Ukrainian pastor Ilyushin: Especially now, God wants to save people
13-11-2024
Eastern Europe
Arieke Lucas, RD
Pastor Ilyshin (centre) in the field. Photo Mir Wam Foundation
Eastern Europe
Incoming bombs and Russian troops are just a few kilometres away. They do not stop Ukrainian pastor Vladimir Ilyushin from seeking out his compatriots in need and encouraging them with the message of the Gospel. "God wants to save people, especially now", he says.
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Fighting is still fierce in eastern Ukraine. Every day, hundreds of soldiers are killed, and towns and villages are destroyed. Those who could flee and wanted to escape have left.
"The situation is tough," says the 50-year-old Baptist pastor Ilyushin. Twice a month, he travels to the war zone for several days, 400 kilometres there and 400 kilometres back.
Ilyushin, who originates from the town of Smila (200 kilometres south of Kyiv) and is a pastor in a congregation that is part of Gospel Christian Baptists, has now been to the frontline 58 times. There, he visits places like Lyman, Slovyansk, Prokrovsk, and the city of Siversk—enclosed from three sides—with a group of about 10 to 15 people.
It is a journey fraught with dangers. Several emergency workers' cars have been lost to shelling. Yet, for the pastor, there is no reason not to go. "The love of Christ urges us. When He comes into our lives, we long to share it with others. And when God says, "Go", I have to obey."
Sleeping bags
At the front, the pastor helps with evacuations and distributes humanitarian supplies. Already, hundreds of tonnes of food, medical supplies, clothing, sleeping bags, and aggregates have reached the war zone.
However, Ilyshin does not find many people there. "Before the war, Siversk had some 14,000 inhabitants, now only 300. Some of them cannot flee because they are sick or old. But some don't want to leave because they have lived there all their lives."
The pastor says those left behind are grateful for the help. On his phone, he shows a video of civilians crying and hugging the aid workers. "For these people, our visit is a ray of hope. They have been living inside for two and a half years. Some have not been able to shower for months."
Yet Ilyushin notices that in the war zone –to his surprise– the hunger for the Gospel is greater than the demand for food. But what do you say to people who have lost everything? "Many do not know the Bible. Therefore, the message has to be simple. We tell them who God is and who we are. But also that He wants to save sinners. We also pray the Lord's Prayer. After a few times, they can pray that with us."
New Testament
The meetings occur among broken buildings and in churches if not destroyed. The Baptist church in a suburb of the city of Lyman (which was recaptured from the Russians by Ukraine in autumn 2022) is still standing, but conditions are dire. "There is no lighting and no heating. Churchgoers wear thick coats to brave the cold. The house of worship -despite the constant thumping of artillery- is an oasis of calm for the dozens of visitors."
In the war zone, Ilyshin also speaks to soldiers. After a short conversation, the pastor gives them a bag containing the New Testament, a booklet explaining God's Word, and a prayer tract.
Sometimes, the preacher sees that his labour bears fruit. But the war has also hardened many. "There are those who say, "Death is the end"." Impressive is the incident of a young soldier I spoke to in September. He asked, "Will you still be there tomorrow? Because I want to hear more about God then." But he did not make it, as he was killed in shelling. Therefore, Today, if you hear His voice."
Notebook
The story of an old woman is also engraved in Ilyushin's mind. "She was killed by a bombing. Her house was completely in ruins. Her neighbours buried her in the garden. When they returned later, a booklet was sticking out above the debris. It turned out to be the Gospel of John. A notebook was also recovered. In it, she wrote down what she had heard during meetings. From others, I received confirmation that the evangelisation work had been a blessing for her."
The pastor himself says he is being saved from rebellion against God. "It is terrible what the Russians are doing. At the beginning of the war, I, too, had my why questions. But God took those away."
The preacher grabs his Bible and goes to Lamentations 3. His finger lingers at verses 37-38. "Who has spoken, and it came to pass unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?"
But what is the goal? "Verse 40 is the answer," says Ilyushin firmly. There, Jeremiah writes: "Let us return to the LORD." God is using this war to save people from eternal ruin. That is why there is joy despite all the suffering."
This article was translated by CNE.news and published by the Dutch daily Reformatorisch Dagblad on November 11, 2024
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