Jesus – Author and finisher of our faith

Conflict in Ukraine –A Horrifying Reality

UKRAINE – On February 24, at approximately 5:00am Kyiv time, President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation to “demilitarize and denationalize Ukraine.” A few minutes later, missile strikes began in major cities throughout the country, including near the capital of Kyiv. Can you imagine the struggle and heartbreak victims of the conflict in Ukraine must be facing right now?

Since the beginning of the conflict with Russia eight years ago, CBN Ukraine along with partners on the ground, continued serving in the line of fire. Whilst dreaming of a long-awaited peace, friends like you have been sending critical aid and supported lifechanging surgeries in the besieged areas of Ukraine.

Crisis in Ukraine Turns to Full Scale War

Last week, the lives of Ukrainians like elderly Vira from the Donetsk region changed in the worst way imaginable. The regular artillery fire they had grown accustomed to enduring exploded into intensive shelling and missile strikes. They now face a horrifying new reality.

Suddenly they found themselves caught in the throes of war and on the frontlines of a full-scale Russian invasion. Sadly, many have lost their homes and livelihoods. Others were severely wounded, and some parents who cannot be re-located, some are weary of wandering and have chosen to settle in basements and underground shelters. And many simply do not have the funds necessary to leave the war-affected zone.

lost cherished loved ones killed by bombing and shrapnel.

Over a million have already fled the conflict yet, some residents cannot escape the turmoil. There are ill Thanks to the ongoing donations of faithful supporters like you, we were able to immediately begin reaching out to embattled Ukrainians like Vira. Through our team on the ground in Ukraine and our partner organisations

8 | FROM THE OFFICE in the warzone, we are so grateful that compassionate donors are already making a huge difference.

Help for Ukraine During Russian Invasion

Our supporters are making it possible for us to supply food, hot meals, water, generators solar chargers/light and fuel. In addition to the other lifesaving supplies, the generators and chargers provide an invaluable lifeline for families who would otherwise have no power to charge their phones to remain in contact with loved ones.

Together with our partners, we are supporting many evacuees. As the situation persists and unfolds, they face untold challenges, travelling to and surviving in a new location. We commit to continue standing with victims of the conflict in Ukraine. We are ready to help survivors and refugees sensitively, lovingly, responsibly and above all – prayerfully.

With your support we can continue this life-saving aid and do much more! No one knows when the war and its terrors will end, but you can provide a glimmer of hope in these dark times.

To support the disaster relief in Ukraine, please visit www.cbneurope.com/Ukraine.

He is Risen

Take a moment to read Luke 24:1–8. The Romans crucified thousands of Jews in the first century; Jesus was one of them. His death on a cross was not unique. It proved to be a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23). The difference: the resurrection. Jesus walked out of the tomb. The resurrection became the cornerstone of the New Testament message that Jesus was God’s Messiah. He “was born of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:3–4 NKJV). When Paul stood in Athens addressing the pagan Athenians, he sought common ground to proclaim his message to them – an altar to an unknown god, quoting their poets, not quoting the Jewish Scripture – yet the one thing he could not equivocate on was the resurrection, even though Greeks found it to be foolishness (Acts 17:16–34). The resurrection of Jesus served as God’s promise to those who are faithful that they too will participate in the resurrection at the end of the Age (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Corinthians 15). It also provided a powerful reversal. The crucifixion and death of Jesus left the hopes of many shattered (Luke 24:21). While Jesus died fully trusting His good and loving Father, His followers did not share the faith of their master. But God specializes in turning the dark into light, making the impossible possible, and bringing life from death. In the resurrection of Jesus, God triumphed over the grave. He brought life from death; He turned darkness into light. He gave hope. This is why in the midst of our deepest darkness and despair, we do not lose faith. No matter how dark the night, how devastating the diagnosis, how impossible the situation, God will triumph. He will transform death into life and darkness into light; and so, we have hope. Why? Because Jesus walked out of the tomb. The Apostle Peter firmly declares the hope we have because of the resurrection: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away” (1 Peter 1:3–4 NASB). Even when we come to the end our lives and face our own death, we have nothing to fear. We have extraordinary hope, for ourselves and our loved ones. Why? Because Jesus walked out of the tomb.

PRAYER

Father, You are our hope. Even in our darkest moments, You bring us light and life, and therefore we trust You. Thank you for the hope we have in the resurrection. Amen.

If you would like to know more about the work of CBN Israel visit cbnisrael.org