A Call to Forgiveness: Following Christ’s Example
Pastor John MacArthur famously stated, “You are never more like God than when you forgive.”
This is an evident message in the New Testament, modeled perfectly by our Savior, Christ Jesus. He Himself commanded, “‘But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven’” (Matthew 5:44–45). This is a call to all Christians to freely extend forgiveness to all those who have sinned against them—to all enemies. This love is how the world sees Christ in us.
The call to forgive is a call to be like Christ.
Grace Bible Seminary: A Beacon of Hope Amidst Conflict
This is a call that the TMAI leadership at the Grace Bible Seminary (GBS) training center has boldly taken up. And nowhere would it seem more poignant and necessary than in Ukraine.
For nearly the past two and a half years, the citizens of Ukraine have lived each day in an environment thick with fear, uncertainty, and, for many, great pain. Both physical and emotional toil has burdened the people to a degree that most in the Western world will never experience.
And since the start of the conflict, the faculty and leaders of GBS have sought to shepherd the people and help alleviate this pain.
From the beginning, GBS knew that they needed to be prepared to serve in the aftermath. This meant developing and implementing ministries and counseling for those injured, abused, displaced, grieving, and fearful. The seminary distributed several hundred tons of humanitarian aid, food, clothing, and medicine to civilians and the military, but GBS knew a much greater need must also be met: the need for the truth and hope of the Gospel.
We want to always respond to the needs of the people around us in a timely and biblical way. We want the church and the seminary to be a beacon for Ukrainian society.
The team of teachers sought to answer the questions that have been the most often asked by non-believers and believers alike during war: Why does God allow war? Is God in control? How do I forgive all that has been done to me, my family, and my nation?
In an effort to provide biblical truth and hope, GBS held a conference entitled “Good Versus Evil.” Over two days, a professor at GBS spoke to over 250 attendees, who are facing the realities of life and death each day and struggling to reconcile the horrors of war with the goodness of God.
Most of the attendees were young people in their 20s and 30s. And for two days, they were encouraged and strengthened by the truth of what kind of God they serve and the hope of fully trusting in Jesus.
“We wanted to give good biblical answers to those who especially need them now,” a GBS leader shares with us. “We want to always respond to the needs of the people around us in a timely and biblical way. We want the church and the seminary to be a beacon for Ukrainian society.”
Ongoing Efforts and Prayer
GBS continues this effort, aiming to provide resources and ministries for those affected by the war. Just this past year, a translation effort has finished for The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness by John MacArthur into Ukrainian. Under the incredible weight of pain, stress, and fear that the people have lived under, GBS remains a beacon of aid, hope, truth, and love.
Please join us in continuing to pray for the people of Ukraine, and the work being done at Grace Bible Seminary as they seek to train men to shepherd the people, while meeting their relevant and long-term needs in a country at war.
