Ukraine's Acting President Grants First International Interview Exclusively to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Aimee Herd : Mar 7, 2014
Charles Chandler – Decision Magazine, BillyGraham.org

"I see God's hand in every little detail that took place as unarmed people went out to defend their freedom and the independence of their country against a fully armed professional army, many times bigger in size. Their faith was victorious. God granted them victory."

(Kiev, Ukraine)—Viktor Hamm, the Vice President of Crusades for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), traveled to Ukraine this week, to meet with interim President Oleksandr Turchynov, a devout Evangelical Christian. (Photo via Wikipedia)

Hamm himself has "deep ties" to the country, as he was reportedly born in a Soviet labor camp, and has since led 15 crusades there with the BGEA.

Although acting President Turchynov has refused other interviews with mainstream media, he granted a request from Hamm, for an interview that is slated to appear in April's edition of the BGEA magazine, "Decision."

Turchynov reportedly spoke opening about the way he sees God moving among the recent events in Ukraine, and that the victorious overthrow of former president Viktor Yanukovych, all seemed to demonstrate "the greatness of God."

"Truth was on the side of those who stood for their rights, and (chose not to) be slaves, without rights and without voice," said President Turchynov.

Some of the miraculous ways that God seemed to help were described in the report on BillyGraham.org:

Turchynov said only God could have delivered those who refused to be oppressed any longer. The acting president noted how, during the war-like events that took place during the confrontations at Maidan (the city square), huge clouds of smoke would drift toward the Berkut riot police and away from protestors, obstructing the view of the perpetrators. Turchynov said there was also a time when a grenade was thrown near him, but that only one fragment hit him on the cheek, causing no lasting injury. (Photo via BGEA)

"I see God's hand in every little detail that took place as unarmed people went out to defend their freedom and the independence of their country against a fully armed professional army, many times bigger in size," Turchynov said. "Their faith was victorious. God granted them victory."

According to Hamm, the Ukraine is the "most Evangelical nation in Europe."

Turchynov noted the next challenge to his people was interference from Russia, and he asked for Believers to pray.

"…pray for us so that peace would return and people would be able to live peacefully," said Turchynov.

He added, "If God is with us, no one can be against us."