By Mark Ellis
After massive protests in the capital of Ukraine led to the ouster of President Yanukovych and his flight to Russia, a committed Christian, Olesksandr Turchynov, became the interim president.
Turchynov is an elder and occasional lay preacher at the Word of Life Center, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Baptist Union of Ukraine. Protestants make up less than 5% of the population of Ukraine, which is overwhelmingly Orthodox.
“God reached down His hand and helped our nation,” reports Maxim Oliferovski, co-founder of New Hope Center, which ministers to orphans in Ukraine. “Now we have a new (interim) President who is a Christian, a new Prime Minister who is on the side of ordinary people, and a Parliament with a changed mentality, willing to work hard to bring reforms Ukraine needs so badly.”
Parliament voted Turchynov interim president until early elections take place in May.
Baptists in Ukraine have a reputation and a moral stature that dates back to their bold witness to the government of the former Soviet Union. Turchynov is generally well liked by the public and has a reputation for being honest and trustworthy, according to a Baptist IMB worker in Ukraine.
Turchynov has been in touch with the leaders of Ukraine’s union of Baptist churches, and they are supportive of his appointment and committed to pray for him, according to Baptist Press.
“Even though it is quite safe in…most parts of Ukraine (no bullets, or missiles flying…yet), everybody is worried. The situation can get worse at any moment. We want peace and we will do everything possible from our side to be in peace. God is in charge, and we trust Him with everything, including the current situation,” Oliferovski noted.
Acting President Turchynov is known for abstaining from tobacco and alcohol. In August 2007, he responded to criticism about his stance against same-sex marriage: “I do not agree. If a man has normal views, then you label him a conservative, but those who use drugs or promote sodomy, you label them a progressive person. All of these are perversions,” Turchynov said.
President Oleksandr Turchynov
You refer to “God”, thanking him for the people’s victory in their desire for FREEDOM….freedom of self-rule, freedom of self-rights, freedom of all religions, freedom of self-defined happiness, freedom of self-justified sexual lifestyle.
And this same FREEDOM also dictates that it is RIGHT (a right) to be free to worship ANY ‘god’.
It is clear that you are referring to the ‘god of freedom / god of fortresses’ who believes in doing one’s own will, to serve and magnify oneself (XES), to do what is right in one’s own eyes.
This is the same FREEDOM that President Obama has confessed to be the “Light” and “will” of his ‘god’.
…and this “god of fortresses” is being advanced to and uniting all nations.
But note, soon the Lord Jesus Christ will return to rule the whole earth in power according to and in obedience to the Will of the One and Only Jehowah Elohim and NOT according to man’s first love for his “freedom”.
John Stefanyszyn
…a bondman of the King Jesus Christ, Son of the One Creator.
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