{"id":44149,"date":"2022-10-11T14:00:55","date_gmt":"2022-10-11T05:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=44149"},"modified":"2022-10-11T12:02:13","modified_gmt":"2022-10-11T03:02:13","slug":"vomk-report-224","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/10\/11\/vomk-report-224\/","title":{"rendered":"UKRAINE: WOMEN RECOVER BIBLES DISCARDED FROM CONFISCATED CHURCH IN LYSYCHANSK"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44124″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”When Lysychansk was captured by Russian troops and their separatist allies in early July, ministers of the city\u2019s six Protestant churches were forced to flee. Remaining congregation members were driven underground. The house of prayer of the Lysychansk Christian Center, the largest Protestant church, was confiscated for use by authorities. But as the church\u2019s pastor, Eduard Nosachev, told Voice of the Martyrs Korea, it was the yard next door to the church that captivated the attention of the few remaining church members. ” 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]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Authorities <\/span>had <\/span>thr<\/span>own <\/span>the <\/span>entire <\/span>church <\/span>library<\/span>, along with <\/span>all <\/span>of <\/span>the church\u2019s <\/span>Bibles and children’s Bibles<\/span>,<\/span> into a pile in <\/span>the <\/span>neighboring <\/span>yard<\/span>,\u201d<\/span> says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley\u2019s organization <\/span>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.<\/span> She says the page is one of several means Voice of the Martyrs Korea uses to stay in contact with churches <\/span>and Christians <\/span>from <\/span>cities like <\/span>Lysychansk<\/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=”44128″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, the <\/span>few <\/span>women from the <\/span>Lysychansk<\/span> Christian Center<\/span> who remained in the city quietly initiated a rescue mission.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Their goal was to recover all of the Bibles and books and transport them to safe locations for storage<\/span> and future use<\/span>,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says the work was slow and dangerous. \u201c<\/span>Occupation authorities <\/span>installed the flags of Russia and the Luhansk People\u2019s Republic <\/span>(LPR) <\/span>on the front of the church building and began renovating <\/span>it for the use of the military-civilian government,<\/span> including plans to remove the<\/span> cross from the building steeple,<\/span>\u201d she says. \u201cTo gradually remove books day after day from the yard next door <\/span>involved risk on every trip, including the risk of being identified as a <\/span>Christian<\/span> by <\/span>occupation <\/span>authorities who <\/span>have been detaining and questioning Christians<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44135″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The books were rescued, sorted and packed by the women of the Lysychansk Christian Center.” 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=”44133″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The church library was thrown out by authorities, but the books were rescued by a few women from the Lysychansk Christian Center.” 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]Pastor <\/span>Nosachev<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs Korea that<\/span> though many <\/span>Christians <\/span>had fled the city when it came under the control of <\/span>LPR <\/span>authorities in <\/span>2014, <\/span>more than 200 had remained, fellowshipping in six churches <\/span>and helping other residents <\/span>through outreach ministries<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u201c<\/span>Before the war<\/span>, residents<\/span> received a lot of help from churches,<\/span>\u201d Pastor <\/span>Nosachev<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs Korea,<\/span> \u201c<\/span>but when Russians came the<\/span> residents<\/span> immediately reported on the believers and showed <\/span>authorities <\/span>where Christians lived<\/span>.\u201d<\/span> He says 25 to 30 Christians remained in <\/span>Lysychansk<\/span> for various reasons <\/span>after<\/span> the city <\/span>was captured<\/span> July 3<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The ministers left because it was impossible to serve<\/span>,\u201d Pastor <\/span>Nosachev<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>If they stayed<\/span>,<\/span> they would simply be killed<\/span>. I<\/span>n 2014, we stayed and served, but [at that time] there were no Russian troops in the city, and they did not act so cruelly as they do now.<\/span>\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=”44139″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Lysychansk Christian Center building before the war (file photo).” 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=”44142″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Lysychansk Christian Center building was confiscated by occupation authorities, who installed flags for Russia and the Luhansk People\u2019s Republic on the front of the building. ” 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]Pastor <\/span>Nosachev<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs Korea that a<\/span>t the beginning of July, Russian soldiers ransacked <\/span>his<\/span> apartment<\/span>. \u201cA<\/span>ll the windows were broken<\/span>,\u201d he says<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>The minister<\/span>s<\/span> all left with their families<\/span>.<\/span> A<\/span>s long as<\/span> there was an opportunity, they went to the city and distributed humanitarian aid, helped<\/span>,<\/span> and evacuated people.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to a report in August from Radio Free Europe, <\/span>an estimated <\/span>80% of <\/span>Lysychansk\u2019s<\/span> 100,000 <\/span>residents have fled. <\/span>The <\/span>widespread destruction in the city led Ukrainian <\/span>P<\/span>resident <\/span>Volodymyr Zelensky <\/span>to describe <\/span>L<\/span>ysychansk<\/span> and neighboring <\/span>Severodonetsk<\/span> as \u201c<\/span>dead cities”<\/span>. Fierce fighting continues as Ukrainian forces <\/span>recently reclaimed surrounding territory<\/span> and are advancing <\/span>back <\/span>toward the city<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Pastor <\/span>Nosachev<\/span> is using his<\/span> forced<\/span> time away from <\/span>his <\/span>home <\/span>and church <\/span>to visit and strengthen groups of Ukrainian believers in neighboring areas. Pastor <\/span>Nosachev<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs Korea that <\/span>his <\/span>church members remain in contact with each other using various means as often as they are able.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44145″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Lysychansk Christian Center Pastor Eduard Nosachev uses his forced time away from his church to encourage neighboring believers. He is shown here in the Khmelnytsky region, the city of Zinkov, preaching the Gospel and distributing food aid to migrants.” 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=”44147″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The congregation of the Lysychansk Christian Center before the war (file photo). ” 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]According to Representative Foley, <\/span>t<\/span>he <\/span>women of the <\/span>Lysychansk<\/span> Christian Center<\/span> managed to <\/span>recover many of the books and Bibles from the yard next to the church<\/span>. <\/span>Authorities used the church building to hold a <\/span>referendum on the annexation of the Luhansk region to Russia.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cEven with the church building confiscated<\/span>, even with <\/span>the ministers forced out of the city<\/span>, and even with most of the city laid waste and empty, the people of God have honored the word of God and are continuing their faithful witness at the front line of the battle,\u201d says Representative Foley.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/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=”44124″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”When Lysychansk was captured by Russian troops and their separatist allies in early July, ministers of the city\u2019s six Protestant churches were forced to flee. Remaining congregation …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":44125,"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-44149","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\/44149","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=44149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}