From a small town in the Pacific Northwest to nearly two decades of ministry in Ukraine. Here is the story of how God led Caleb from America to ministry in Ukraine.

Early Roots in Ministry

Caleb was born in Salem, Oregon, while his father was studying for ministry at what is now Corban University. “My dad had been in the Coast Guard before feeling God’s call to ministry,” Caleb recalls. “After just a month of my birth, we moved to Gig Harbor, Washington, where he continued his studies and soon planted Discovery Baptist Church.”

That small congregation became the foundation of the Suko family’s life for the next 40 years. Caleb grew up watching his father faithfully serve and lead the church — never in explosive growth, but in steady, healthy development. “Those years shaped how I view ministry today,” Caleb says. “My dad’s example taught me the importance of faithfulness over flashiness.”

As a teenager, Caleb began to serve in the church — leading songs, helping in youth ministry, and even preaching his first five-minute sermon at age fourteen. “It was about Moses and peer pressure,” he laughs. “I’m not sure anyone remembers it, but I do!”

A Family Shaped by Service

Caleb grew up in a bustling home with seven siblings and a constant stream of visitors. “We didn’t have much space, but we always had people,” he says. “Our home was the hub — neighbors, church members, guests — everyone came through.” His mother, too, played a vital role, faithfully accompanying her husband in ministry, teaching Bible studies, and even playing piano at church on the morning she went into labor with Caleb’s brother.

That environment of ministry, hospitality, and faith set the stage for Caleb’s own calling.

The Call to Missions

At sixteen, Caleb’s heart was stirred when a missionary from Togo, West Africa visited his church. “Something inside me sparked,” he remembers. “I thought, maybe that’s what God wants me to do.” Though he initially imagined Africa, God’s plan would take him in a very different direction — to Ukraine.

Through a series of providential connections, Caleb met the president of a mission organization who mentioned opportunities in post-Soviet Ukraine. “I told my parents, and my dad was immediately excited,” Caleb says. “He said, ‘Great! I’ll go with you.’ I hadn’t even decided yet, but I saw that maybe God was leading.”

In 1994, Caleb and his father made their first trip to Odesa. “Ukraine had just come out of the Soviet Union — the contrast was shocking. It felt like stepping back fifty years.” But what they found there — openness to the gospel and deep spiritual need — left a lasting impression.

Preparation and Perseverance

Over the next decade, God continued shaping Caleb’s path. He studied at Shasta Bible College in California — where he met his future wife, Christina — and later earned his Master of Divinity from Northwest Baptist Seminary, the same school where his father had studied decades earlier. During those years, Caleb served as an intern pastor at Discovery Baptist, raised a young family, and even ran a small business.

“Those were busy years,” Christina recalls. “Caleb worked, studied, led youth programs, and preached. But God used that time to prepare us.”

In 2007, after years of short-term trips and growing conviction, the Suko family moved to Ukraine full-time. “We sold what we had, packed our kids, and landed in Odesa in August,” Caleb says. “It was hot, we didn’t know the language, but we knew God had called us.”

Language, Culture, and Calling

Caleb quickly immersed himself in learning Russian, taking long lessons with a teacher who didn’t speak English — forcing him to adapt and think in the new language. Years later, as the war in Ukraine reignited a movement toward Ukrainian language, Caleb began learning Ukrainian as well. “By the end of 2024, I had set a goal to preach in Ukrainian — and by Christmas, I did,” he says with a smile. “Now I preach entirely in Ukrainian.”

His language learning wasn’t just academic — it opened doors for gospel conversations. “My Ukrainian tutor wasn’t a believer,” Caleb says. “We’d read Scripture together, and she’d ask deep spiritual questions. Sometimes I didn’t even have the vocabulary to answer, but I did my best.”

Ministry in a Time of War

Eighteen years later, Caleb and Christina continue to serve in Odesa amid war and uncertainty. Their ministry has adapted — meeting both spiritual and physical needs.

“When we first came, the focus was leadership training and discipleship,” Caleb explains. “Now, because of the war, there’s also trauma, displacement, and loss. Many pastors are gone — either at the front or abroad. The need for gospel-centered ministry is greater than ever.”

Through The Story of Hope Bible studies, the Sukos are helping churches across Ukraine share the gospel chronologically from Genesis to Revelation. “We now have about 30 groups across the country,” Caleb says. “It’s amazing to see Ukrainians discovering the full story of redemption.”

Beyond Bible studies, their team produces evangelistic magazines for churches — visually rich, Scripture-saturated tools for holidays like Easter, Christmas, and Independence Day. “We want people to open it and immediately see the gospel presented beautifully and clearly,” Caleb explains.

A Message for the Next Generation

When asked what advice he’d give to young people sensing a call to missions, Caleb doesn’t hesitate. “Don’t wait for the ‘mission field’ to start serving,” he says. “Serve now. Be faithful in your local church. Let God open the doors. And listen to mentors who can help you discern His leading.”

Caleb also points to his book 10 Questions to Help Clarify Your Calling as a practical guide for those wrestling with God’s direction. Another of his books, How to Kill Worry and Anxiety Before They Kill You, speaks to the universal struggle with fear — whether in times of war or peace. “You don’t need missiles flying overhead to experience anxiety,” he says. “But the same gospel truth that sustains us in war can free anyone from worry.”

Conclusion

From a small town in Washington State to the war-torn streets of Odesa, Caleb’s journey is a testament to God’s faithfulness and the enduring call to make disciples of all nations. His story reminds us that ministry begins at home, grows through obedience, and blossoms wherever God leads — whether in the jungles of Brazil, the churches of Ukraine, or the living rooms of those who open their hearts to the gospel.

‍