The Ongoing Crisis in Ukraine

By Pastor Zane Sporleder

As you all know, the war in Ukraine has had devastating effects for the Ukrainian people. As the initial shock of this war and the headlines it was making wane, the attacks continue and the physical and spiritual needs are mounting. If you’ve been at Sunday service the past two weeks you’ve heard Thang and I mention that our church is hoping to support the Ukrainian people in their need and seek to help in whatever way we can.
The elders decided to use $1,000 of the remaining ’21/’22 missions budget to help aid the relief effort and hope to encourage our body to consider adding additional support, both prayerfully and financially.

There are many organizations bringing aid in this crisis, and for that we are thankful. When thinking and praying through the best way to help, we came to the conclusion that we wanted to help support the local churches in Ukraine. We believe this is the best way to get our money directly to God’s people doing God’s work in Ukraine, so that they could use it to care for the physical and spiritual needs of those around them. These are indeed very dark days for the Ukrainian people and God is using his people, his church, as a light of the gospel to the hurting and lost world.

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

I’ve heard multiple accounts of God’s church in Ukraine risking their lives to shine God’s light in the current darkness. No doubt God will use his people to bring his kingdom light into this present darkness.

There were a few great options that we were aware of, and how we could send our support to the churches in Ukraine. But, one seemed the most obvious: the Suko family. The Suko family is a family of missionaries based in Odesa, Ukraine. The Vine Church has supported them in the past, and this seemed like to perfect opportunity to show our continued support for their ministry and to help the local churches in Ukraine as they seek be a light to the gospel. I know many in our church know the Suko family, but I have not yet met them. So, I reached out to hear a bit about their current ministry focus and the needs they have. Here is an excerpt from an email from Caleb Suko that I hope paints a picture of the work they're doing and what is ahead of them.

“The churches are doing an amazing job here and we are doing what we can to support them and make sure they continue serving people. Honestly, I've never seen a time in my life like this with so many gospel opportunities. Currently, we are using ministry funds to help provide for the humanitarian aid that churches are giving out. The need is growing here as the financial situation gets worse for individuals and people are returning back to Ukraine from Europe. There is an openness to the gospel that I have not seen before.”

I am personally thankful for the Suko family and anyone who heeds God’s call to love and serve in the darkest of times knowing that God’s people, carrying God’s love and gospel message, will bring light to that darkness. Please continue in prayer for the Suko family and the work of God’s church throughout Ukraine. If you would like to further support the work in Ukraine through the Suko family, you can give through our website to be passed directly on to their ministry through the “Ukraine Donations” fund or give straight to their work through their missions agency. here: https://www.abwe.org/work/missionaries/caleb-christina-suko.

For more information about the Suko family and their ministry check out their website here: https://sukofamily.org/about-us/.

Reflections on Good Friday

By Anna Palfreeman

It was late. I had just finished dinner at a lovely little bistro in the old town of Nice, France. I was there with my sisters, my mom, and my sweet 8 month old daughter Cassidy. It was time for Cassidy to go to sleep so I walked through the cobblestone streets towards our Airbnb by myself. It was Good Friday. I was in Nice for an uncharacteristic ladies trip with my family. Our week had been full of delicious food, beautiful flowers, and idyllic architecture. But this day felt different. This was the day that Jesus died. Something felt off and unsatisfying to vacation through that week without taking the time to meditate on the very pinnacle of my faith. 

As I walked down the streets with my baby snug in her baby carrier, I was feeling sad that I wouldn’t get to attend a Good Friday or Easter service that year. But then, I walked past something that took my breath away. In Nice, the churches are nestled right next to the restaurants and shops. The outside looks unassuming just like a small storefront. But when you walk in, you see a beautifully ornate small cathedral. I walked past one of these churches and stopped in my tracks. I walked in and saw candles lining the walkways. There were paintings along the walls and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The only word I could think of to describe it was “sacred”. The church felt both somber and beautiful. It invited me to lift my eyes up and to worship. I lit a candle, knelt in one of the pews, and prayed. I hugged my baby girl, prayed over her, and walked back to my Airbnb. 

Something about that night has stuck with me since then. Before that Good Friday in Nice, I had only ever experienced a different kind of Good Friday service. In my experience, most of the focus would be on Jesus’ physical suffering that he went through leading up to and on the cross. And the message was that my sin was so bad that it killed Jesus. The purpose of the service was to grieve my sin and pray a prayer of repentance.

Now, to be clear, I do believe my sin is so bad that Jesus had to die for it. That’s one of the foundational truths of Christianity. But when we stop there, we miss the whole picture. The cross is about Jesus’ love—this revolutionary, backwards, upside-down, servant love. Jesus laid down his life out of love. It’s not that I am so bad that it made God die. It is that he chose to substitute himself, though he had never sinned, because he loves his people that much. The result of that is not guilt for me, it is worship. 

On the cross, Jesus took the punishment for our sins so that we may have life and have it to the fullest. On the cross, the separation between God and humanity was torn down and God promised to be with his people wherever they would go. On the cross, God showed that he is patient and kind, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. On the cross, God showed how he can remain perfectly holy and blameless while being in and amongst his people who are selfish, prideful, and foolish. Emmanuel. God with us. Hallelujah indeed. 

So this Good Friday, I invite you to worship. Feel the weight of the cost of sin. Feel the horror for what Jesus went through. But don’t get stuck there. May your eyes lift up. May it cause your heart to be a bit lighter. May peace replace your anxieties. Because the truth of the gospel is that it’s not about what we can do to make ourselves better. It’s about what Jesus already did. 

Set Your Minds

“Set Your Minds” by Brandon Hudson

Colossians 3:1-17

Recently I've been contemplating how much time I spend dwelling on things that are unhealthy for my soul. Do you feel the same? In the past few years, I feel like there's a bit of information overload through social media, Twitter, newsfeeds, etc. Some of it seems very helpful; I want to know what's going on to make the best decisions for myself, my family, and my church. However it’s also sucking the life out of me. It’s too much, too polarizing. This group bashing that group, trying to make me and my group feel superior to you and your group, etc. So much destruction.

I wonder if Jesus wants something different from his people. Less time focused on all that's going on in the world and more time spent with Him. In the midst of all this, I’m drawn to these words from Paul.

“Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1b-2

Seek and set your mind on things that are above. What does this mean? What does this look like? It doesn’t look like setting our minds on the things of the earth such as the information overload mentioned earlier. How much of our focus is connected to the here and now? How much is necessary? When is it too much? What would it look like for us to drown out some of the noise around us, open our Bibles, think deeply, think slowly, pray and spend time with our creator?

In verse 10 Paul says, “being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” and in verse 16, “Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly.” Adding knowledge that leads to renewal and transformation is a powerful truth. Filling our minds with God’s truth rather than the worlds information will change our lives, for the better, helping us live and act as Jesus did. I'm not sure about you, but that sounds so much more life-giving. Not only will my own mind and heart be affected but I’ll also carry that with me as I interact with others. 

Let’s set some limits on the information our world demands we digest. And instead “Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly.”

Winter: A Poem

“Winter” by Anna Palfreeman

This year more than ever, I’m noticing the dark

Night comes sooner and takes longer to leave

The sun obscured by ever present clouds 

Cold. Barren. Hostile. Alone.

Brown replaces green as the trees surrender their leaves

Seemingly lifeless, but more just asleep

The world goes dormant, a quiet takes over

Why should we be any different than the life out the window?

Do we think it should have no effect on us—this change?

This is the time to hunker down and accomplish even more

Productivity is the name of the game at all costs

Striving. Anxious. Sad. Alone. 

What are you trying to teach us in this season of pause?

How does the cold reflect your glory?

Are bare branches part of your kindness?

The darkness a shadow of your face?

You made each bit with care from your hands

You set into motion seasons of uniqueness

The sleep brings forth life abounding in color

Which in turn falls back asleep and again and again and again

I don’t want to miss it—seeing you in everything I can

From the majesty of the stars to the melancholy of the last leaf falling

The heavens declare your glory, but you’ve also written yourself into creation

I want to see and notice and treasure every. last. piece. 

Beyond Advent

Advent Week 5

by Becky Davey

Yes, He has come, the Special Someone God said He was sending: the snake crusher, the Savior, the Good Shepherd, the Rock, Immanuel (who is God with us), Messiah, Jesus Christ. His birth has been celebrated. We feel a certain relaxing, perhaps a feeling of letdown, anticlimax. But! remember, way back in the beginning of Anticipating Advent, we began to look at God’s plan—a plan that would cover all time. God desired fellowship with His own created people so much that His plan was to provide the way for fellowship with God to be restored when it was lost.  

The plan doesn’t end with Advent, the coming of He who would provide the way of restoring fellowship. Now, instead of the anticlimax of a long-anticipated promise fulfilled, we find an amazing, beautiful new adventure, a new beginning. It guarantees not only fellowship with God now in this life, but the fact that the fellowship will grow stronger and more fulfilling as we experience the continued unfolding of God’s plan. This new life in Christ carries new blessings, new responsibilities, new possibilities we had never imagined. A new hope embodied in Jesus. He lived, He died, He rose again and returned to heaven where He is making a place for us to be for all eternity (John 14). When He left, God the Holy Spirit came to be in us if we respond to His plan with trust in Jesus, and—He will return to take us to be with Him forever! This is a forever promise that we can rely on. Just as surely as all those promises over time ended up being fulfilled in the birth of baby Jesus, so these further promises will come true for us if we place our trust in Him.

Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27); God in us, security, comfort and the warmth of continued experience of being involved in His plans, never deserted no matter what happens (God has said, never will leave you; never will I forsake you—Hebrews 13:5) and—the promise of an eternity spent in the presence of God (Revelation 22:5). From the beginning of God’s revelation to us of who He is, we have seen Him always busy, always available to us, listening to our hearts, answering prayer, keeping the universe going. Knowing He is this kind of God, surely there will be things for us to do in eternity, fascinating new things to learn, and more than anything else learning more and more about the wonderful God who loves us personally and continues His plans for us—remember His words. 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” (Jeremiah 29:11). Christ says, “I am coming soon,” (Revelation 22:20) and we respond with confidence and true hope: Come Lord Jesus.

Photo credit: Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash