From Pulpit to Battlefield

When Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Pastor Andriy Zalishuk never imagined his ministry would shift from the pulpit to the trenches. A faithful Baptist pastor, Andriy spent years shepherding his church and teaching future leaders. But when missiles shook his neighborhood and refugees flooded into his city, God called him to a new mission—serving as a chaplain among soldiers on the frontlines.

War Brings a New Calling

At first, Andriy joined humanitarian aid trips to devastated cities like Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. He saw bombed-out apartment buildings, grieving mothers, and exhausted soldiers. The need went deeper than physical aid. Soldiers battling daily fear, loss, and trauma desperately needed hope.

That’s when Andriy knew: Ukraine’s army needed chaplains who could walk beside them, listen to their stories, and point them to Christ.

Ministering in the Trenches

Life as a chaplain is raw and urgent. Soldiers who rarely open up to wives or friends pour out their hearts to him. They ask questions no seminary could prepare for:

• “If God is love, why does He allow this?”
• “Why am I alive when my friend died beside me?”

Andriy prays with young men who don’t know if they will see another sunrise. He comforts families grieving sons killed in battle. He brings the hope of Christ into places where death is a daily reality.

“Soldiers need someone who understands their pain,” he says. “They need someone who can remind them that Christ is still the way, the truth, and the life.”

Why Chaplains Are Essential

The war is not only physical—it is deeply spiritual. If Russian forces succeed, pastors like Andriy would be among the first to be silenced. Already, the Russian Orthodox Church blesses missiles and justifies atrocities. Religious freedom would disappear overnight.

Right now, Ukraine enjoys a rare freedom to proclaim the gospel. Chaplains are a vital presence in military units, offering spiritual care, emotional support, and the truth of God’s Word. But they are volunteers, often unpaid, surviving on small gifts while risking their lives daily.

“Our country needs many more chaplains than we have,” Andriy explains. “This is a blessed ministry, but it is very needed.”

How You Can Stand with Ukraine’s Chaplains

Pray

• Pray for chaplains like Andriy to have strength, protection, and wisdom as they minister.
• Pray for soldiers to encounter God’s grace and find lasting hope.
• Pray for Ukraine’s churches to be salt and light in this time of suffering.

Give
Your support makes chaplaincy possible. Donations provide food, transportation, resources, and basic living expenses for chaplains who serve without pay. By giving, you help carry Christ’s light into the darkest places of this war.

Hope in the Midst of War

From the pulpit to the trenches, Pastor Andriy’s journey shows that the gospel cannot be silenced—even by war. Soldiers facing death daily do not need empty words. They need Christ.

Through your prayers and support, chaplains like Andriy can continue to stand with Ukraine’s defenders, bringing the message of hope that lasts even beyond the battlefield.