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Bible Belt of Eastern Europe, Christianity, churches, cultural genocide, Defenders of Faith and Religious Freedom in Ukraine, Evangelical Protestantism, evangelism, faith-based organizations, freedom of religion, freedom of worship, Gary Marx, Mike Johnson, protestantism, Putin banned evangelism, Putin persecutes Christians, Russia, Russia persecutes Christians, Russia religious oppression, Russian aggression, Russian persecution of Christians, Ukraine, Ukrainian Christians, US Speaker Mike Johnson
April 17th letter led by Gary Marx, who organized the meeting between Mike Johnson and Ukrainian Christians:
“American Faith Leaders Joint Letter to Speaker Johnson on Behalf of Ukrainian Christians
Dear Speaker Johnson,
As leaders of churches and faith-based organizations, we are blessed to represent followers of Jesus Christ across many denominations throughout the United States.
We are pained and shocked by the widespread, vicious persecution of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine by Russian forces. Russia is waging a war against Evangelical and Protestant Christians at a scale likened to “cultural genocide.” These Christians are being persecuted, harassed, intimidated, imprisoned, tortured, mutilated, and killed – simply for worshipping God as they see fit.
Ukraine is the Bible Belt of Eastern Europe, with more than a thousand-year Christian history and an 85% Christian population. In Russian-occupied territories, however, Christian churches are closed, Bibles are destroyed, and believers are banned from practicing their faith. Russian forces have damaged and looted hundreds of houses of worship, and hundreds of congregations have been lost. They are murdering pastors and priests in cold blood; many have disappeared. We cannot stay silent in the face of this evil.
As Christians, we are all members of God’s Kingdom, united through Christ. “When one of us suffers, we all suffer together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). We must rise together to protect and defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted and killed for their faith. Already in Russia, Evangelicals are regularly fined for so-called “illegal missionary activities,” and many Evangelical Protestant organizations are often prevented from using their buildings. The Russian government has obstructed baptisms, weddings, and Evangelical services of every kind. Vladimir Putin has even approved amendments to existing laws that ban evangelism in private homes and online. We have a duty to stop Russia from expanding its religiously oppressive legacy to Ukraine.
We implore Congress to fight back against the horrors being committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. We remind Congress that religious freedom is a basic human right that must be protected everywhere. We pray Congress has the courage to stand in solidarity with people of faith. Ukrainian Christians deserve the freedom to worship in peace and embrace their faith without fear. We call on Congress to provide Ukraine with the financial and military support required to defend herself, stop the bloodshed, and secure freedom of religion within her borders.
Gary Marx, President Defenders of Faith and Religious Freedom in Ukraine
Rick Santorum, Former U.S. Senator Chairman, Patriot Voices
Chad Connelly, President Faith Wins
Ken Buck, Former U.S. Congressman Colorado 4th District
Pastor Dale Armstrong, Director The American Pastors Network International
Adam Hamilton The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
Tim Head, Executive Director Faith & Freedom Coalition
Shonda Werry, President Ukraine Orphan Outreach
Dr. Rex Horne Little Rock, AR
State Senator Kim Hammer Saline Missionary Baptist Church – Benton, AR
Pastor Eli Lara New Life Family Church – McAllen, TX
Pastor John Mendez Catedral de Fe – San Jose, CA
Pastor Al Phillips Greenville County Southern Baptist Association
Pastor Ty Childers Fairview Baptist Church – Spartanburg, SC
Senior Pastor Steve Durham Sunset Hills Baptist Church – Brentwood, TN
Senior Pastor Dr. Mike Hamlet First Baptist North – Spartanburg, SC
Pastor Jason Ferguson All Souls Church – Scott, AR
Pastor Clint Moseley His House Nashville – Franklin, TN
Dan Fisher LifePoint Bible Church – Oklahoma City, OK “ https://www.majoritywhip.gov/uploadedfiles/americanfaithleaderlettertospeakerjohnson.pdf
As Peter Thiel’s protege J.D. Vance is at this moment trying to mislead the US about Christianity in Ukraine, on the US Senate floor, here’s predicting that Thiel’s other protege, and J.D. Vance business partner, Vivek Ramaswamy, won’t be the VP pick. The tide appears to be turning and it may well be Mike Johnson as VP. For every bad there is worse. Mike Johnson may be bad, but Ramaswamy is worse. Regardless, it will probably be a Christian and not a Hindu.
Mining Awareness + 