In the days immediately before our united prayer in Lviv, Lviv and West Ukraine came under an unusual and intense Russian drone and missile attack. Over 1000 drones and 34 missiles flew over 1,000 km to strike residential buildings in the regional centres of Lviv and Ternopil – the largest Russian strike yet of the Russian war against Ukraine. They even targeted an ancient Christian district in Lviv, a world heritage site protected by UNESCO; St Andrews Church and a 17th-century museum housing archives were hit.
This attempt to intimidate the people of Lviv and West Ukraine failed, despite injuries and losses received. As Senior Bishop Mykhailo Panochko said, “Lviv is standing strong, Ukraine is standing strong. The Russians will not change God’s plans for Ukraine.” And it proved true.
On Saturday, 28th March, the day before the prayer, we carried out an important Mission of Mercy, praying with refugees who have found shelter in Lviv during the Russian invasion. We distributed clothing, food packages and Bibles, shared the simple Gospel, and encouraged people to open their hearts to Christ. People with disabilities came and were open to experiencing the love of God.
On Sunday, 29th March, pastors and bishops from across the Lviv region gathered together, along with chaplains, military representatives, and official guests from the city administration, recognising this as a critical moment for Ukraine. More than 1,500 filled the hall. A choir and live orchestra of 120 musicians contributed to a powerful atmosphere of God’s presence. David’s representative in Ukraine, Vadim Preobrazhenskiy, shared a message about God’s Mercy which has united and transformed the nation in the despair of war, and in the biggest historical challenges Ukraine has ever faced.
David’s powerful and prophetic video address to Ukraine spoke directly to the hearts of the Ukrainian people living in the difficult realities of war. From the Word of God in Deuteronomy 4:29-36, he encouraged them that in their distress, in this war – God is answering their prayer, using their nation to demonstrate His Power to the world, driving out what was the 2nd most powerful army in the world by His Mighty Hand, so that Ukraine has become the strongest modern military in the world. David said, “Ukraine, for 4 years, you have faced a mountain – you have commanded that mountain, and that mountain will move! God will give you the victory, because He – only He – has the Power!”
The Bishop of the Pentecostal Union of the Lviv region, Volodymyr Yakumiv, thanked Great Britain for her strong support of Ukraine and expressed gratitude to David Hathaway for his spiritual leadership and support. The Honorable Senior Bishop of the Pentecostal Union of Ukraine, Mykhailo Panochko, prayed with deep passion and tears in his eyes, asking God to strengthen the spiritual unity and thanking Him for thwarting the plans of the enemy: none of their destructive plans have been fulfilled – Kyiv was not occupied, Lviv remains strong, Ukraine is united, and Russian criminal influence has been broken forever.
National Prayer for Ukraine will be held on July 4th in Kyiv, when thousands representing all Christian denominations in Ukraine will again unite under the vision God gave David.
