
(Michael Gott has asked us to post this article to help us all understand the situation in Ukraine. Thank you for praying for the people of Ukraine. Let’s be faithful to continue to pray for them as well as the Country Boys team as they enter their second half of the tour. Their schedule and lack of internet at times as prohibited as many posts. As they come, we will continue to post them.)
The Ukrainian crisis has now gone on over four years with no end in sight, but the evident reality is that recovery will be even harder and take longer. The word “crisis” is the one word that is appropriate.
Never has this nation needed faithful friends like today. The entire Eastern part of Ukraine has been impacted and so much destroyed by the bitter conflict. Thousands of lives have been lost—almost every city has lost someone or even many. It will be, say experts, decades before the region will have fully rebuilt and be operational in a normal way. But the stubborn heartbreak is that nothing in the rebuilding of the infrastructure can start until the dangerous fighting ceases. There is no real sign of that, so the Ukrainian crisis continues unabated.
One Christian spokesman said, “The tragedy is that even Christian aid organizations have grown weary. Some have begun even to totally withdraw—a result of ministry fatigue. It’s a sad reality.”
Beyond that, there are scarred lives that are even more difficult to rebuild and put back together. The war-torn people of Ukraine need spiritual hope and practical help. The supply of both is running short with pledges and promises not being fully met. “What is happening now,” said a Baptist leader, “touches only a small fraction of the people in Eastern Ukraine.” Michael Gott said, “The perfect word is brokenhearted. These people are seeing a rise, a very big rise, in the shortages in the smaller villages. There is a spirit of hopelessness.”
Gott shared his further thoughts, “This is a time of heartbreak as I said, so it’s a period when we could see the message of Christ going out as never before. These people are reachable and it’s a point of sharing the love of God and the gospel of the Lord who loves as never before. When we suggested coming to them with the Texas Country Boys, it was instant acceptance! I’ve seldom seen a more ready response. They said, ‘OK! That’s it—we will work out the details, you just come to us, the door is open.’”
“We know,” said the veteran evangelist, “that we are walking into a danger zone, and there is even some risk—but we are all gung-ho! But, yes, it’s something, but we can do more. Pray for the Ukrainians and for support and aid to come their way. We are not being political, but pray that the American government will honor its promises to them. They need serious help in that way.”
The Texas Country Boys join Michael Gott October 16-27. Michael Bridges said, “It’s the real thing. Oh, we are honored to be involved. When the Apostle Paul spoke of it being beautiful when people on their feet walk in to bring good news from God, we want that to be, the Texas Country Boys along with Michael.”
Evangelist Gott said in summary, “When mission teams and people like those in MGI (Michael Gott International), with a calling and visible compassion, come out of love, people cannot help but say, ‘We are not forgotten. There are people who care.’ And then when mission people say—‘Jesus gave us a desire to care. We wouldn’t be here if He had not given us a heart of love for you—now hear the good news,’ people cannot help but listen!”
Gott concluded, “Eastern Ukrainian people refuse to leave their homes in the war zone; now when some come with love for these embattled people, it speaks volumes. We have earned a hearing and that’s vital. That’s when effective evangelism happens.”
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