Since the war broke out, we have been following the news of attacks between Russia and the Ukraine on a daily basis. There are missiles, bombings, “kamikaze” drones, countless Russian onslaughts against Ukrainian cities, which are defended by soldiers willing to give their lives to protect their people and guard their nation.

The scene is one of loss, destruction, suffering, shortages and instability. However, there is a group of men and women set apart by the Holy Spirit to bring relief, refuge and peace to those living in Ukrainian territory.

It is with these realities in mind that I invite you to dive into a reflection that a Pastor’s wife, serving in Ukraine, shared with us:

“My husband and I had to go to the capital earlier this week. During the journey back to the city where we serve (Lviv), we shared our train cabin with a man and a soldier.

During our journey, we chatted and shared meals and experiences. At one point, my mind led me to think about how similar the life of a soldier is to a pastor’s mission and I will explain why.

When entering the train cabin, the soldier only carried the clothes of his body. He carried no food or water. We shared our food and water with him so that he lacked nothing. In the same manner, a pastor leaves everything behind in order to serve God on the Altar. He brings nothing with him but his clothes, and there are times when he doesn’t even bring clothes. However, the Lord of this work does not allow us to lack anything. If necessary, He even sends “ravens” to supply our needs, as He did to Elijah.

The gentleman who accompanied us entered the cabin and said: “This wagon is very old – there’s no this, there’s no that. The soldier said: “For me, this wagon is a five-star hotel! He showed us the bed on which he slept for eight months while he was in the field: on the dirt floor, upon a very thin exercise mat. I immediately remembered our improvised bed in the church, where we have been sleeping. We have recently rented a property and due to priorities with the church and the people, it has not yet been possible to rent a house. We live in the church but that doesn’t make any difference to us. We have a room, some comfort and a warm bed – everything we need to have an excellent night’s sleep. It is our “resort” and we thank God for everything that He gives us!

The soldier had not seen his family since the beginning of the war in February. That time off would be his first visit home after those 8 months. He was given 5 days to see his family and he was very happy for this opportunity. But the man accompanying us questioned him. He said that a friend had received more time – 10 days. But that warrior explained that those who receive more days are usually affected by serious situations of death or injury in their family.

He said, “I will go, but I will return soon. My head is on the front lines of the war.” And is it not the same with the pastor? His life is dedicated to preaching the Gospel. No matter the country, the location, whether he has a church or not. Wherever God has chosen for him to serve is where the pastor wants to fulfil his calling. His thoughts are permanently occupied with the purpose that he received: to save souls! Pastors even have a day off but often give it up in order to meet the needs of the Church. His life belongs to the altar and one day far from the church is already too much.

The soldier also shared that, on one occasion, his superior gave him the mission of walking 20 kilometres in uniform while carrying protective shielding against projectiles (very heavy pieces) and weapons. The entire gear weighed more than his own weight. And he carried out the order without complaining or questioning because he knew that among the members of his team, he was the only one physically capable of carrying out the task. God does precisely this with His servants! He gives to all who serve Him precisely what He knows they can handle. He will never give us something beyond our strength or which will cause us to perish. If we have been dependant on Him, He will always help us overcome each and every situation.

I said to that young man that my father was not drafted because of a problem in his right hand. This prevents him from using a gun, for example. The recruiters explained to him that it would be better if he returned home because he would not be able to defend his partner (soldiers always have partners), and it could complicate a rescue situation. That warrior explained to us that on the battlefield, no partner can be left behind.

If a soldier is hit, he is brought back, even if he has to be carried on someone’s shoulders. And doesn’t the pastor do the same? If one of the sheep is lost, he looks for it (calls, texts, goes to their house) and brings them back so they can be saved. When a fellow member needs help, we are the family of faith that cares for one another.

At a certain point in the conversation, the gentleman interrupted the conversation and ended up confessing that he had not even been called in to report. And the soldier encouraged him: “If everyone goes to war, who will generate livelihood? How will the country be able to pay war expenses? A soldier is no better than a businessman and vice versa! Each person has a role.” Similarly, not everyone is called to serve God on the Altar. But this does not mean that some are more important than others. All roles are fundamental in the Work of God and complement each other in order to establish the church. The pastor serves on the altar but those who serve in the court (assistants, evangelists, youth, educators, members) are part of the body of the Lord Jesus and are involved in the responsibility of spreading the Gospel as much as the pastor.

A final thought is that the soldier’s life is a precious target for the enemy. He knows that if he strikes an ordinary citizen, he will take a life but when he takes down a soldier, he paves the way for the conquest of the nation. After all, behind a soldier there are many lives involved… The same responsibility a pastor carries! When the pastor is wounded, how many sheep are wounded too? Sometimes, even sheep that are not that close to him are hit. This is why the devil works so hard to bring down a pastor. He knows the potential it has of scandalising people and the pain it can cause. He cannot touch God but his target is to hit those who live in the kingdom of God.

It was an experience that is still speaking volumes to me. We had the opportunity of evangelising him and he was very sincere. He revealed to us that he doesn’t sleep well and has nightmares about the deaths he caused and the scenes he saw. His mind is constantly invaded by strong images of bodies and scattered body parts, full of blood. He screams in his sleep. He is full of guilt and sin for having to kill people. His hardship was visible, for his eyes were very red. He even looked like an alcoholic due to the lack of rest. We were able to talk a lot with him. He listened to us attentively and I believe that the Holy Spirit was able to work in his being, bringing him peace.

Anastasiia Da Silva Oliveira (Ukraine)