Nicole Lee

TBILISI, Georgia (BP) -- In the face of threats, arson attacks and protests, more than 15,000 Georgians turned out to hear the Gospel in the capital city of Tbilisi, Georgia, a small country on the Black Sea, nestled between Turkey and Russia.

TBILISI, Georgia (BP) -- In the face of threats, arson attacks and protests, more than 15,000 Georgians turned out to hear the Gospel in the capital city of Tbilisi, Georgia, a small country on the Black Sea, nestled between Turkey and Russia. [QUOTE@left@180="There were powerful spiritual forces at work. But our God is stronger."
-- Christian worker]During the Franklin Graham's Festival of Hope, more than 1,000 Georgians indicated a desire to follow Christ -- a reaction that sparked a fire of enthusiasm in local churches. It was a flame that burned on the heels of intense opposition. In the weeks leading up to the festival, the Orthodox Church became vocal in its opposition to the evangelical celebration, said George Green,* a Christian worker who serves with his wife Lily* and their children in Georgia. He said priests threatened congregants with excommunication from the church if they or any family member attended, a punishment tantamount to eternal damnation. They also warned that any show of support would negate their national identity and they would "not be Georgian" anymore, Lily said. Just days before the festival, arsonists destroyed the sports center reserved for the event, forcing the organizers to scramble for another location. Many parks and venues refused to host them, but a local church offered its parking lot as a solution. Although the lot was only large enough for 2,000 people, about 5,300 gathered each night in a standing-room-only crowd, leaning from windows of neighboring buildings and sitting on the walls of the property. The crowd gathered in spite of protesters, who rallied to try to block the entrance. "I walked through [the group of protesters] and there was a dark spiritual oppression, but as I entered the arena there was peace," George said. "Every person who came to the festival had to walk through that and experienced that." "There were powerful spiritual forces at work," Lily said. "But our God is stronger." The result was more than 1,000 people responding to God. The festival, June 6-8, was a pivotal time for Georgian churches that have been timid about sharing their faith and uncertain that God could work through them, George said. The active presence of Jehovah's Witnesses, he said, has tarnished the reputation of Protestantism in the country. That, along with strong opposition by the Orthodox Church has robbed evangelicals of their voice, he said. But the Festival of Hope pulled together 150 evangelical churches and trained them to share the Gospel and lead people to Christ. This has helped spark a fire in Georgian believers, Lily said. "They invited their lost friends hesitantly -- didn't want to pressure them or put them in danger -- but when they witnessed them hearing and getting excited and raising their hands to indicate they wanted to follow Christ, they were in disbelief. They thought this wasn't possible," she said.

KRALJEVO, Serbia (BP) -- In the midst of the worst flooding Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have faced in 120 years, International Mission Board and Baptist Global Response representatives are working to meet needs and share hope.

DONETSK/KHARKIV, Ukraine (BP) -- Tensions -- and prayer -- are now rising across eastern Ukraine as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate.

DONETSK/KHARKIV, Ukraine (BP) -- Tensions -- and prayer -- are now rising across eastern Ukraine as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate.

KIEV, Ukraine (BP) -- Baptist workers in Russia and Ukraine remain uncertain what effect the recent Crimean referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia will have on churches in the region.

CRIMEA, Ukraine (BP) -- Crimean pastor Kostya Bakonov said he believes the conflict in Ukraine is not only a political battle, but a battle for souls as well, calling for more Bible and more prayer.

KIEV, Ukraine (BP) -- A Baptist preacher has been elected as Ukraine's interim president, prompting calls for Christians to pray for the beleaguered nation and its new leader. New interim president Oleksandr Turchynov was the right-hand man of Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister imprisoned by Viktor Yanukovych when Yanukovych became president in 2010. The former prime minister was released immediately following Yanukovych's removal from office Feb. 23, an ousting that came on the heels of a three-month-long protest movement in Kiev, the nation's capital. Parliament voted Turchynov interim president until early elections take place in May. "We need to pray for him," said Nik Ripken,* an expert on the persecuted church and 25-year veteran with the International Mission Board. Baptists in Ukraine have a reputation, a moral base, that dates back to their witness to the government during the days of the Soviet Union, said Ripken, who visited with many of Ukraine's Baptist leaders in 1998 to hear and record the stories of their faith and persecution in that era. "Now they [Baptists] are reaping the rewards of that witness and moral fiber," he said. "We must pray that they do not lose in power what they held so dear in opposition." Tim Johnson,* an IMB worker in Kiev, said Turchynov is generally well liked by the public and has a reputation for being honest and trustworthy. 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, Johnson said. "My Ukrainian friends have expressed pride that a Baptist can hold such a role in a majority Orthodox country," Johnson said.

KIEV, Ukraine (BP) -- As conflict in Ukraine heads into its third month, Ukrainians are losing hope for a peaceful resolution due to mounting hostility. Troubles began when the Ukrainian government failed to sign a trade agreement with the European Union and, instead, signed a deal for financial assistance from Russia that is opposed by many Ukrainians.

HAMBURG, Germany (BP) -- Zeina* has been on the streets of Hamburg, Germany, for several years. She came from Africa by way of Spain, where her children live and depend on her income from prostitution for their schooling and livelihood. She longs for her children to have a better life than she has had and works hard to provide that for them.