Russia (MNN) — Churches in Russia share Christ’s compassion following the deadliest terror attack on Russian soil in two decades.

Gunmen turned the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow into a slaughterhouse on Friday evening, killing at least 137 people and wounding 182.

As news of the attack spread through the country, church leaders’ “response was to pray for the families, to reach them with the comfort that only God can provide, and to be resolute in advancing the Gospel,” Slavic Gospel Association’s Eric Mock says.

“Most of the people I’ve talked to were reminded of the fragility of life and the need to be walking ever faithful one moment at a time before the Lord.”

Crocus City Hall attack memorial in Kazan.
(Wikimedia Commons)

The Islamic State branch in Afghanistan, or ISIS-K, claimed the attack. Both American and French intelligence agencies confirm that the statement is true. France increased its national security level to the highest level on Sunday.

“We live in a changing world, where it seems that the value of a single life has fallen dramatically, and there’s no greater need than now for the Gospel; no greater need for the churches to rise up and extend the message of hope in the middle of the chaos,” Mock says.

SGA serves evangelical churches in Russia through missionary pastor sponsorship, biblical, church-based training, and children’s ministry. More about that here.

Pray believers will seize every opportunity to make Christ known.

“Pray for the churches in Russia [to] be bold and faithful and that they will continue to hold forth the Gospel. Pray for peace in people’s hearts in the middle of an increasingly warring world,” Mock requests.

 

Header image depicts Russian Crocus City Hall amphitheater interiors, a day after the terrorist attack on 22 March 2024. (Wikimedia Commons)