This past week I had a conversation about the war in Ukraine with a veteran missionary to Europe. Since 1991, Tony Twist has served as president of TCM International Institute, a Christian Church mission based at Haus Edelweiss in Austria. Tony reported their institute and seminary have 3,000 students and alumni impacted by the war.

On February 24, 2022, the very day Russia invaded Ukraine, TCM was hosting a meeting with their 26 regional representatives and partners – group that includes national leaders from both Ukraine and Russia as well as other surrounding European countries. Upon learning war had broken out, the delegates spent the remainder of their time together processing the tragic events of the day and praying for how TCM could respond to the challenges they would face as a result.

These national leaders knew there would be a tremendous need for humanitarian aid, but they also discussed the opportunities for evangelism a horrible war could produce.

Tony Twist said, “Most of the leaders were familiar with war and knew there was no going back. They were confident Europe was about to be irreparably changed again. But they also anticipated that God could use the war to open doors and cultivate hearts. So, we crafted both a short-term and long-term response.”

He added, “As soon as our leadership meeting ended and our representatives left, refugees started showing up. We shut down all our campuses so we would have room to accept the terrified women who had just kissed their husbands good-bye at the border, not knowing if they would ever see them alive again. Accompanying them were children of all ages who had sobbed good-byes to their dads who were staying behind to fight the invading Russian soldiers. Scores of displaced Ukrainians arrived…tired, dirty, traumatized and we started doing what we could to minister to them.”

The TCM missionaries were thrilled when their Austrian neighbors noticed all the refugees showing up at Haus Edelweiss and asked, “How can we help? What can we do? If you get full here, you can put some in our homes.”

The locals brought food, clothing, toys for the kids and strollers for moms. Yet, most importantly they began accepting refugees in their homes.

Tony said, “We learned the same thing is taking place in other countries accepting refugees. This spontaneous hospitality on the part of Europeans is unusual but they remember past wars when people were displaced. Although most weren’t alive during World War II, it’s in the collective memory of everyone.”

Tony Twist continued, “In Austria it’s very hard to get a Visa and almost impossible to get a work permit. But the Austrian government has now eased up on the regulations and is granting the Ukrainians multi-year visas and work permits. The war is changing the culture. “The mayor of our city called and said, ‘I see you are receiving all these Ukrainians’…’’how can we help?’ There’s now an open door into the West European hearts and homes.”

At the moment, the war is uniting Europeans.

Tony said, “We have 500 of our students who are either Russian or Ukrainians. Sadly, there are family members dying on both sides. However, the Russian Evangelicals at our school have come out boldly against the war, knowing there may be repercussions against them in the future. But at this point, for the most part, there is a united front against the war.”

According to our missionaries, all this chaos provides an unprecedented opportunity for evangelism. Ukrainian refugees who are not believers are now staying in homes of Christ-followers. Sometimes the reverse is true; Ukrainian refugees who are strong Christians temporarily live with families who are not. Someday in heaven, we will probably meet people who were brought to Christ due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Something similar happened in New Testament days.

Acts 8:1 is a pivotal verse in the early history of the church: “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.”

Satan and his minions sought to destroy the church by arresting, imprisoning, and even executing some of the Christians in Jerusalem. The result, however, did not stop the spread of the gospel, but actually increased it.

The book of Acts reports, “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:4).

Tony Twist concluded our phone conversation: “This war is a huge disruption and is horrible. But I think God can use this tragedy in a powerful way to bring people in Europe to Jesus now more than ever before. God does not cause evil, but he can sure use it and redeem it. We may see that in the near future.”

The Bible promises, ^“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

In addition, pray for a swift end to the war in Ukraine. In the meantime, pray for the refugees and their family members left behind in Ukraine. Pray for TCM and other missions on the front line. Pray for believers in surrounding countries who are opening their homes to needy people.

Also, open your heart and your pocketbook to those in need. If you have resources that you would want to directly assist Ukrainian refugees, you can donate to TCM, and designate it for their refugee ministry. Two weeks ago, in this blog post, I mentioned another reliable European ministry you can support — Proem Ministries in Poland. Proem is TCM’s key partner on the ground in Poland. Both of these agencies have been reliable outreaches for decades, and they are taking in hundreds of displaced people and helping provide food, clothing, and shelter for many others.

To learn more about TCM’s response and how you can give, please visit TCM International Institute here. You may also send a check to TCM International Institute, P.O. Box 24560, Indianapolis, Indiana 46224.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18).

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