Lamar and Aubrey Shubert lead workers among popular Ukrainian and Russian groups. And while the spotlight of the world is rightly focused on the parodies facing the Ukrainian people, the hearts of the Shuberts break not only for them but also for the Russian people.

When the USSR legally ceased to exist on December 31, 1991, Southern Baptists and other evangelical groups rushed to bring the gospel to the people of Russia and the former republics. Although the government has increased restrictions in recent years, established churches in Russia have continued to grow in strength and zeal. As the war continues and the world is polarized, the Shuberts want to remind the Church in the United States to pray for the churches in Russia, for they too are suffering.

“The Russian Church and most Russians are not the ones who are at war with Ukraine. It’s the Russian regime,” Lamar said.

The Shuberts offered specific ways for Southern Baptists to pray for Christians in Russia during this time – especially for followers of Christ and national partners within the border.

Pray for those who have not yet heard the gospel in Russia.

Less than 2% of Russia’s population of 145.8 million identifies as evangelical. Pray that the believers who remain in Russia will devote themselves to the task of reaching this vast group of unreached people with the gospel during the war. Pray that they will be reminded that the greatest need in the world is loss, even when other felt needs are increasingly pressing.

Pray for the Russian Church in the Face of Persecution

The Shuberts pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but while the war still rages, those inside Russia who strongly oppose it face imminent persecution. Lamar says churches expect government to focus on people in their culture who “cause tension” and push to distinguish them. He thinks this will inevitably include the Russian Evangelical Church. Lamar said churches were anticipating a “religious purge.”

“It’s just hard to listen to friends and colleagues who, for their reunions, ask questions like, ‘What will be our political statement so that when they come to arrest us, we can be the best? possible witnesses?’ This is where the Church is right now. They are preparing for these arrests and the persecution to come,” Lamar explained.

Pray for the Russian Church as part of the body of Christ

As the necessary sanctions are lifted to stop the Russian regime’s efforts, it is the Russian people, rather than government leaders, who are feeling the pain the most right now. The price of milk has increased five or six times compared to a few weeks ago. Auto parts are scarce and most flights are unavailable. Yet churches are doing what they can to help Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Russia.

“They are hurting personally,” Lamar said. “It’s not just the potential for persecution. They are suffering in ways that we as Americans do not understand, and we have rarely seen in our American history. Pray for them as they suffer and suffer willingly.

Pray for IMB workers among popular Russian groups

Russians remain one of the largest groups of unreached people, despite the growth of the church in Russia. With this statistic in mind, the burden of continuing the work among Russian grassroots groups is heavy.

“They are [IMB workers] are also suffering, but they are waiting to see where the Russians will start migrating to as they come out. They want to be there and seize the gospel moment,” Lamar said.

While the Shuberts have expressed concern for Russian believers, they also look with confidence at the impact the Russian Church can have on the kingdom in its own country and as some begin to flee to other places.

“There is a great Church in Russia. The Church in Russia is strong, solid, growing and vibrant,” Lamar said. “We want to keep faith in Christ that if persecution breaks out, it will be something through which the Church will grow. And our brothers and sisters in Russia wholeheartedly believe this. They will stand and pay whatever it takes because they know God will use it to uplift the kingdom.

Some names may have been changed for security reasons.

Myriah Snyder writes for the IMB.