September 16, 2024
A team of Georgia Baptists from First Baptist Church of Jonesboro and the Georgia Baptist Mission Board recently returned from a fact-finding and ministry trip to Poland and Ukraine. Lanny Loe, missions pastor at FBC Jonesboro, in consultation with the International Mission Board, organized the visit to the war-torn nation with GBMB staff Chris Reynolds and Marty Youngblood.
The team first stopped in Poland, where they joined FBC Jonesboro Senior Pastor Mel Blackaby to meet with and encourage IMB missionaries to Eastern Europe.
From there, the trio headed east to Ukraine. Ukrainians, and pastors in particular, are under tremendous stress due to the Russian invasion. Reynolds, the GBMB’s lead strategist for pastor wellness, and Youngblood, a catalyst on the team, met with pastors and other key leaders to discover opportunities to improve the physical and mental well-being of pastors and their wives.
“I am grateful for the IMB, FBC Jonesboro, Pastor Mel, and Lanny,” Reynolds says. “Their passion for the Great Commission and their love for the Ukrainian people is driving them to respond to the immediate physical needs created by the war and strategically to the Gospel opportunities in the days ahead.”
Over six days, the men traveled to the cities of Lutsk, Rayne, Kyiv, and Lviv. They met with some 35 pastoral couples and leaders of the Ukrainian Baptist Union.
Youngblood says that despite cultural and language differences, “There was a common bond in Christ expressed through smiles, hugs, food, and prayer. Loe describes the trip as a success, saying Ukrainians are eager for the men to return.
Looking to the future, Reynolds says, “I am encouraged by the continuing conversations with GBMB missions catalyst Buck Burch and others about opportunities to resource and serve the pastor/wife teams in Ukraine. In addition to the great need for the gospel, there is a growing need for daily trauma care and ongoing emotional support. As we seek ways to serve, I encourage Georgia Baptists to pray for the people of Ukraine.”
In addition to meeting with Ukrainian believers, the team was able to experience first-hand the reality of life in a war zone. Loe says that attacks by Russian drones, missiles, and aircraft were a nightly occurrence. Reflecting on one close call, Youngblood says, “We’re grateful for the accuracy of the Ukrainian military, as a drone was shot down near one of our locations. That brought the daily reminder that all Ukrainians live daily with the threat of potential harm from the skies.”
“God is moving in marvelous ways,” Loe says. “People are being saved. Churches are being started. We can travel now, [FBC Jonesboro] has made seven trips since the beginning of the war.” But the work is far from over. Loe adds, “We need people and churches willing to stand with our Baptist brothers and sisters as they minister to very real needs in their country.”
Youngblood says the danger of war is an added burden on pastors already dealing with a post-COVID culture and churches in decline. “It is causing tremendous stress and concern for their families and congregations,” he explains. “Also, the post-war effects of PTSD on those affected by the war will be a huge issue for the remaining pastors and churches.”
Despite these challenges, Youngblood says, the churches are resolved to continue to share the good news of Jesus Christ. “We met pastor after pastor whose love for Jesus and commitment to the gospel is strong, and who are willing to put themselves and their families in harm's way for the sake of the gospel.”
