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AN UNBROKEN CONNECTION WITH GOD cannot destroy: faith, hope, and love. One of them is a
“Maria serves as a communications specialist in a combat Ukrainian soldier named Roman (pictured on page 8).
unit. Her job is to ensure a reliable connection between While serving in a combat zone, Roman was a platoon
positions — sometimes under fire, sometimes in total commander. His unit entered a minefield. A powerful
silence, when communication is the only thing holding explosion tore through the air, and in an instant, his
the system together. world was shattered. Roman lost both legs below the
Her work demands precision, speed, and calm, even knees. Pain, fear, unconsciousness... But just as his life was
hanging by a thread, one of his fellow soldiers rushed
during chaos. But as Maria herself admits, it can be to his side. He didn’t panic. He didn’t run. He applied
hard to keep her balance, especially at night, after long, tourniquets, stopped the bleeding, and saved Roman’s
difficult days when voices, sounds, and messages she had life.
relayed keep circling in her head.
After his time in the hospital, during rehabilitation, and
One day, Chaplain Petro visited their unit. An older man through many long nights of inner struggle, Roman
with kind eyes, he had a habit of saying little but simply received a small booklet from that same comrade — the
being there. After a brief conversation, he came over Gospel of Mark.
to Maria and handed her a small book in a camouflage
cover: “Read it, brother. It’s what keeps me going. Maybe it will
help you too,” he said.
“This is the Gospel of Mark. It’s short, but it goes straight
to the heart. Read it. Maybe you’ll find something there From that moment on, the Gospel became Roman’s daily
to keep you going.” bread. One verse struck him deeply — the words of Jesus
She didn’t rush to open it. But one night, while on duty, in Mark 8:35:
Maria began to flip through the pages. Her eyes stopped “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but
on these words from the first chapter: “Very early in the whoever loses their life for My sake and the Gospel’s will
morning, while it was still dark, He got up, left the house save it.”
and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed…” He came to understand true life isn’t found in a whole
Maria suddenly felt that these words were about her — body, but in a whole heart.
about the night shifts, the exhaustion, the need for quiet,
and for someone who understands. From then on, she Today, Roman serves as a mine safety instructor. He
teaches young soldiers and civilians how not to lose what
began reading a few verses every day. And in the most he lost. But most importantly, he testifies that even after
stressful moments, before tackling new challenges, she an explosion, even without legs, you can still stand — on
would place the Gospel next to her radio. faith, on the Word of God, and on love for your neighbor.

“It’s also a connection, only with Him,” she now smiles. His story is the Gospel in action. Because while some
The Gospel that Chaplain Petro had given her became her people read Mark, others live like Mark — like his friend
support — through every shift, every new day. And even who saved Roman’s life. That is how true light comes, a
when the radio connection broke down on the airwaves, light that will never be extinguished in any trench.”
her connection with God remained unbroken.” We are grateful to Brad for supplying the testimonies and
IT’S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING photos for this article. The text has remained unchanged.
“War has changed many lives. But there are those who, Please join us in praying for the vital work that Mission
having lost nearly everything, found what even death Eurasia carry out.

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