Held in partnership with the Parliament of the World’s Religions and the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN, the service drew faith leaders from around the world to pray and stand in solidarity with Ukrainians. Attendees, including BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown, Baptist World Aid Director Marsha Scipio, and BWA UN Representative Scott Stearman, called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and support for the many in need of humanitarian aid.
“We are responding to the global crisis that is happening in Ukraine in the way we know how to, which is to pray,” said Stearman. “We are also here to demand freedom for the Ukrainians and for all humans.”
The European Baptist Federation, one of the six regional fellowships within the BWA, rallied the global family to prayer with weekly video conferences throughout the month of March. Drawing in participants from around the world, the gatherings featured updates from Baptist leaders in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Ion Miron, General Secretary of the Union of Christian Evangelical Baptist Churches of Moldova, joined the call on March 23 to share his gratitude for the prayers of the global Baptist family. Within the first month of the war, more than 250,000 refugees traveled to Moldova with 100,000 seeking long-term residence in the country.
“We had never experienced refugees in our country, so this started a new ministry for us. At this moment, the Baptist union and family are sheltering up to 4,000 in churches, family homes, and five refugee centers,” said Miron. “It is good to see the Baptist church is engaged so strong and so deep in this ministry. We thank you for praying for us, and we pray that God may bring revival to Moldova and to Europe.”
In the weeks following the initial invasion, many of the BWA’s Global Impact Churches designated a portion of their services to a time of prayer for the people of Ukraine and numerous member bodies hosted special prayer gatherings. In addition, the BWA continues to mobilize the global Baptist family to pray through our “Share a Prayer” campaign. Baptists are encouraged to submit a prayer to bit.ly/shareaprayer that will be gathered and shared with Baptists in Eastern Europe as an expression of solidarity and source of encouragement.
“It’s the number one request we’ve received from Baptist leaders in Ukraine and across the region – to pray for the cessation of war and the restoration of peace and communities that flourish together,” said Brown. “It’s been remarkable as we visited with leaders in Russia, Ukraine, and across the region. They are united in one spirit – pray for peace.”
To access prayer guides and other resources, visit BaptistWorld.org/prayforpeace.
“Grant them, O God, as they offer leadership, as they coordinate, as they inspire, as they strategize, as they plan, grant them discernment, grant them clarity, and grant them courage. Create in them, O Lord, a calm and preserving spirit as they point the hurt, the hopeless, the angry, the anxious to you. As they point them to you, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations.”
