The Church Amidst the War of Attrition: Ukrainian Evangelical Community in Search of a New Mission Paradigm

The article is a comprehensive analysis of the struggles and challenges faced by Ukrainian evangelicals in the wake of the Russian aggression against Ukraine between 2022 and 2024. This analysis focuses on how the ongoing war has impacted the church’s overall mission and how it has adapted to a rapidly changing political and social environment. The author argues that with Ukrainian society experiencing significant social and existential challenges due to the ongoing war, the traditional model of mission work that solely focuses on evangelism and promoting Christian values as a counter to “neo-Marxist gender ideology” is gradually being replaced by a more holistic and inclusive approach to missionary theology and practice. This new approach emphasizes compassion, solidarity, social responsibility, and a prophetic vision for Ukrainian society after the war. Through this article, the author hopes to deepen understanding of how the role and mission of the Ukrainian Evangelical Church have evolved recently and outline a concept of missional theology that can be relevant for other communities facing significant social, economic, and political challenges.