While many Ukrainian citizens are fleeing the country, pastors are staying put to give shelter to those in need and pray for their homeland.

Pray and remain calm is the message the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has put out amid the invasion in Ukraine from Russian forces.

“When this is over, the citizens of Kyiv will remember how Christians have responded in their time of need,” Vasyl Ostryi, a pastor for the Irpin Bible Church wrote for The Gospel Coalition. “We will shelter the weak, serve the suffering, and mend the broken. And as we do, we offer the unshakable hope of Christ and his Gospel.”

Blasts have destroyed a Baptist home and shaken a seminary thus far. Russian forces say they are only targeting military installations, although Ukrainian intelligence believes this to be a lie.

Vice President of the Baptist Union, Igor Bandura, heard about the damage to the Baptist home in Donetsk during a Zoom call. One of their members could not join the call as he was on the front lines. Bandura was told that the “people don’t want to be under Russian control, but they feel helpless so what can they do?” Bandura urged them to pray and remain calm and not let fear win. Other religious leaders were following suit with the same messaging.

Yaakov Dov Bleich, Ukrainian Chief Rabbi, asked people to join in with the Jewish community to unite and chant Psalm 31 together instead of giving in to the panic. He urged for the people to “comply with the orders of the Ukrainian state and military authorities.”

Ukrainians and other residents fled by the thousands to the west as Russia launched missiles all over Ukraine. Ukraine has recently banned men between the ages of 18-60 from leaving as they may be needed what is being described as a war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’ declared martial law after Russia continued to move in further with attacks. On the first day of the invasion into Ukraine, an estimated 137 Ukrainians have died, including a child.

“They are killing people and transforming peaceful cities into military targets,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Not all pastors were able to stay behind to keep their doors open. Over safety concerns, some like the Traviski Christian Institute in Crimea were forced to evacuate, including their Bible translators, after Russian helicopters continued to attack nearby targets.

“The majority of old pastors of the churches stayed in the cities. Youth leaders started evacuating young people,” said Vanetin Siniy, president of the institute. “We managed to purchase a van with 20 seats in order to evacuate people. About 30 people are in a safe place now, in western Ukraine. There are about 40 more people driving west in vehicles that are in bad condition.”

In the capital Kyiv, where Russian forces are targeting, the foreign affairs director of the Ukrainian Pentecostal Chuch has vowed their pastors are staying put.

“We continue our intercessory prayers, talk to people to reduce panic, and help those in need.”

A Church in Kamyanka in the southern region of Ukraine reported they have already begun receiving refugees. They provide temporary shelter for people that include fuel, food, first-aid and sleeping areas. Bombs have already hit three structures in the city so they are not certain how long they can stay open.

“Please pray for disciple-making in the country, safety for our people, and generosity in the midst of war,” Vaym Kulynchenko of the church asked. “And also for discernment, as there is a lot of fake news.”

Another church in Ukraine put out a message via Facebook that reads “not to panic, but to remember how many times God in His Word says ‘don’t be afraid.'” They reminded people that when you let fear win, you paralyze yourself. When you trust in God, you have all the strength you need.

Many churches have asked for not just Ukrainian citizens but for the world to help pray for the families, students and faculty that are being called for military duty. Since many of the husbands are being called to the front lines, some families are choosing to stay as well and they need all the prayers they can get.

Citizen Taras Dyatlik wrote that he had spoken to his wife about evacuating, but she refused and said ‘I will be with you to the very end.'”

While the majority of both nations want peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr was not backing down from Putin’s threats.

Who are you to say our nation doesn’t exist? The truth is with us, and God is with us. We want to live in peace, but if Russia wants to take this from us, let’s fight.” said the president.

Photos are surfacing everywhere of citizens kneeling all over Ukraine praying wherever they can. The Ukrainian Bible Society has said their warehouse is almost out of their stock of 2022 Bibles. The deputy general secretary believes they are seeing spikes in faith because it is something that brings people hope and comfort.

Some religious leaders believe that Russia is out to destroy Ukraine over its Christianity mission to spread the Gospel to surrounding nations. Christian leaders across Ukraine are asking its’ people to stop Russian forces and respond with “Christian character and not from human hate.”

It looks as if things will only worsen in the coming days, and even then it won’t stop the message of the Gospel from spreading.