I’ve started to look away. Each time a news report about the horrors of the Russian invasion of Ukraine comes on the TV or pops up in my social media feeds, I’ve had to change the channel or keep scrolling. For the first two weeks, I followed every story about the war. But it started to take a toll, especially the stories about children being hurt or killed. I simply couldn’t handle more death and sadness.

But I made an exception for a recent interview with a Ukrainian Christian leader who witnessed the destruction of his city firsthand. Not only does he provide a valuable, on-the-ground perspective, he wrestles honestly with questions of God’s presence during this dark time—and how best to communicate God’s love.

I’d also like to highlight our resource on Preaching in Moments of Crisis. People in your church are reeling from the reports coming out of Ukraine, even if they don’t know the people personally affected. These tips from seasoned preachers will help you to speak God’s truth into their grief and fear with sensitivity and hope.