ARLINGTON, Va. — Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, Yaroslav Pyzh, a Baptist pastor from Lviv, has taken on numerous roles.
He leads the rapidly expanding Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary and manages a network of 18 humanitarian aid centers throughout the war-torn nation.
Additionally, he has positioned himself as a key advocate for American evangelicals.
Pyzh frequently journeys to the Polish border, and upon gaining passage, travels to the United States to share the story of his country’s struggles and to call for ongoing American support.
He is not alone in this mission. Over the past two years, Ukrainian Baptists and other evangelical groups have actively reached out to their American counterparts through both organized initiatives and individual efforts.
Their outreach has spanned the U.S., with visits to churches, Christian colleges, and even Capitol Hill.
They are targeting American evangelicals who hold considerable political influence within the Republican Party, a group that is increasingly embracing isolationist views and displaying skepticism toward support for Ukraine.
“That war is a loser,” said Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, in a recent podcast.
His running mate, JD Vance, expressed indifference about Ukraine, stating, “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine.”
Gary Marx, a veteran conservative strategist in the U.S., is collaborating with Ukrainian evangelicals to promote their narrative.
This work is part of a $3.6 million agreement between a Ukrainian organization and the DCI Group lobbying firm, as evidenced by foreign agent registration documents.
“(Ukrainians) recognize that the survival of their nation hinges on U.S. support,” Marx emphasized.
“It’s as straightforward as that—without U.S. assistance, their survival is impossible.”
During one of his recent trips to the U.S., Pyzh visited at least eight states, including a meeting with Southern Baptist leaders in Nashville, Tennessee.
Being fluent in English, he has also acted as a translator for American church groups visiting Ukraine.
Pyzh earned his doctorate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas and continues to bridge communications between both nations.
“I see myself as a link between two sides,” he explained at a gathering at a church in St. Louis in August.
He acknowledged that while his American friends have visited Ukraine multiple times and supported his ministries, they are currently feeling conflicted.
“I sense a struggle within them between their desire to assist us and their political beliefs,” noted Pyzh.
“Their hearts are with Ukraine, but their minds are elsewhere.”
Evangelicals play a significant role within U.S. politics, especially in Congress.
Ukraine is often referred to as the “Bible Belt of Eastern Europe.” Although evangelicals make up only about 2% to 4% of Ukraine’s population, this represents several hundred thousand individuals who contribute a dynamic and influential religious force.
They have established strong connections with American evangelicals, particularly Southern Baptists, who represent the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., with 13 million members.
Earlier this year, Baptists from both nations urged Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson—himself a Southern Baptist and former church official—to support aid for Ukraine, despite facing potential backlash from the party’s more extreme elements.
Prominent Ukrainian Baptist leader Pavlo Unguryan has met with Johnson multiple times to advocate for this support.
“We are brethren within the one body of Jesus Christ,” Unguryan asserted.
Following a tragic incident in Odesa that took the lives of a Baptist pastor’s daughter and infant grandson, Unguryan facilitated a meeting between the grieving son-in-law and Johnson, just before the speaker successfully pushed for a significant $61 billion wartime aid package for Ukraine.
“While intelligence briefings may have provided Johnson with the rationale for supporting Ukraine from a strategic standpoint, our work and that of others like us provided the emotional and spiritual connection needed,” explained Steven Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project, which has helped finance Unguryan’s U.S. visits.
Moore, who has extensive experience working with the Republican Party, began this initiative in 2022.
His organization has set up meetings with over 100 congressional offices to discuss potential support for Ukraine.
Additionally, during the discussions surrounding aid, digital advertisements were launched in Johnson’s district, and a billboard was placed across from his church in Louisiana, urging him to act in favor of Ukraine.
Moore’s group also created a website showcasing stories of Ukrainian Christians claiming to have suffered torture at the hands of Russian forces.
“We consistently seek ways to bolster Republican support for Ukraine, and a significant element of that is through evangelical messaging,” Moore indicated.
However, this advocacy also touches upon deep-rooted concerns among Americans regarding religious freedom, which is used by critics of Ukraine as a point of contention.
Russia has alleged that Ukraine discriminates against Christians, especially after the implementation of a law that seemingly targets the Orthodox Church branches historically aligned with Moscow.
This law prohibits religious groups supporting the Russian invasion or associated with the Russian Orthodox Church, which has backed Moscow’s efforts in Ukraine.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has raised alarms about this new law, yet it emphasizes that “Russia remains the most significant threat to religious liberty in Ukraine.”
“Religious freedom and pluralism are considerably more robust in Ukraine than in Russia,” commented Catherine Wanner, a Penn State professor specializing in the region’s studies.
Persecution of evangelicals is prevalent in Russia and the territories it occupies, partly because their faith is viewed as having ties to the United States.
Igor Bandura, senior vice president of the Ukrainian Baptist Union, noted that Russian authorities often label evangelicals as American operatives.
“They think all evangelicals are spies sent from the U.S.,” Bandura remarked, speaking from Kyiv, where he had a sleepless night due to ongoing warfare.
The conflict has devastated hundreds of churches and religious sites across Ukraine. Bandura reported that 110 out of 320 Ukrainian Baptist churches in the areas recently occupied by Russia have been lost due to fleeing congregants.
“Those who have remained are experiencing immense pressure,” he added.
In May and June, Bandura visited the U.S. as part of the DCI project coordinated by Marx.
His itinerary included the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Indianapolis, where he dedicated substantial time outside the conference to discuss the situation in Ukraine with his fellow Baptists.
Southern Baptists have a long-standing legacy of missionary work in Ukraine. After the war’s initiation, representatives from the SBC voted to “unite in support with our Ukrainian brethren.”
The SBC’s humanitarian organization, Send Relief, has reported assisting 2 million individuals in the region since 2022, and Brent Leatherwood, head of SBC’s public policy division, has emphasized the importance of continued American aid for Ukraine.
In April, Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, joined Pyzh and other distinguished Baptists in signing a letter advocating for Johnson to endorse aid for Ukraine.
“Most Southern Baptist pastors I converse with genuinely desire for Ukraine to succeed,” remarked Darling.
“Many have connections to the area through missionary work. Hence, this viewpoint is not as contentious as it may seem.”
In a Virginia Baptist church, just outside of Washington, Pyzh reiterated his gratitude for American support, noting that millions of Ukrainians will be closely monitoring the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.
His seminary continually adapts to meet the evolving demands brought about by the conflict.
Currently, enrollment has reached over 1,300 students, accompanied by thousands in certificate programs.
They have recently introduced a counseling curriculum to address rising mental health challenges, and for the first time, this year’s incoming class includes recent war veterans, some wounded and discharged from military service.
Pyzh succinctly expresses the sentiment shared by many Ukrainian evangelicals, emphasizing that this struggle is both spiritual and physical, fought for the sake of political and religious liberty.
“This battle is vital not only for our national existence but also as Christians, as believers,” he stated.