<\/span> to whomever he meets<\/span>,\u201d <\/span>says <\/span>Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The b<\/span>rother told Voice of the Martyrs Korea, \u201c<\/span>I <\/span>went <\/span>into a<\/span> house in one village<\/span>,<\/span> and <\/span>soldiers<\/span> were laying <\/span>on the floor.<\/span> \u2018<\/span>Hello<\/span>,\u2019 <\/span>I sa<\/span>id<\/span>. \u2018<\/span>How do you like God’s territory?<\/span>\u2019<\/span> \u2018<\/span>Oh, okay, father<\/span>,\u2019 they repl<\/span>ied.<\/span> \u2018<\/span>The<\/span> soldiers<\/span> were using Christian <\/span>literature <\/span>as fuel for the stove<\/span>. <\/span>\u2018<\/span>And what are you doing?<\/span>\u2019 I ask<\/span>ed<\/span> them. \u2018<\/span>Do you want to bring the wrath of God on yourself?<\/span>\u2019<\/span> \u2018<\/span>No, father<\/span>,\u2019 they sa<\/span>id<\/span>.<\/span> \u2018<\/span>We just arrived today. We do not smoke, we do not drink, we are not <\/span>like that<\/span>.<\/span>\u2019<\/span> \u2018<\/span>Well, look,<\/span>\u2019<\/span> I sa<\/span>id<\/span>. <\/span>Then <\/span>I g<\/span>a<\/span>ve them <\/span>a Gospel tract<\/span>, they all took it. Now they have already left. It was at the very beginning.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]One Christian <\/span>told Voice of the Martyrs Korea that he <\/span>warn<\/span>ed<\/span> soldiers that he <\/span>was<\/span> \u201carmed and dangerous\u201d<\/span>, because of <\/span>the <\/span>New Testaments<\/span> and tracts<\/span> he carries<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I told <\/span>a few of the soldiers<\/span>, <\/span>\u2018<\/span>I am armed and very dangerous to Satan<\/span>\u2019<\/span>,\u201d <\/span>the brother said<\/span>.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>I try to make sure that I ha<\/span>ve<\/span> a spiritual sword<\/span>\u2014<\/span>tracts<\/span>\u2014so <\/span>as not to miss the opportunity to tell them about God.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, Christians in the region say<\/span> that the checkpoints residents must pass through <\/span>provide frequent opportunities to evangelize the soldiers<\/span> sent to the region<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>When <\/span><\/span>I pass <\/span>a <\/span>checkpoint<\/span> I stop and distribute tracts<\/span> and<\/span> New Testaments<\/span>,\u201d <\/span>one Christian told Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>These are soldiers from the territories controlled by Russia. Sometimes I meet Russian soldiers. I distribute the material to everyone<\/span>,<\/span> saying that th<\/span>ey <\/span>should read <\/span>it <\/span>daily in the morning and in the evening.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”43324″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs global founder, Rev. Richard Wurmbrand, evangelizes Russian soldiers sent to Romania. From the movie, Tortured for Christ, available at https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/tfc\/.\u202f ” 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” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fvomkorea.com%2Ftfc%2F”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Christians report that the soldiers willingly receive the materials.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome soldiers say that they have learned the Lord\u2019s Prayer,\u201d one Christian told Voice of the Martyrs Korea. \u201cI see that they are ordinary people. It is clear that they are not military men. They came to work, were handed the summons, were sent to the draft board, and were brought to the battlefield. Therefore, it is easy to communicate with them. They listen and I face no problem.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Christians told Voice of the Martyrs Korea that even multiple trips through the same checkpoint provide opportunities for follow-up with the soldiers there.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnce, I saw a soldier sitting and reading the New Testament,\u201d one Christian said. \u201cThe last time I had passed through that area, I had handed out New Testaments. Praise God that somehow we can sow [the word] so that our ministry spreads to everyone. As it is written, God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. It’s a pity that Satan sentences entire nations to destruction, but we must do God’s work – to save and help people.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]One Christian told Voice of the Martyrs Korea that he believes God is protecting believers as they evangelize the soldiers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne morning we prayed before leaving our house, but the car would not start,\u201d the Christian said. \u201cWe tried for two hours, but nothing worked out. Two hours later the engine finally started, and we drove off. At the checkpoint, the soldiers checked our documents and said that they would confiscate the car, since we did not have a power of attorney document for it. We decided to go back to get the owner of the car. We had just arrived back at the house when shelling began in the place we had planned to go. That whole city was covered in black smoke. I thought, \u2018It’s good, Lord, that you didn’t let us in there.\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, the <\/span>ministry of evangelizing <\/span>soldiers goes back to the beginning of Voice <\/span>of the Martyrs<\/span>.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>Voice of the Martyrs global founders, Rev. Richard <\/span>Wurmbrand<\/span> and his wife Sabina, began the ministry by evangelizing the Russian soldiers who<\/span> were sent to Romania.<\/span> They showed the soldiers the love of Christ and paid a high price for sharing the gospel with them<\/span> and other Russians and communist officials<\/span>: Both <\/span>Wurmbrands<\/span> spent time in prison<\/span>, with Rev. <\/span>Wurmbrand<\/span> ultimately being tortured and imprisoned for 14 years.\u201d\u00a0<\/span> Representative Foley says that the <\/span>Wurmbrands<\/span>\u2019 ministry to Russian soldiers is shown in the movie \u2018Tortured for Christ\u2019, available for <\/span>free <\/span>viewing <\/span>at <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/tfc\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea is providing emergency assistance to local church congregations and individual Christians who are continuing to engage in faithful witness during the present Russia\/Ukraine conflict. Donations can be made to the organization\u2019s Ukraine Emergency Fund at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/span><\/span><\/a> 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_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”43317″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”For most people living in the parts of Ukraine now under the control of pro-Russian forces, being detained for hours at a checkpoint is an inconvenience or …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":43318,"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-43330","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\/43330","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=43330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43330\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}