Faith Facts

• Two women were baptized in the Dnieper River in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, moments after Russian missile strikes killed civilians nearby
• More than 400 Ukrainians gathered for Camp Amerikraine, resulting in multiple baptisms across the war-torn nation
• Survivors of the brutal Mariupol siege have returned to Ukraine to plant a new church that now has over 50 attendees

It was just another Tuesday in Ukraine.

As Russian missile strikes rained down across the besieged nation in Eastern Europe, Churches of Christ kept preaching, teaching and conducting Bible studies with their war-weary countrymen. In Zaporizhzhia, a city near the frontlines of the four-year-long conflict, two women decided to give their lives to Christ in baptism after studying with minister Andrii Bilokonnyi.

He and a small group of church members took the ladies to the Dnieper River to immerse them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.

“Just before the baptism, there was another attack that took people’s lives,”

said Svetlana Shevchenko, a church member and journalist in Zaporizhzhia. In photos of the baptisms, plumes of smoke rise from the attacks across the river.

“We saw and heard the explosions, and at the same time heard the women confessing Jesus as their Savior,”

Bilokonnyi said.

In a text message, Shevchenko added:

“We live in such a city and such a world. The devil takes lives, but God saves for eternal life! What a blessing to be together with the Savior!”

The attacks on Zaporizhzhia are part of an intensive wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine in recent days. In the capital, Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called one such raid “one of the most massive ballistic attacks” since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has launched multiple drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, leading to a nationwide fuel crisis. As they assess damage from the recent strikes, Bilokonnyi and his family make plans to distribute relief through Program for Humanitarian Aid, a Texas-based nonprofit supported by Churches of Christ.

Seeing ‘God’s Hand at Work’

In the midst of the attacks, more than 400 Ukrainians gathered in western Ukraine for Camp Amerikraine, an annual retreat sponsored by Churches of Christ in the U.S. and Ukraine. Jeff Abrams, the camp’s founder, reported multiple baptisms during the camp and in the days after at Churches of Christ across Ukraine.

“Thank you to all who travel a difficult path to get here. Thank you to the team that plans and organizes everything. Thank you to all who pray and pay for this annual family reunion to occur,”

said Abrams, director of the nonprofit Rescue Ukraine.

One member of the organizing team, Stas Kuropiatnykov, was baptized at Camp Amerikraine 20 years ago.

“Back then, I had no idea what God was preparing for my future,”

said Kuropiatnykov, who now ministers for a Church of Christ in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv and served a tour of duty in Ukraine’s military during the war.

“That 20-year milestone is especially meaningful to me. Looking back, I can clearly see God’s hand at work through every season of my life.”

Mariupol Survivors Return to Ukraine

During the camp, Yevheniia Kalchuk shared her testimony of survival during the brutal siege of Mariupol in the early days of the invasion. She and her family were among 33 people — ranging in age from 9 months to mid-70s — who spent 51 harrowing days in the Mariupol Church of Christ building as the war raged around them.

After an exodus that took them to Sopot, Poland, they spoke about their ordeal in mid-2022.

“God did not remove me from difficult circumstances. Instead, he was with me in them. He did not stop the war. But he led me to safety.”

Kalchuk and her husband, Aleksei, have welcomed two daughters into their family since leaving Ukraine. The family made frequent trips back into Ukraine to help distribute humanitarian aid.

Last year, the Kalchuks made one such trip to Vinnytsia, a small city in western Ukraine. That visit led them to do what other Mariupol survivors might consider unthinkable — they moved to Vinnytsia and planted a church.

“Today that church has more than 50 people attending, and I believe God is preparing salvation for many of them. Today I am the mother of four daughters and serve alongside my husband in that church.”

Amid the horrors of Mariupol, she reflected:

“God (was) shaping his vessel. He was shaping me. He is shaping all of us so that we will be ready for heaven.”

The witness of these Ukrainian believers demonstrates that even amid the darkness of war, the light of the Gospel continues to shine. Their courage and faithfulness serve as a powerful reminder that no earthly conflict can overcome the power of Christ’s redeeming love.

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Faith Facts

• Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson credits his Christian faith with helping him survive severe depression and personal struggles
• The Hollywood star recently blessed schoolchildren in Essex with a private screening of his Disney film Moana
• Johnson’s acts of generosity and public faith have made him one of America’s most beloved entertainers

In a world where Hollywood celebrities often hide their faith or compromise their values, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson stands apart. The former WWE champion turned blockbuster actor has never been shy about crediting his Christian faith for pulling him through the darkest valleys of his life.

Johnson’s recent act of kindness — hiring out an entire cinema in Essex, England for a private screening of his Disney film Moana for local schoolchildren — is just the latest example of a man who puts faith into action. These gestures aren’t publicity stunts; they’re reflections of deeply held values rooted in his Christian upbringing.

The superstar has been remarkably transparent about his struggles with depression, particularly following his mother’s suicide attempt when he was just 15 years old. In interviews, Johnson has spoken candidly about how those traumatic experiences could have destroyed him.

“I had to hold onto faith,”

Johnson has said repeatedly when discussing his journey through mental health challenges and professional setbacks.

Before becoming one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, Johnson faced crushing disappointment when his dreams of playing professional football ended due to injury. He found himself living in a tiny apartment with just seven dollars to his name. It was his faith, he says, that kept him from giving up entirely.

The Rock’s Christian foundation was laid early. Raised in a family with deep roots in professional wrestling, Johnson attended Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and later the University of Miami, where he played defensive tackle for the Hurricanes. Throughout those formative years, faith remained central to his identity.

Today, Johnson uses his massive platform — he boasts over 200 million Instagram followers — to share messages of encouragement, gratitude, and perseverance that often echo biblical principles. While he doesn’t preach from a pulpit, his authentic approach to discussing struggle, redemption, and the importance of faith resonates with millions of Americans who share traditional Christian values.

His generosity extends far beyond movie screenings. Johnson regularly surprises fans with cars, pays off mortgages for veterans, and uses his production company to create family-friendly content that aligns with positive values. In an entertainment industry often hostile to Christianity, The Rock demonstrates that success and faith can coexist.

The private Moana screening in Essex exemplifies Johnson’s heart for children and families. Rather than simply promoting his film through traditional marketing, he chose to create a memorable, personal experience for kids who might not otherwise have such an opportunity. It’s the kind of quiet generosity that reflects the biblical instruction to give without seeking recognition.

Johnson’s journey from depression and financial ruin to global superstardom serves as a powerful testimony to the sustaining power of faith. His willingness to be vulnerable about his struggles while pointing to faith as his anchor offers hope to countless Americans facing their own battles.

In a culture that increasingly mocks traditional Christianity and dismisses faith as irrelevant, Dwayne Johnson proves that holding onto biblical principles — even when times are darkest — can lead to transformation. His story reminds us that true strength isn’t found in muscles alone, but in the Rock that never moves: faith in God.

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Faith Facts

• Andy Burnham is being urged to restore the UK’s overseas aid budget as he enters office as prime minister
• Christian leaders are calling on the new government to demonstrate biblical principles of compassion and stewardship in foreign policy
• The decision represents a crucial test of whether faith values will guide Britain’s international commitments

As Britain welcomes a new prime minister to Downing Street, faith leaders and conservative advocates are making a clear call: restore the nation’s commitment to international aid. Andy Burnham now faces a defining moral decision that will reveal whether his government will prioritize Christian principles of compassion and responsibility on the world stage.

Tommy Sharpe has issued a direct challenge to the incoming prime minister, framing the restoration of the UK’s overseas aid budget as a matter of Christian duty. The appeal comes at a time when many Western nations are grappling with how to balance domestic needs against international obligations.

For Christians who believe in Biblical stewardship and the call to serve “the least of these,” foreign aid represents more than just government spending—it embodies the principle that blessed nations have a duty to help those in desperate need. The question facing Burnham is whether political calculations will override moral imperatives rooted in faith traditions that have long shaped British society.

The UK’s foreign aid budget has been a contentious issue in recent years, with some arguing that charity begins at home while others maintain that wealthy nations have a God-given responsibility to assist the poorest and most vulnerable around the world. Conservative Christians have found themselves on both sides of this debate, weighing fiscal responsibility against compassionate outreach.

Sharpe’s appeal specifically frames aid restoration as “the Christian thing to do,” making explicit the faith dimension of what might otherwise be viewed as purely economic policy. This framing resonates with believers who see government action as an extension of personal moral responsibility and Biblical teaching about caring for neighbors near and far.

As Burnham settles into his new role, he faces competing pressures from various constituencies. His response to calls for aid restoration will signal not only his government’s spending priorities but also the role that traditional Christian values will play in shaping Britain’s global engagement.

The decision ahead carries implications beyond budgetary numbers. It speaks to fundamental questions about national character, moral leadership, and whether prosperity creates obligations to those less fortunate—questions that have animated Christian political thought for centuries and continue to challenge believers seeking to apply faith principles to governance.

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