9 notable events related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Feb. 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion into Ukraine, saying the “special military operation” is aimed at “demilitarization” and “denazification” of the country to protect ethnic Russians, prevent Kyiv’s NATO membership, and to keep it in Russia’s “sphere of influence.”

How is your church responding to a post-Roe world?

The Dobbs decision marks a true turning point in the pro-life movement — a moment that Christians, pro-life advocates and many others have worked toward tirelessly for 50 years. As we respond to the ruling in this case, we want to be faithful to pray.

This free Dobbs prayer guide contains a list of 48 specific prayer requests to guide you, your family, and your church in your prayers over the coming weeks and months.

This Week in Washington, D.C.

Recently, President Biden announced a new pilot program that empowers individuals to privately sponsor refugees coming to the United States. Through the program, Welcome Corps, groups of at least five individuals can raise funds to sponsor a refugee. Once the refugee arrives, these individuals will help them secure housing, employment, and education as they integrate into American life.

Scripture is unequivocally clear: Christians are called to care for the persecuted and vulnerable. The narrative of Scripture reveals God’s heart for the immigrant and the refugee, who are valuable people made in his image (Matt. 25:35-40; James 1:27). The SBC has also repeatedly encouraged its members to increase their involvement in resettling refugees to our communities.

This program presents new opportunities for individuals and churches to help the persecuted and welcome vulnerable image-bearers. If you are interested in getting involved, our explainer offers more information about the program and some suggestions for how to help.

Read more about this new resettlement program and how you can get involved here.

Featured Podcasts

This week on the ERLC Podcast, Brent and Lindsay discuss the SBC Executive Committee meeting and several noteworthy developments, including the “Ministry Check” website and six churches deemed not in friendly cooperation with the SBC. They also reflected on the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

From The Public Square

Antisemitism worries rising for many U.S. Jews, survey finds
Associated Press

More than four in ten Jews in the United States feel their status in America is less secure than it was a year earlier, according to a new survey by the American Jewish Committee.

GOP attorneys general call for scrapping FDA approval of abortion pill
Axios

22 Republican state attorneys general filed a brief Monday in a case brought by an anti-abortion group, asking a U.S. District Court in Amarillo, Texas, to block the Food and Drug Administration's 2000 approval of mifepristone — a move that abortion advocates say would effectively result in a national ban.

After their genitals were cut, some women search for healing
Associated Press

A global target aims to eradicate the deeply entrenched practice by 2030, and protect the next generations of girls, though campaigners acknowledge the difficulties in achieving that.

Christians need to say no to surrogacy
World

While Christians generally disapprove of single and same-sex men using the practice to procure children, there is much less consensus on whether we should condemn surrogacy in other cases. But on the question of reproductive technologies, and surrogacy specifically, Christians don’t have the luxury of being agnostic or incorrect.

What You Need to Read

Brent Leatherwood with ‘Do all in our power to put an end to war’

Exactly one year ago, I was about to deliver remarks to a Southern Baptist meeting, when the news alerts lit up my phone. The long-predicted Russian invasion of Ukraine had commenced. Russian troops had initiated a new incursion deep into Ukraine’s heartland. After I announced the development to the room, you could sense the audience was contemplating what this might mean for our nation, as well as what it meant for missionaries serving there and our Baptist national partners on the ground.

Tessa Sanchez with How Southern Baptists are involved in Ukraine relief

IMB ministry to and among Ukrainians has not halted in the year since the war began. Although IMB missionaries cannot currently live in Ukraine, they remain emotionally and relationally present with Ukrainians. Through Send Relief and IMB missionary presence, Southern Baptists continue to respond to the needs of Ukrainians.

Jason Thacker with Toward a public theology for a digital age

It does not serve well the message of the gospel, much less our society, to engage on issues without knowledge or awareness of the issues at stake, even if our society seems to reward hot-takes on social media over true action oriented toward lasting change. Even with the immense complexity of these debates, one thing is clear: the dignity of our neighbor is at stake around the world, especially under repressive authoritarian regimes. We must keep that truth central in this debate over digital governance.