Ukraine Under Fire

Dave Schanuel reflects on the Ukrainian disciplemaking mission in May of 2025. I asked God, "What do You want from me while in Ukraine for 3 weeks?" Two Scriptures from God's Word led me.

• Acts14:22 "strengthen the disciples and encourage them."
• 2 Chronicles 20:3-6, 12 “O our God, …we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in Christ are a living example of this prayer of faith.

Life under fire

We had the privilege of walking alongside pastors, interacting with students and staff at Kyiv Theological Seminary and the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary and then worshipping and preaching at Resurrection Church. We emphasized disciplemaking with the pastoral staff at God's Design Church in Kyiv and later at the Central Baptist Church in Lviv. Those three weeks revealed that rupture and repair result in resilience experiencing growth through suffering.

Their demeanor on the outside was a direct result of what God was doing on the inside. I witnessed these believers during the ongoing 40-month war who were joyful, not bitter; able to laugh with little or no complaining; empathetic, rather than indifferent; and obedient to follow God's Word. That's resilience to rise above.

Throughout our time in Ukraine, I observed a people who are not relying on their circumstances to provide their peace and direction in wartime. Instead, they were surrendered, actively living and moving by means of the Spirit of God in their inner being through it all! Their new life in Christ is visible evidence of perseverance and trust.

Many pastors drove hours to minister to soldiers on the battlefield and visit the wounded in hospitals. These disciples of Jesus Christ in Ukraine have continued to make disciples who make disciples in spite of war. Their mission is our mission:

We are commanded to make disciples
who make disciples.

Our challenge

May we in the USA pursue our Lord’s command to make disciples with the same resiliency as the Ukrainian disciples.

I will be happy to speak at your church regarding the remarkable ways God is at work in Ukraine and how God is using GDI to “motivate, equip, and coach” pastors in Ukraine and to the ends of the earth.

David Schanuel, ​GDI US National Director
dave@globaldi.org
816-703-8324

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