God Is Building His Church in the Midst of War

For many people, Ukraine is known primarily through the images and stories that come out of the war: destroyed buildings, missile strikes, soldiers at the front, and families who have lost loved ones. But spending time in Ukraine reveals something that is harder to see from a distance. People are still living their lives, churches are still gathering, communities are being served, and Christians are continuing to share the hope of the Gospel.

Recently, Gospel Today had the opportunity to sit down with Graham Marshall, who was visiting Ukraine for the first time. Graham and his wife, Sharon, have been connected to ministry in Ukraine for more than 30 years, dating back to their involvement with Ukrainian churches and ministry leaders in the 90s. After eight days in the country, Graham shared some of the things that surprised him and how the visit changed his perspective on life and ministry during wartime.

Seeing Ukraine for the First Time

Graham knew before coming that Ukraine was at war, and some of his family members wondered whether it was the right time to visit. For Graham and Sharon, however, there was a confidence that if God was leading them to come, there was a purpose in being there.

One of the things that surprised him was how little military presence he saw in everyday life. He expected to see more soldiers and more obvious signs of the war. Of course, there were reminders of the destruction, particularly during their trip to Mykolaiv, where they saw places that had been damaged by missiles. He also noticed that there were relatively few men on the streets, as many are serving at the front. But what stood out even more was that ordinary life continues.

Life Continues During War

Graham was struck by the fact that people were still paying attention to things that might seem unimportant during wartime. In parks and public spaces, flowers were being planted. People were reading books and spending time together. At a prayer meeting, he met a woman who had spent time composing poetry.

These things may seem small, but they revealed something significant about the Ukrainian people. There is still a desire to build, create, and prepare for a future beyond the war. People are not simply focused on surviving the present, they are looking forward to the day when the fighting will end and Ukraine can once again be a place of peace and beauty.

After more than four years of war, Ukrainians have also had to learn how to continue with everyday life. The constant urgency and fear that marked the beginning of the full-scale invasion cannot be maintained forever. People still have to work, read, spend time with others, and carry on with daily responsibilities.

That does not mean the war has become less painful or that people have forgotten what has happened. Instead, it demonstrates the resilience of a people who continue to value life and look toward the future.

Remembering Those Who Have Been Lost

At the same time, the reality of war is impossible to separate from everyday life. Graham described sensing a quietness among many Ukrainians, comparing it to the atmosphere of a memorial service. During a walk through the city, he came across a memorial with dozens of Ukrainian flags representing people who had been killed. Behind each flag was a person with a family and a story: fathers, husbands, grandfathers, and sons.

For Ukrainians, the war is not something happening somewhere far away. It has affected families, churches, and communities personally. The loss is visible throughout the country, even as people continue with their daily lives.

The Church Is Serving Its Community

On the other hand, a big encouragement for the Marshalls was what they saw in Ukrainian churches. During his visit, he had the opportunity to visit several churches and meet with pastors in the Mykolaiv region, as well as churches in Odesa. His impression was that the churches were healthy. In several places, churches were expanding their facilities, and unbelievers were coming through their doors looking for hope and answers.

For pastors and ministry leaders, the circumstances have created opportunities to preach the Gospel and serve people who are searching for something they cannot find elsewhere. Rather than simply waiting for the war to end, these churches are actively reaching their communities and looking for ways to bring glory to God in the middle of difficult circumstances.

One example was a humanitarian aid distribution that Graham attended. Around 300 people came to receive bread from the church. However what made the ministry particularly meaningful was that this was not a temporary response. The church had been providing this assistance for four years. That kind of sustained service demonstrates the role the church can play during a crisis. The church is meeting practical needs while building relationships with people in the community and creating opportunities to point them toward Christ.

God Is Building His Church

The growth of some Ukrainian churches is particularly striking when considering everything the war has taken from the country. Graham and Caleb discussed how many pastors and ministry leaders have left Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Yet, even with those losses, churches remain. Some churches continue to grow, and some are even being planted.

From a human perspective, it can be tempting to explain church growth through systems, programs, finances, or leadership. Those things can certainly be useful, but the situation in Ukraine provides a reminder that the work of building the Church ultimately belongs to God.

We often see circumstances from a very limited perspective. We see pastors leaving, families being separated, and people suffering. We naturally focus on what has been lost. But God sees what we cannot see, and He is able to work through circumstances in ways that we may not immediately understand.

As Graham reflected, God can use difficult circumstances to accomplish His purposes and build His Church.

God Working Through Suffering

This also changes the way we think about suffering. Caleb noted how easy it is to say that God is working “despite the war.” But he has come to think about it differently: God is working through the war.

That does not make the suffering good, nor does it minimize the pain Ukrainians have experienced. But it reminds us that suffering does not place God outside of His purposes. He remains sovereign, even when we cannot understand what He is doing.

Ukraine's experience also reminds us that suffering itself is not unique to one country. The circumstances may be different, but every person will eventually experience some form of pain, loss, or tragedy. The scale of Ukraine's suffering may be different, but the human need for hope is the same.

The question is where we turn when suffering comes.