The East Jordan United Methodist Church of Sterling, Illinois has been showing support for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of that country by making and distributing more than 700 wooden crosses.

The white wooden crosses have been given to people to place in their yards so that they can remind people to pray for the residents of Ukraine. Pastor Jim Miller reported that the church has already distributed more than 700 crosses and is continuing to make more. After they are made, the crosses are placed on the church property for people to take to their homes.

The Christian Post reports:

East Jordan United Methodist Church of Sterling began making white crosses 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide in late February when Russia launched its invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Pastor Jim Miller of East Jordan UMC told The Christian Post that his church has handed out just over 700 crosses and is still making more.

“Everybody in the nation, if they got a heart, wants to do something,” said Miller. “We don’t have the wherewithal to go there and help out. Most people would be too afraid to go, but if we truly are Christian, then we believe that God will help them.”

Miller said the church decided to make crosses that could be planted outdoors because he believes that, given the invasion, Ukrainians would not be safe doing so themselves.

“Ukraine is tremendous as far as being a Christian nation, but they’re being persecuted,” he continued. “So, we decided since they can’t plant crosses, we will.”

When the church makes the crosses, they place the completed symbols of support near their church sign, where members of the public can walk up and take one.

“The biggest problem we see in our human condition in this nation and for the world is that every morning, you turn on the news and you get a new crisis and our interest and our attention on the previous crisis wanes and disappears,” said Miller.

“I’m hoping that putting out the crosses will remind people of those poor people that are suffering. Just because we might turn it off in our minds, we can’t turn their needs off. So this is like the biggest reason we are doing it.”

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