God’s Presence is in Ukraine, Reports Kiev Leader
According to a pastor of a 26,000 congregation in Kiev, thousands of Protestants, Catholic and Orthodox Christians have joined hands in prayer and hearts in praise to help bring the west-leaning opposition leader to victory next week.
God’s presence has brought peace and comfort to Ukraine, despite heightened tension and turmoil in the nation’s political arena, according to field reports from Kiev.
Sunday Adelaja, head of the 26,000-member congregation in Kiev, Ukraine, explained that thousands of Christians have set their differences aside, and have united under one strong voice calling out for God’s guidance.
"Every day there are thousands of people uniting together -- including Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox -- in the streets, Independence Square and in front of the Parliament and other government buildings to make their voices heard,” said Adelaja, during a Global Pastors Network meeting in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 7-8.
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"On the main stage in Independence Square, denominational officials lead the crowds in four hours of prayer -- starting from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. before the politicians speak and from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. each evening to close out the day," Adelaja said, according to a news release distributed by a prominent evangelical media relations firm, A. Larry Ross & Associates in Dallas.
According to the Baptist Press, Adelaja’s church has been actively involved in “caring for demonstrators who have been braving the cold and snow.”
These demonstrators have been on the streets for several weeks, calling against the incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, who is supported by Russia. On Nov. 21, Yanukovich won the election to continue his reign. However, Ukraine’s Supreme Court found the election was rigged, and rescheduled it to Dec. 26.
The opposition leader is Viktor Yushchenko, a west-leaning figure who was poisoned in the midst of the campaign. Thousands of Christians in support of Yushchenko took to the streets and began holding vigils overnight.
According to reports, Adelaja’s church takes in 1,000 Yushchenko supporters each night to provide food, clothing, medical attention and a warm bed.
"One of the army generals told me his secret agents who infiltrate the crowds report back to headquarters that these demonstrations are like a revival meeting," Adelaja was reported saying. "For several weeks, millions of people have gathered in the streets, but because of the influence of Christian leaders and the church, they just sing songs. Most significant is the fact that no shops have been vandalized and no one is drinking -- not even a beer -- which is unheard of among any crowd to gather in an Eastern European nation."
Adelaja added that a “critical moment for the future and destiny of the Ukrainian people” had come.
"I believe this is a critical moment for the future and destiny of the Ukrainian people. Twelve years ago we were freed from communism. Though we have had a different government with different uniforms since, the same corrupt people have remained in power. Now, Ukraine has its first opportunity to choose our own free way of life,” he said.
Adelaja also took note that while the Russian President Vladimir Putin said a pro-western leader in Ukraine will only be elected “over my dead body,” the people clearly are saying otherwise.
"We need the prayers and support of Christians in America to engage the diplomatic process to influence and make clear to the Ukrainian government that the people have a right to elect whomever they want to lead our nation," Adelaja said. "It is also important for the media to not stop talking about Ukraine. As the whole world watches this situation unfold, the pressure will only continue to build for the government to do the right thing."
