To our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

To our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I write to you from afar, yet not as a stranger—for we are one in Christ, and members of the same body. When one member suffers, all suffer with it. Your pain is not distant to us who truly walk in the Spirit—it is felt in the heart.

My heart is heavy when I consider the suffering that has come upon many of you—loss of home, loss of safety, and for some, even the loss of those you love. I cannot speak for governments, nor can I justify the actions of nations. But I can speak as a brother.

If the actions of my country have in any way added to your suffering, I ask you to receive these words in humility: I grieve it. I do not rejoice in war, nor in the harm that comes to innocent people, nor in the suffering of the church.

The Scriptures teach us:

“When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26, KJV)

You are not forgotten. You are not alone. Your faithfulness under trial speaks louder than any voice of power in this world. You are bearing witness to Christ in a way many of us have never been called to do.

I also ask this, not as a demand, but as a plea born of the gospel we share:

That you would not hold the sins of nations against the body of Christ as a whole, many among us weep, who pray, who do not support violence, and who long for peace and righteousness. Just as you are not defined by the actions of those who rule over you, neither are all believers here defined by the actions of our government.

Our Lord said:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you…” (Matthew 5:44, KJV)

These are not easy words in times like these. Yet this is the path our Savior walked, even unto the cross, where He prayed:

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34, KJV)

If there is any place on earth where forgiveness can still live, it must live in the hearts of those who follow Christ.

Know this: we are praying for you, not as a formality, but as a burden we carry before the Lord. We pray for your protection, provision, courage, and endurance. We pray that the light of Christ in you will not be extinguished, but will shine even brighter in the darkness.

And we pray for our own hearts as well—that we would not be blind, nor hardened, nor led astray by the Spirit of this world, but that we would walk in truth, mercy, and humility before God.

Until the day when wars cease, and Christ reigns in full righteousness, may His grace sustain you, His peace guard you, and His presence be near to you.

Your brother in Christ

The Country Preacher