OPINION:
Today, we face a great power struggle.
Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to reverse the Cold War victory of the United States and is working with China, North Korea, and Iran to do so. This formidable alliance not only poses threats to global supply chains, cybersecurity, and the personal safety of our allies but also targets religious communities, particularly Christians and Jews. Today, these authoritarian governments not only aim to reshape the world order but see faith leaders as obstacles to their ability to do so.
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The recent assaults in Ukraine may merely mark the beginning of a concerted effort by this evil coalition to roll back the achievements of the post-Reagan era. For four decades, interconnected democratic economies have flourished, fueled by a shared vision of hope, optimism, and religious freedom. Yet, these foundational principles now face a grave challenge.
Beneath the geopolitical layers of Russia’s invasion lies a narrative deeply intertwined with faith. Ukrainian Christians carry with them a poignant history, stretching back to 1035 when Ukraine became a beacon for spiritual missions across the Russian empire, enduring periodic waves of persecution for their steadfast commitment to the Bible as the literal Word of God.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukrainian Christians emerged as missionaries of a post-Soviet spiritual awakening in the former Eastern Bloc. Their reach extended across Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. A vibrant religious landscape thrives within Ukraine, often called the Eastern European Bible Belt. Intercessors for Ukraine boasts 30,000 religious congregations in Ukraine, with evangelical Protestant churches numbering around 11,000. As a point of comparison, these figures closely mirror the religious representation in the United States, where we have 380,000 churches serving 333 million people.
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with a group of ministers in Washington, DC. They are in the process of organizing Ukraine’s National Prayer Breakfast in June, at which 1,500 attendees will be present, and are eager to invite their American counterparts to participate in an expression of faith that serves as both a beacon of hope and a genuine cry for freedom.
It comes as no surprise that believers have borne the brunt of Putin’s aggression. Reports of Russian persecution against Christians are chilling. Protestants fleeing occupied Mariupol were relentlessly pursued, while the Russian Orthodox Church, acting as an extension of the Kremlin, has weaponized religion by disseminating disinformation about Ukraine’s faith community through U.S. media.
In response, Ukrainian evangelicals launched a site, Russia Torture Christians, to highlight the atrocities. The Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary documented the destruction of 400 Baptist congregations, underscoring the systematic assault on religious freedom. Heartbreaking testimonies, like that of a Ukrainian Baptist children’s minister who endured unimaginable torture, underscore the depth of brutality inflicted. Estimates are that 16,000 children from Ukrainian communities, many tracked by their church leadership, have been abducted and subjected to unspeakable abuses under Russian occupation.
The indication is that Iran is actively supporting Russian efforts. I met a Baptist minister who tragically lost his wife and 3-month-old son in the recent drone attack in Odessa. His surviving 4-year-old daughter, recovering from severe injuries, had just been discharged from the hospital. The drone responsible for this devastation is the same Iranian make and model as those targeting Israel. The ministers also recounted linkages to North Korea, and U.S. military and foreign policy officials cite China’s support of Russia.
The atrocities suffered by Christians under Russian rule underscore a sobering reality: this evil alliance seeks not only to reshape the global order but also to eradicate people of faith in pursuit of their goals.
What is happening in Ukraine and now Israel is not merely a wake-up call to stand in solidarity with our democratic and faith-based allies; it is a clarion call to defend religious freedom and oppose tyranny wherever it rears its head.
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Lisa Gable is a CEO, former US Ambassador, UN Delegate, and author of Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller “Turnaround – How to Change Course When Things Are Going South.” Lisa is recognized worldwide as a turnaround mastermind and innovative businesswoman and started her career in the Reagan administration.
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