Page 9 - News Autumn_winter 2025 fv

“There were about ten of them, very different men who TO SERVE, NOT TO DEMAND
had just been mobilized. Some still had fresh haircuts “Chaplain Viktor, a pastor from a Protestant church, has
from civilian life; others carried an anxiety in their eyes
that no uniform could hide. It was their first week at the served as a military chaplain with the Ukrainian Armed
training center: their uniforms still felt awkward, their Forces for two years. His ministry is not only about
hands remembered tools or a computer mouse rather prayer, but also about those personal conversations that
than a rifle. never make it into photographs yet change lives.
On the second morning, a Chaplain came to see them. He often visits the officers’ tents — places where tactical
decisions are made, heavy choices weighed, and the
No big speeches, no fanfare. He simply sat down next to
them on a bench and said, “Brothers, I am with you. And burden of responsibility extends beyond oneself to
dozens of others. During one of these visits, he spoke to
I brought you something important. This is not an order.
It is not an instruction manual. This is the Word - a Word a group of officers with simple words: “You carry great
that has withstood every war.” responsibility. But I want to remind you: there is One who
carries us. That is Jesus. And this is His Word.”
He handed each of them a small edition of the Gospel of
Mark, in a cover printed with the Ukrainian Armed Forces He handed each officer a small military-edition Gospel
emblem, along with Psalms, short prayers, and contact of Mark, complete with a short introduction, prayers,
and pages for reflection. At first, the officers received it
information. quietly, respectfully, but without much enthusiasm.
“Read it when it’s hard, when it’s dark. Or when no one
sees, but you still hurt,” he added. Yet a week later, one of them, Major Ihor, approached
the Chaplain with the words: “I have never read the Bible
At first, the men accepted the booklets silently. Some before. But this... it’s brief, direct. Like an order. Without
put them in their pockets, while others put them in their religious pomp. It spoke to me.”
backpacks. But the very next evening, one of them —
Artem — sat on his bed and quietly began to read. His He was especially moved by this passage: “For even the
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
bunkmate, seeing him, took out his own copy of the
Gospel. And a small chain reaction began. (Mark 10:45).
“That’s officer ethics, isn’t it?” Ihor said. “To serve, not to
A few days later, the evenings in the room grew quieter. demand.”
Several of the men started asking the Chaplain: “What
does it mean when Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid, only Since then, several officers have regularly turned to the
believe’? Is that about us?” Gospel — reading it before deployments, in the quiet

Yes, it was about them. About those who feel fear but after staff meetings, or during night shifts.
still move forward. About those who don’t understand Chaplain Viktor knows that not everyone will show
everything but keep holding on. And every word from the emotion, and not everyone will say, “I believe.” But the
Gospel of Mark became for them like a breath of fresh air Word works, taking root in hearts that are tired, yet have
in the stifling uncertainty. not given up.
This group had not yet been sent to the front lines. But Even those who wear rank and give orders are learning to
they had already received an important weapon — a faith listen to a voice that speaks from deep within — the voice
that sustains. And the Chaplain knows that his ministry of God.”
isn’t about grand speeches but about making sure there
is a copy of the Word in every pocket, reminding them:
“You are not alone. God is with you. We are with you.”