Brother Andrew (God’s Smuggler)
So instrumental in making known the situation of the underground church during the Communist years has just turned 94. We celebrate this man whom God used to raise up a whole generation to go to closed countries to take the gospel. He had such an impact on YWAM as we were just beginning our ministry in the Soviet Union. Here are a couple of examples of praying our way across borders, something that Brother Andrew taught us.
One young man’s story from Ukraine
Last week, a young man was a part of a convoy of no fewer than 1,000 vehicles trying to leave Kherson. The Russians ultimately let the convoy move in batches — but only after holding it in one place for most of the day.
“For me, this was already the fifth attempt to leave the controlled territory. The previous four times it didn’t work out.” “What surprised me was that suddenly Russians let us go through the checkpoint without any examination.”
He had heard stories of extensive checks, phones being examined and property stolen.
In hearing stories like this one, it occurs to me, could that have been the intervention of the Lord. How many other stories will we hear in the future like this one. We need to continue to intercede for more of God’s interventions.
From one of the leaders in Ukraine:
“It went great in Kharkiv! Delivery of Supplies and extractions went smoothly. Staff are still there.
I’m excited for the open doors to get the resources and especially prayer into the areas of need. What a blessing and privilege to serve like this!”
Please continue to pray for our teams making those dangerous journeys into Kharkiv.
Prayer request from Y Ukraine
A large convoy of cars and vans with residents escaping the city finally reached safety in the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia, in what is believed to have been the largest single evacuation from Mariupol since the start of the war.
The convoy numbered between 500 and 1,000 cars, who had to wait three days for Russian troops to allow them to pass.
Officials estimate about 150,000 people remain in Mariupol, many of them unable to leave.
Appreciate prayer as our teams are going to Zaporizhzhia to help the refugees who have just fled from Mariupol.
Prayer for the children who have escaped from the destruction of their homes.
Trauma therapy for children reveals a lot from them drawing their experiences. Here is one example. It opens the understanding of the pain they have gone through because of this war.
“For a nine-year-old boy, the family spent a lot of time in a basement. He was afraid of bombs and rockets. They didn’t have a lot to eat, so his main concern was about food. At the beginning, the basket was empty. (Drawing below). He then added the sun, grass and flowers, and turned the planes into birds, which were throwing eggs from the sky.
“He also added pyrizhky [a Ukrainian bun] to the basket. He was taking them to his grandmother, who could not leave Mariupol. If you look the way he drew the eyes you see they’re big, which is a sign of fear.”
Let’s continue to pray Bro. Andrew’s prayer, “Lord you opened the eyes of the blind, please now blind the eyes that they cannot see.”
Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team