John E. White
In Donetsk people stay home and watch the news and read the latest information on the Internet. Fear of Ukrainian nationalists from the West and Russian invasion from the East drive people to keep reading and watching and waiting. Everyday life continues here as the streets continue to be busy, although certain public events, such as an important Donetsk Shakhtar football match, fail to draw the crowds that they normally would attract. Tension and uncertainty abound, and people grow tired as the crisis stretches into weeks and months. The Ukrainian crisis that began with protests on Maidan in central Kyiv drew some attention in eastern Ukraine, but it did not alter life much at all. Now, with the Russian annexation of Crimea, with thousands of Russian troops on the eastern Ukrainian border, and with separatists holding Donetsk government buildings, the tensions and divisions have grown significantly, and evangelicals have been affected as well.
Identity versus Economy
What are the issues that have led to divisions? To paint in broad strokes, we can label the most important issues as ones of identity and economy. Tensions between Ukrainian and Russian ethnicities, the Ukrainian versus the Russian language, and what it means to be a Christian are all issues of identity. The largest and most violent divisions have formed when these issues have been the main points of contention in Ukraine.
For example, one middle-aged woman in early March 2014 stood alone in front of the Taras Shevchenko statue in downtown Donetsk holding a sign which said, “Kremlin: hands off Ukraine.” When pro-Russian people approached her, demanding an explanation, the woman replied that she was Russian, she had lived in the Donetsk area for 30 years, but she still held her position for Ukrainian unity. Some police stood nearby to protect the woman, but before they could react, a large man jumped forward and ripped up the woman’s sign. The police stopped anything further from happening, but the damage had been done. The woman’s position of identity would not be tolerated to be broadcast further.
In contrast, issues of economy started the protests on Maidan. Is it best for Ukraine to join the European Union or the Customs Union initiated by Russia? In Eastern Ukraine, more people’s businesses are tied to Russia, so the Customs Union is more attractive here than in the West. Economic issues are very important, but they have generally not been as divisive or violent as issues of identity have been.
Tensions in Evangelical Churches
Issues of identity have led to some amount of fear and division in eastern Ukrainian evangelical churches. Some Christians have been afraid that western Ukrainian nationalists would come and oppress or even kill native Russian speakers. Some feared that joining the European Union would lead to secularization and greater permissiveness for homosexuality. Thus, being “pro-Russian” for many has been a matter of supporting Christian values and the right to speak the Russian language.
These rather exaggerated fears, however, have not often openly arisen in churches. Sermons have generally focused on other issues, and in church many people avoid bringing up controversial issues. In some cases, sermons encourage Christians to be peacemakers in the midst of conflicting positions. More conflict between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian positions has been apparent within families than within church services. Likewise, more discussions and arguments have occurred on social networks than in church buildings.
The situation continues to fluctuate, however, and it does seem that two camps have formed, especially after the seizing of the main Donetsk government administration building by pro-Russian separatists. The larger camp supports the unity of Ukraine and generally supports the current government, praying for President Oleksandr Turchynov (often pointing out that he is a Baptist). Factors that have won over this group include the exposure of former President Viktor Yanukovich’s corruption (especially showing his grand Mezhyhirya estate), Russian military moves in Crimea and on the Ukrainian border, and attempts by the new Ukrainian government and western Ukrainians to reach out in acceptance of Russian speakers. Speakers from the pulpit warn congregants not to get too involved in politics and to be discerning in following the news, since much false information is being spread. In order to promote unity, the leader of a local church union in Donetsk was invited to Moscow to share what was really happening in Ukraine. Thus, this group is attempting to maintain ties with other evangelicals in both western Ukraine and Russia. The second camp sympathizes more with Russia and seeks to maintain Russian ties. Some issues of identity are involved (“I have family in Russia”), but the main arguments are economic. These Christians lived reasonably well under President Yanukovich and fear losing their jobs if Ukraine joins the European Union. Often relatives have told them that life is better in Russia. So this group would prefer to join the Russian Customs Union, and some would even be open to joining Russia, but practically everyone would still like to avoid war.
Impact on the Missionary Community
The current crisis in Ukraine has also affected many foreign missionaries’ ministry. In Kyiv’s large missionary community, numerous missionaries have left the country. For those who have remained, significant amounts of time are spent discussing evacuation strategies. Often national believers are surprised to see that foreign missionaries are still present, asking “So you are still here?”
In Donetsk the missionary community is much smaller, but due to the military tensions on the border, some missionaries have left the country, and some have, at least temporarily, retreated to other parts of Ukraine. Since Westerners are often blamed for the Maidan protests, anti-Western feelings have developed in eastern Ukraine. These feelings have led some missionaries from the West to wonder if their presence is detrimental to their national co-laborers. Many missionaries are unsure if their ministry in Donetsk will be possible to continue in the future if Russia does invade or if strong anti-Western feelings remain.
Encouragement and Unity amidst the Crisis
Despite the fears and tensions, some evangelicals in eastern Ukraine have drawn together for mutual support and to seek God. For example, a graduation ceremony at Donetsk Christian University in late March was filled with mixed feelings. Some students and staff had already left the school in the midst of the crisis, moving to new places of residence and work. Yet, for those staff and students who remained, graduation was a time of remembering what God had done and an encouragement for His provision in the future. Those gathered included representatives from Central Asia, Russia, western Ukraine, southern Ukraine, and Crimea, in addition to a large contingent from eastern Ukraine. This show of unity has been common in many evangelical theological schools in the former Soviet Union, but it could become more difficult in years to come if tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain.
Donetsk has also seen the establishment of a prayer tent with daily inter-confessional prayer meetings, called a “Prayer Marathon for Ukraine,” focusing on prayer for unity and peace. Christians from at least 15 different churches, including Pentecostals, Baptists, Eastern-Rite Catholics, Latin-Rite Roman Catholics, and Kyiv Patriarchate Orthodox gather on Constitution Square in the center of Donetsk.1 The numbers of participants vary, but range from 30 to 70 people.2 Local Christians give to meet the needs of the ministry. The prayer tent participants have been able to pass out literature, talk to people on the street, and pray for people’s needs.
Despite this positive ministry, the prayer meetings have faced some aggression as well. At various times, bricks and eggs have been thrown at prayer meeting participants and threats have been made to set their tent on fire. In one case, after numerous threats, a pro-Russian group stole a sign from the prayer tent (“We pray for Ukraine here”) and threw it in the river. Police standing nearby did not intervene.3 One night in late March, shots were fired into the car of the organizers of the inter-confessional prayer meeting. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident, although the threatening message was clear.4
Even though there have been numerous cases of aggression, Christians in Donetsk continue to seek opportunities to witness to their faith. For example, in mid-April two men in gas masks with clubs came and stole the prayer meeting’s flags. They threw the Ukrainian flag into the river and walked away with the Donetsk region flag. After they were a little ways away, a car pulled up next to them. Two men got out of the car and beat up the men in gas masks, breaking their noses. The men from the car returned the flag to the prayer meeting, apologizing that it was smeared in blood. Prayer meeting participants then brought the two bloodied men back to the prayer tent and gave them medical attention. The men were prayed for and given New Testaments.5 Thus, for these prayer meeting participants, their identity as Christians was more important than their ethnicity, their spoken language, or their physical or economic well-being. They continue to pray and reach out to others.
Notes:
- “Donetskie katoliki, pravoslavnye i protestanty provodyat sovmestnuiu molitvi za mir i edinstvo v Ukraine,” http://www.religion.in.ua/news/ukrainian_ news25435-doneckie-katoliki-pravoslavnye-iprotestanty-provodyat-sovmestnuyu-molitvu-za-miri-edinstvo-v-ukraine.html (4 April 2014).
- “V Donetske napali na molitvennuiu palatki,” http://www.invictory.com/news/story-50431- молитвенная-палатка.html (31 March 2014).
- “V Donetske uchastniki prorossiiskogo mitinga razgromili palatku, gde liudi molilis’ za Ukrainu,” http:// allday.in.ua/politics/news.php?id=223526 (31 March 2014).
- “V Donestske obstrelyali mashinu organizatorov molitvennoi palatki,” http://www.invictory.com/ news/story- 50384-Донецк.html (27 March 2014).
- Marc Ira Hooks, “Attacks Don’t Hinder Ukrainian Christians,” http://www.commissionstories.com/ eurasia/stories/view/attacks-dont-hinder-ukrainianchristians (24 April 2014).
John E. White is a missionary with WorldVenture and a teacher of missiology at Donetsk Christian University, Donetsk, Ukraine.