Building Christian Leaders in Ukraine

“This wound was so deep it influenced his image of God.”

The Military Ministry of Ukraine is all about the Win (…them to Christ), Build (…them up in their faith), and Send (…them out to be a witness to their peers).  Meet Eric*, a young cadet training and studying at the Army Academy, getting ready to graduate and be assigned to his first military assignment. While attending the Academy he met up with a group of American Air Force Academy Christian students visiting Ukraine during their spring break. During their week-long trip, Jeff Laughlin and Roma Pikulik (Cru Military staff) befriended Eric at the English club.  Eric seemed to need a father figure and invited Jeff for long walks and talks, but was hesitant to talk about God.  Jeff suggested that he begin meeting with Roma.

Here is the rest of the story in Roma’s words, “One of the great joys in my ministry is Eric. He came to some of our English Clubs for students. He grew up without a father. His father abandoned his mother when he found out she was pregnant. He never saw his father. This wound was so deep it influenced his image of God. Eric did not want to hear anything about Christ and especially, God the Father. But we continued our friendship for about fifteen months, and God worked on and softened Eric’s heart.”

After several months of weekly Bible study meetings, Eric said, “Yes!” to Jesus. Praise the Lord! Now Eric is growing in his faith and attends church every Sunday. He has been studying to become a Military Psychologist and we know God is going to use all of his preparation at the Academy and what he has learned from the Bible to reach out to the soldiers being tasked with protecting and fighting for freedom from the enemies trying to take over Ukraine. Please pray for Eric to become a strong Christian leader as he uses his expertise for the next five years of active duty service mentoring soldiers who are curious about what God the Father can do in their lives.

*Name has been changed for security