From: Douglas Shepherd (MTW L’viv)
History Claps Back:
Standing against a terrorist regime is always the right move. Not always easy but always right.
These Ukrainian children are forced to carry the load of heavy issues in their daily lives and in this case an international karate competition.
Ukrainian karate athlete wins bronze in Spain, proceeds to walk off podium to avoid photo with a Russian competitor. Legend!
Evhenii Melnyk refused to be photographed with a terrorist country representative. I’d expect the adults to not put kids in these circumstances but it seems children can identify evil and reject it easier than the adults these days.
Last year, Ukrainian athletes Maria Hnes and Anna Vashchyshyn also refused to take a group photo with a Russian competitor after the medal ceremony at a stage of the Youth League of the prestigious World Karate Federation (WKF) tournament.
(Nearly 600 Ukrainian athletes have been killed in war with Russia)
Maria later said that her father, who serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, praised her for refusing to pose with the Russian athlete.
Pray for the Ukrainian church as it fights off evil invaders who threaten the right to exist and worship.
Voice of Ukraine 
One response to “4/10/2025 — History Claps Back: Standing against a terrorist regime is always the right move. Not always easy but always right. (video)”
April 11, 2022
From Pastor Ivan: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” Ps. 133:1. It is difficult to put in words the joy of meeting with brothers and sisters at a church service in the midst of a wartime. Ever since the beginning of the full scale war, our capital city has been subject to strict martial law regulations. The Kyiv region was one of the first to be attacked. Immediately the life and ministry of the church were completely redefined and reformed. Although many members of the church had to evacuate to a safe place, part of the church remained in Kyiv. We continue to distribute humanitarian aid, deliver food and medicine to those in need.
Some members of our congregation took up arms and went to the territorial defense battalions. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our collective worship services, because our meeting place, due to its proximity to the Government block, could become a target for rockets or bombs. For the past several Sundays, we were limited to online sermons and devotion at home. We looked forward to our daily evening prayer meetings, when we met online every evening for prayer and fellowship.
All of us felt very acute need of a live, face to face, collective worship service on the Lord’s day. The disturbing news from the front line, stress and anxiety only contributed to this longing. Finally, this past Sunday, April 10, we managed to get together for the worship service in the building of the ERSU Seminary.
Notwithstanding the wartime, our joy knew no bounds. We savoured every moment of this divine service. We sang our well-known Christian hymns, fervently prayed for the needs of the church and our long-suffering country, soaked up the readings of God’s Word and meditated on the words of the sermon. Despite the fact that we were few, God’s presence in this service was so special and more tangible than ever. The Lord spoke to the heart of each of us through His Word and evoked a response in the depths of every soul.
After the benediction, we, completely neglecting and forgetting the Covid restrictions, hugged, talked with each other and enjoyed the refreshments. We just didn’t want to leave. Everyone understood that live, face to face worship service just has no alternative in our earthly life. When we finally parted, encouraged and spiritually strengthened, we realised that we were already looking forward to our next worship service to our Lord in the assembly of brothers and sisters.
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