DEWITT, Iowa — A special screening of “A Faith Under Siege: Russia’s Hidden War on Ukraine’s Christians” will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Dewitt Operahouse Theatre.
The event is hosted by IA NICE and will include the film’s executive producers, Steven Moore and Anna Shvetsova, who will participate in a question-and-answer session after the one-hour movie. The operahouse is located at 716 6th Ave.
The film, produced by Colby Barrett,Mr. Moore and Ms. Shvetsova, documents the challenges faced by Christian communities in Ukraine under Russian occupation. It depicts the seizure of churches, torture of pastors and abduction of children and highlights what the filmmakers describe as “Putin’s violent assault on religious freedom.” Despite these hardships, the film showcases the determination of believers, including pastors, aid workers and missionaries, who risk their lives to maintain their faith.
“A Faith Under Siege” premiered as Russia escalated its bombing campaigns against Ukrainian civilians after a Palm Sunday ballistic and drone attack on Sumy, Ukraine. The bombing killed 35 civilians and injured more than 100 people attending church services.
The film is being screened in a limited number of communities that have welcomed Ukrainian refugees. IA NICE, based in Clinton County, is a nonprofit formed originally to help families enter and settle in the United States. On its website, IA NICE said that due to immigration policy changes made by the Trump administration, the mission now is to help these Ukrainian refugees to stay and work in the communities that welcomed them.
In thanking the DeWitt Operahouse Theatre for hosting the screening, the new IA NICE organization said it is “the perfect place to elevate the testimony of Ukrainian Christians and highlight their powerful demonstration of resilience and faith.”
Tickets are $5 and include admission and refreshments. All proceeds will go to local Ukrainians who have recently lost the legal right to work in the U.S. Space is limited, and advance ticket reservations are encouraged.
For more information about “A Faith Under Siege” and how to get involved, visit IA NICE’s website.
