DAY 263
Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic
A series of daily reflections for people of faith
by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor
Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland
pastorrobert@paxpres.org
Week Thirty-eight Wednesday 2 December 2020
Country Focus: Ukraine
Once under the heel of the Soviet Union and the oppression of religion that accompanied that atheistic state, Ukraine is now an independent country with freedom of religion dominated, however, by a heavy traditional, historical and cultural presence of the Orthodox church, which counts some 60-70% of the population as members. Under communism they suffered greatly, millions were killed, and millions more quietly and sometimes secretly kept their faith alive. A bridge between the east and the west, this makes for opportunities and tensions in both culture and church.
Prayer Focus
+ Pray that Evangelicals will find ways to build on the rich 1,000 history of the Ukrainian church.
+ Pray for protection and continued growth in the missionary agencies birthed by Ukrainians.
+ Pray for the raising up and training of mature leadership, a primary need in the church.
+ Pray for continued fruitfulness for parachurch ministries reaching students in universities.
+ Pray for thousands of street children and thousands more in orphanages.
+ Pray for thousands still living with the health effects of the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl.
+ Pray for thousands of Orthodox priests that the words of their liturgy will come alive for them
and then in them and then through them to those attending services.
+ Pray for foreign immigrants, many from the middle East, some of whom who are open to the
Gospel, that as they become believers and return to homelands, they will be a witness there.
+ Pray for wisdom and insight for Evangelicals as they encounter aggressive American cults
competing for the souls of the Ukrainian people, particularly JW and LDS missionaries.
Jesus’ Prayer Request each Wednesday:
“’The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus – Matthew 9:37-38.
For additional information on praying for Ukraine go to: operationworld.org.
Reflective question: Will you commit to praying the next seven days for these Ukrainian requests?
Reflective Scripture: Revelation 3:22 – “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
Reflective hymn:
“Lord I Call…” From the sung liturgy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Lord, I call upon You, hear me! Hear me, O Lord!
Lord, I call on You, hear me! Receive the voice of my prayer,
When I call upon You! Hear me, O Lord!
Let my prayer arise in Your sight as incense,
Hear me, O Lord!
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