As war intensifies, Ukrainian, Russian Christians seek common ground: ‘Our citizenship is in heaven’
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Infinity Concepts
Sept.21, 2026
WAR, HUGS, TEARS: As the war escalates, evangelical Christians from Ukraine and Russia met face-to-face in a rare wartime encounter, sharing their heartache and seeking common ground in their faith in Christ. The meeting was facilitated by Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA).
LOVES PARK, Ill., Sept. 21, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Evangelical ministry workers from Ukraine and Russia have met face-to-face in a rare wartime encounter—sharing their heartache over the brutal conflict tearing their nations apart, and embracing each other in tears.
“At first, the men sat very still and didn’t make eye contact,” said Eric Mock, senior vice president of ministry operations at Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) that facilitated the meeting. “By the end, they shook hands, and even hugged and cried together.”
The meeting between two Ukrainian and Russian Christians—whose identities are being withheld for their safety—was filmed by SGA to show “common ground is possible in Christ, the only true peacemaker,” Mock said.
In the face of escalating attacks, the Ukrainian ministry worker told his Russian counterpart that his wife and children had spent the previous night in a bomb shelter as explosions rocked their neighborhood.
“I am very worried for my loved ones,” he said. “The emotions, the nerves—that is what we are going through today. It is a matter of life and death.”
His Russian counterpart said the war was “terrible.”
“I pray every day with my family for this madness, for all this horror, to end,” he said, describing Ukraine as a “kindred nation.”
He acknowledged the “pain” Ukrainian believers are suffering as ballistic missiles and waves of jet-powered drones pound the capital, Kyiv, night after night.
“The same Spirit dwells in the Christians of Ukraine and Russia, and we should strive to find common ground, to find something that unites us, even though it is difficult,” he said. “There are many who love our brothers in Ukraine.”
The difficult dialogue, Mock said, echoed struggles in the Early Church recorded in the Book of Acts, “and how we’re challenged to lay aside our preconceived ideas and treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.”
He added: “Even here in the U.S., despite our many differences as Christians, we’re to strive for unity that is found in Christ Jesus, because our citizenship is in heaven.”
The meeting took place in August at a gathering of more than 20 Christians from several former Soviet nations—part of SGA’s efforts to support evangelical churches across the region. Founded in 1934, the gospel ministry has served faithful local churches through decades of communism, the Cold War, and now the war in Ukrain
Founded in 1934, Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org) helps “forgotten” orphans, widows, and families in Ukraine, Russia, the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel—caring for their physical needs and sharing the life-transforming gospel. SGA supports an extensive grassroots network of local evangelical missionary pastors and churches in cities and rural villages across this vast region.
MEDIA: To schedule an interview with SGA’s Eric Mock, contact: Clem Boyd, clem@infinityconcepts.com, 724-930-4003 (text or phone)
SOURCE Infinity Concepts