President Zelenskyy hosts Ukraine National Prayer Breakfast, urges Christians & Jews to pray for peace amidst ferocious ‘battle between good and evil’
I’ve come to Ukraine as an Israeli to learn, listen & pray
KYIV, UKRAINE — About 10 days ago, I received an unexpected invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the 11th Ukrainian National Prayer Breakfast.
The event was scheduled to be held on Monday, Aug. 25, one day after Ukraine’s Independence Day, celebrating the 34th year since the Ukrainian people finally reclaimed their freedom and sovereignty after 70 years of slavery in the Soviet Union.
Deeply honored, I absolutely wanted to come.
The last time I was in Ukraine was in 1986 – nearly 40 years ago – when I came with a small team of students from Campus Crusade for Christ to smuggle Bibles into the Evil Empire and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Soviet students being raised in the cold and cruel lie that there is no God and no hope for life after death.
For years, I have prayed for the Ukrainian people, especially after writing my 2018 political thriller, THE KREMLIN CONSPIRACY, and Czar Putin’s barbaric and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The opportunity to come visit, pray for peace and the strengthening of the Church, the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom, and possibly to meet with President Zelenskyy, as well, was irresistible.
I just had one problem: Lynn and I had already promised to meet for several days – including the 24th and 25th – with a very prominent Arab Evangelical leader in Paris to better understand what Jesus Christ is doing to build His Church in the Middle East and prevent the forces of darkness and Hell from prevailing against His Church.
The Bible is clear.
Once you’ve given your promise, don’t renege.
“Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no,’” Jesus said in the New Testament (Matthew 5:37). “Anything more than this is from the evil one.”
ARRIVING IN THE UKRAINIAN CAPITAL
So, I asked the President’s Office and the organizers of the Breakfast if I could arrive late – on Tuesday, Aug. 26 – but spend several days in the capital meeting with Ukrainian Evangelical leaders and various government officials and visiting sites of terrible destruction caused by the forces of Putin.
They graciously agreed and encouraged me to join and cover what I see for THE ROSENBERG REPORT on TBN and for ALL ISRAEL NEWS.
After flying to Warsaw, Poland, and taking a 14-hour bus ride into Ukraine through the night, I arrived around 6 a.m. yesterday.
After checking into my hotel and taking a shower, I had the honor of meeting with and interviewing four prominent and highly fruitful and encouraging pastors and ministry leaders, all of whom had attended the Breakfast.
One of them was Pavlo Unguryan, the event’s main organizer, who explained the history and purpose of the gathering.
THE BIGGEST PRAYER BREAKFAST IN UKRAINE’S HISTORY
“This year’s National Prayer Breakfast was the largest one we have ever held in the history of the country,” he told me.
“We had more than 1,200 people – actually, in the end it was closer to 1,500 people – attend.”
“Most of them are Ukrainian Christians of every possible denomination, of course, as well as Jewish Rabbis and other Jewish leaders,” Unguryan said.
“But we also had about 350 guests – mostly Christians – who came from nearly 50 countries.”
Unguryan added that 90 additional prayer events were simultaneously being held across Ukraine on Monday, along with a 24-hour movement of prayer for peace and the salvation of many.
WHY IS UKRAINE’S EMBATTLED JEWISH PRESIDENT HOSTING A PRAYER BREAKFAST WITH CHRISTIANS?
Unguryan told me he was deeply encouraged that Zelenskyy – who is Jewish, not a follower of Jesus, and had spent most of his career as an actor and comedian and in show business, not building relationships with Christians – wanted to formally host the Breakfast for the second time in a row, gave an excellent address, and has really come to believe in the power of building a strong alliance between Jews and Christians and encouraging the power of prayer.
Zelenskyy also invited the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, to the Breakfast, held at the Mystetskyi Arsenal in Kyiv.
Later that day, the Norwegian premier publicly pledged to invest $8 billion to help Ukraine purchase more arms to defend itself against Moscow’s murderous military machine.
Zelenskyy also invited other foreign guests, including President Donald J. Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg; the American evangelical pastor of the Harvest Praise and Worship Center Mark Burns; General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance Elijah Brown; the Chief Operating Officer of Samaritan’s Purse Edward Graham; and Bob McEwen, the former Ohio Congressman and current Executive Director of the Council for National Policy, and his wife, Liz, also devout Evangelicals.
A FEROCIOUS BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
“Today, the battle between good and evil is still ongoing,” Zelenskyy told those who had gathered.
“Russia continues to attack, continues to hit us, to destroy. This must be stopped. It must be stopped. And I believe that together we can achieve this,” he insisted.
“We will achieve a peace that will be enduring and lasting. That is what all our prayers are for today. And they will surely be heard – they are spoken today in hundreds of different languages by our friends from various faith communities, from different continents.”
A statement from his office after the event noted that “Zelenskyy emphasized that it is very important for Ukraine to know and feel the support that is expressed through military assistance and prayers for Ukrainians” from Europe, the U.S. and all over the world.
“He thanked those present for spreading the truth about the war and for uniting people around the world in support of Ukraine.”
WHAT DID THE NORWEGIAN PM TALK ABOUT?
The Norwegian Prime Minister emphasized that while Ukrainian warriors defend the country on the frontline, it’s not just soldiers who are the heroes.
Rescuers work at the sites of Russian air and missile strikes. Parents take their children to kindergartens and schools despite continued Russian bombings and attacks specifically aimed at civilians, including children.
He said that workers in Norway proudly produce defense materiel and new equipment for Ukrainians.
And he praised the “Coalition of the Willing” – including European countries and the United States – who are working on how best to support Ukraine and achieve a just and lasting peace.
“We must do everything possible to stop this war, knowing that one man – the leader of Russia – could end it instantly,” he said.
“We must make every effort to achieve peace – with our hands, minds, resources, and prayers. Our prayers are for the right to life, for the freedom and safety of every person. May God bless Ukraine!”
WHAT DID PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SPECIAL ENVOY TO UKRAINE SAY AT THE BREAKFAST?
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, said, “God is against those who wage war” against innocent men, women, and children.
“Only with His help can true peace be achieved,” he added. “Faith is the foundation of the future, and it is God who gives ordinary people the strength to stand and wait for His salvation.”
“People forget how long this war has been going on,” the firmer American general noted. “It is the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Ukrainians have been at war longer than America was in World War II.”
WHICH OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS ATTENDED THE BREAKFAST OR SENT GREETINGS?
Mykola Kuleba, Ukraine’s Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights (2014-21) and founder of Save Ukraine, and a strong Evangelical Christian, attended and helped support the Breakfast.
I spent several hours with him yesterday and will share more about him and his work in the coming days.
Messages of support for Ukraine were also sent by leaders of the world’s largest Christian communities.
Pope Leo XIV, the new pontiff in Rome, emphasized that he is praying together with all Ukrainians and everyone who cares about the fate of Ukraine for the end of the war, for a just and lasting peace, for protection from Russian attacks, for the return of all prisoners and children, and for the healing of the wounded.
“With this message, I wish to express my closeness to the entire Ukrainian people, who are experiencing their daily Golgotha, lifting sincere and humble pleas to God for peace and tranquility in suffering Ukraine,” wrote the Pope.
Orthodox Christian leaders also conveyed their commitment to pray for the continued protection and liberation of Ukraine.
Anglican Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, in his address to the Breakfast, said that he prays for Ukrainians who have lost their loved ones and their homes, for Ukrainian defenders who, risking their lives, are protecting their country, and urged the world not to remain indifferent.
“The cause of the people of Ukraine is close to the hearts of so many in the United Kingdom,” he says.
“My own church, the Church of England, through its General Synod, has clearly expressed its strong support for a just and lasting peace.”
FRANKLIN GRAHAM URGES CHRISTIANS TO PRAY FOR UKRAINIANS TO COME TO KNOW THE PRINCE OF PEACE
Franklin Graham, the head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, posted a statement of support on Facebook.
“Sunday was Independence Day in Ukraine, and my son, Edward Graham, was invited to pray and speak at their National Prayer Breakfast in Kyiv today,” he wrote.
“There were many diplomats, dignitaries, and military representatives in attendance. He told them that he personally understands the pain and horror of war, and that we are praying for peace and an end to the bloodshed.”
“But most importantly, he said we are praying that the people of Ukraine will find a peace that no president or world leader can give, but that can only come from putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.”
“Edward also had the opportunity to meet with our Samaritan's Purse team serving in Ukraine. We are continuing to provide life-saving aid in Jesus’ Name, and we are beginning to help people prepare for another long, cold winter.”
“Pray for President Zelenskyy, President Putin, and for President Donald J. Trump, and pray that God would work to bring peace.”
Amen – I couldn’t agree more.
OBSERVATIONS OF AN ISRAELI EVANGELICAL IN UKRAINE
As an Israeli who has been living through the longest and most painful and exhausting war in our modern history, it has been deeply moving for me to come here and learn more about the longest and most painful and exhausting war in Ukraine’s modern history.
I’m dealing with a lot of swirling and conflicting emotions right now.
Deep sadness at the 400,000 Ukrainians who have been murdered or severely wounded by Czar Putin’s heartless forces, and the thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children who have been terrorized – or abducted and abused and trafficked – by Russian forces.
Deep admiration to see firsthand the courage and resolve of the Ukrainian people in the face of such evil.
Deep encouragement to hear from pastors how many Ukrainians are listening to the Gospel since the war began, how many are giving their souls to faith in Jesus Christ, and how many churches have actually been planted in Ukraine – especially along the frontlines of the fighting – over the last 3 1/2 years.
So much more to tell you.
That was just Day One of my unexpected visit.
Please pray without ceasing for the people, pastors, and leaders of Ukraine, just as you’ve been praying for us in Israel and throughout the Epicenter.
And I’ll share more with you in the days ahead right here on ALL ISRAEL NEWS.
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Joel C. Rosenberg is the editor-in-chief of ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS and the President and CEO of Near East Media. A New York Times best-selling author, Middle East analyst, and Evangelical leader, he lives in Jerusalem with his wife and sons.
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