Voice of Ukraine

From: Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 1138)

We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
Psalm 78:4

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a conference for the leaders of Christian schools organized by the ACSI Europe (Association of Christian Schools International). It was a blessed time. First of all, I got to learn from people who are passionate about God and dedicated to investing in our children. We met with school leaders from all over Europe and shared our struggles and positive experiences.

However, the biggest blessing was the conference theme—Fear Not! As I sat through the seminars, I kept thinking how amazing God is because the words shared by the speakers were not only an encouragement to me as a teacher but also a nourishment for me as a Ukrainian.

Just a few thoughts that stood out to me (and I’d say they are universal whether you’re a teacher, a leader, or a Christian who wants to reflect God’s glory):
~ “The world is moved not only by the mighty shoves of the heroes but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.” (Helen Keller)
~ Resilience is something God wants to develop in us as part of our sanctification.
~ Hope is the overflow of trust in God, and joy and peace are signs of the lack of fear, even in times of storm.
~ God often uses pain to lead us deeper in faith, hope, and courage. He can meet us in the fire as it happened with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but even if He doesn’t, He calls us to be faithful and stand true even in the face of death.
~ Don’t lead for survival – lead for eternity.

I left the conference feeling inspired and refreshed, encouraged by the genuine love I saw.

The conference took place in Budapest, and so even though we didn’t have sirens there, we were still struck by the news of missile and drone attacks. However, no matter how good of a time we had there, I am happy to be home. It’s the feeling that can’t be replaced.

God is good, so let us be faithful and set a good example for the generations to come.