On 2 June, 19 denominational church leaders led 10,000 Christians in prayers of repentance and unity at the third National Day of Prayer for Ukraine. Broadcast to the nation, the service received support from the President and leading members of the government. Organised by David Hathaway's ministry in Ukraine, the event is in response to the ongoing war in East Ukraine.
This unity was in answer to the prayer of Jesus in John 17.21, "Father, may they be one as we are one." - Where else in the world have all Christian denominations, laying aside doctrinal differences, publicly come together, under their leaders and before the nation, on the authority of the Word of God and salvation in Jesus Christ.
2-days before, at the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast, President Poroshenko spoke on the power of prayer to change a nation: "Twenty-six years ago," he said, (when the Soviet system collapsed and Ukraine became independent), "you could not have initiated the reforms you see today in Ukraine - it has only happened by the power of prayer. Almost 1500 monuments to Lenin have been removed from our land. By the power of prayer, we are bringing our nation back to God - even five years ago it would be impossible to imagine. We would not be able to do any single step without the power of prayer. I was praying to God all night asking for the salvation of our soldiers (during critical attack of Russians in the East)... All persons displaced by the war are invited to church, and all Churches are respected by our law. We are bringing our nation back to God. I greet and support the Third National Day of Prayer, initiated by David Hathaway."
The Washington Post wrote on 9 April about the crisis in Ukraine: 'The war in Ukraine is more devastating than you know'
'The fighting in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region is entering its fifth year. More than 10,000 people have been killed in this persistent conflict; 2,800 were civilians. Nearly two million people have been internally displaced or put at risk if they remain in their homes.
'Today, the Donbas war is among the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with frequent attacks occurring from both sides across the oblasts (provinces) of Donetsk and Luhansk. Before the war, this compact, heavily urbanised and industrialised region held nearly 15 percent of Ukraine's population (6.6 million) and generated 15 percent of its gross domestic product.
'Now it's a war zone. And our research has documented that, as its hospitals and medical facilities are destroyed - perhaps even targeted - its citizens are being deprived of basic health-care services, echoing Syria's similar if larger crisis.
'The fighting has damaged not just health-care services, but other civilian infrastructure such as housing, schools and election facilities - while killing, terrifying and displacing civilians. If Ukraine can't deliver essential services, the war has undermined the legitimacy of the state and made it harder to reach a reconciliation if and when the conflict ends.'