On 12-19 November, I made a trip to Ukraine. The purpose of the trip was to have a worship school.
90 worship leaders and musicians representing 16 cities, mostly Word of Life Family churches but also 3 churches outside our own network, had signed up for the Worship School. A very good number considering that many have difficulty travelling due to the war. Something that then made it a little easier for several to come, however, was that we as a congregation could go in and pay part of the costs around the school.
The idea of a worship school was born at our Europe Summit days in Albania last spring where a youth pastor/worship leader called Vitali and I talked about the need for worship teaching in Ukraine. Not just the musical and technical but what we call ‘Theology of Worship’. Vitali and also one of our main contacts in Ukraine – Pastor Rostyslav were the ones who practically organised the school.
The days were characterised by both a great seriousness about the task the Lord has given us as worship leaders, but also by a tremendous joy and wonderful fellowship. Teaching on worship and our identity as worshippers, panel discussions and Q&As about leading worship and leading teams in the challenging times they find themselves in, were interspersed with amazing moments of praise and joy as well as holy moments of worship where God drew us closer to Himself. Many experienced both inner healing and liberation from fear of the future. One occasion in particular comes to mind, when the whole hall in worship bowed their knees in surrender to become worshippers who worship God in spirit and truth. One issue that came up was that of singing songs of joy in a time of so much suffering and darkness. At the beginning of the war, almost only songs of praise were sung about God’s care and love, but after a while, several worship leaders and pastors had felt that, if there is any time when believers need to express the joy of salvation, it is now! Several testified how the strength and life came back to the congregation when they found back to the joy in the Lord.
There was also space for fellowship, rest and walks in this beautiful place and retreat centre, which is secluded, about 1.5 hours drive from Kiev. This meant a lot to many people, to get away from the everyday reality of war and air raids and enjoy the peace for a few days. I am touched by their faith and surrender to God in the midst of war. Several worship leaders have their husbands at the front, one has her husband captured, sitting in a Russian prison for almost 3 years.
One of the encounters that touched me most was with a 10-year-old girl who was there with her mum, crying and asking for prayers that her dad – who is fighting in the Ukrainian army – would not die.
It is difficult to put yourself in their shoes. They ask, ‘Aren’t you afraid to come here?’ My immediate response is that I haven’t thought about it, and that it feels rather irrelevant to the idea that they live with the reality of war week after week, month after month. I’m there for a week and then go home to safe Sweden. Just coming to their country means so much, they express it time and time again. Let us continue to stand together with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. They are heroes who fight for their country, build churches, take care of their families and also do a lot of good for the communities they live in by helping those who are more tangibly affected by the war through counselling and material help. I believe God wants to raise up a new generation of worshippers and hymn-writers in Europe who will boldly lift up the praises of the Lord, and step seriously into the priestly ministry of paving the way for the glory of the Lord, but also paving the way for God’s people into the glory and presence of the Lord.
I think Ukraine can play a key role in this, and it feels like we saw a foretaste of it these days in November.
/Niklas Werner,
Worship Pastor Word of Life
