Faith
Ukrainian Christians Baptize New Believers as Russian Missiles Strike Nearby
Faith Facts
- Two women were baptized in the Dnieper River in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, moments after Russian missile strikes killed civilians nearby
- More than 400 Ukrainians gathered for Camp Amerikraine, resulting in multiple baptisms across the war-torn nation
- Survivors of the brutal Mariupol siege have returned to Ukraine to plant a new church that now has over 50 attendees
It was just another Tuesday in Ukraine.
As Russian missile strikes rained down across the besieged nation in Eastern Europe, Churches of Christ kept preaching, teaching and conducting Bible studies with their war-weary countrymen. In Zaporizhzhia, a city near the frontlines of the four-year-long conflict, two women decided to give their lives to Christ in baptism after studying with minister Andrii Bilokonnyi.
He and a small group of church members took the ladies to the Dnieper River to immerse them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.
“Just before the baptism, there was another attack that took people’s lives,”
said Svetlana Shevchenko, a church member and journalist in Zaporizhzhia. In photos of the baptisms, plumes of smoke rise from the attacks across the river.
“We saw and heard the explosions, and at the same time heard the women confessing Jesus as their Savior,”
Bilokonnyi said.
In a text message, Shevchenko added:
“We live in such a city and such a world. The devil takes lives, but God saves for eternal life! What a blessing to be together with the Savior!”
The attacks on Zaporizhzhia are part of an intensive wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine in recent days. In the capital, Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called one such raid “one of the most massive ballistic attacks” since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has launched multiple drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, leading to a nationwide fuel crisis. As they assess damage from the recent strikes, Bilokonnyi and his family make plans to distribute relief through Program for Humanitarian Aid, a Texas-based nonprofit supported by Churches of Christ.
Seeing ‘God’s Hand at Work’
In the midst of the attacks, more than 400 Ukrainians gathered in western Ukraine for Camp Amerikraine, an annual retreat sponsored by Churches of Christ in the U.S. and Ukraine. Jeff Abrams, the camp’s founder, reported multiple baptisms during the camp and in the days after at Churches of Christ across Ukraine.
“Thank you to all who travel a difficult path to get here. Thank you to the team that plans and organizes everything. Thank you to all who pray and pay for this annual family reunion to occur,”
said Abrams, director of the nonprofit Rescue Ukraine.
One member of the organizing team, Stas Kuropiatnykov, was baptized at Camp Amerikraine 20 years ago.
“Back then, I had no idea what God was preparing for my future,”
said Kuropiatnykov, who now ministers for a Church of Christ in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv and served a tour of duty in Ukraine’s military during the war.
“That 20-year milestone is especially meaningful to me. Looking back, I can clearly see God’s hand at work through every season of my life.”
Mariupol Survivors Return to Ukraine
During the camp, Yevheniia Kalchuk shared her testimony of survival during the brutal siege of Mariupol in the early days of the invasion. She and her family were among 33 people — ranging in age from 9 months to mid-70s — who spent 51 harrowing days in the Mariupol Church of Christ building as the war raged around them.
After an exodus that took them to Sopot, Poland, they spoke about their ordeal in mid-2022.
“God did not remove me from difficult circumstances. Instead, he was with me in them. He did not stop the war. But he led me to safety.”
Kalchuk and her husband, Aleksei, have welcomed two daughters into their family since leaving Ukraine. The family made frequent trips back into Ukraine to help distribute humanitarian aid.
Last year, the Kalchuks made one such trip to Vinnytsia, a small city in western Ukraine. That visit led them to do what other Mariupol survivors might consider unthinkable — they moved to Vinnytsia and planted a church.
“Today that church has more than 50 people attending, and I believe God is preparing salvation for many of them. Today I am the mother of four daughters and serve alongside my husband in that church.”
Amid the horrors of Mariupol, she reflected:
“God (was) shaping his vessel. He was shaping me. He is shaping all of us so that we will be ready for heaven.”
The witness of these Ukrainian believers demonstrates that even amid the darkness of war, the light of the Gospel continues to shine. Their courage and faithfulness serve as a powerful reminder that no earthly conflict can overcome the power of Christ’s redeeming love.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- A group of pastors gathered to pray over Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a campaign rally, calling on God for supernatural favor in the final weeks before the Senate election.
- The clergy specifically invoked Romans 13, urging divine support for Paxton as he seeks to represent Texas in the United States Senate.
- The public prayer event reflects a growing trend of faith leaders openly supporting conservative candidates who align with traditional Christian values.
A group of Texas pastors publicly prayed over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton at a campaign rally this week, asking God to grant him favor with voters in the final stretch of his Senate bid.
The clergy cited Romans 13 during the prayer, reminding supporters that governing authorities are called to serve as ministers of God for justice and order.
Pastors for Paxton gathered to pray over @KenPaxtonTX at his rally today in Conroe. Pastors @Steve_Riggle and @BuntrockJames led us in asking God to grant him wisdom, strength, and protection as he serves Texas. ???? https://t.co/8GQVrU5zxO
— Pastors For Paxton (@pastors4paxton) October 20, 2026
“Give him favor with voters.”
Paxton, who has long positioned himself as a defender of biblical values on issues like life, marriage, and religious liberty, welcomed the spiritual covering from the pastors in attendance.
The event underscores the deep connection many conservative voters in Texas feel between their faith and their political choices.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Frank Turek wakes each morning and ends each evening thinking of Charlie Kirk.
- One year after witnessing the assassination of the conservative activist, Turek continues his commitment to share the Gospel on college campuses.
- The loss of Charlie Kirk has strengthened Turek’s resolve to defend biblical truth among young people.
Christian apologist Frank Turek has carried the memory of Charlie Kirk with him every single day since witnessing the conservative activist’s assassination at Utah Valley University. The grief remains real, yet so does his steadfast determination to keep proclaiming the Gospel.
Each morning when he wakes and each night before he sleeps, Turek’s first and last thoughts return to Kirk. The loss of a friend and fellow defender of truth has left a deep mark, but it has not silenced his mission.
“The first person I think of when I wake up is Charlie.”
Turek’s ongoing work on college campuses reflects a commitment to the same values Kirk championed. He continues reaching students with biblical truth, refusing to let tragedy silence the message of Christ.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Scripture shows God pairing leaders such as Moses with Joshua, David with Jonathan, and Paul with Barnabas and Timothy.
- Jesus sent the seventy-two disciples out in pairs, modeling shared leadership rather than isolation.
- Healthy Christian leaders are called to build friendships that strengthen their walk with Christ and service to others.
Leadership brings heavy responsibility whether you run a business, shepherd a congregation or coach a youth team. Decisions rest on your shoulders and burdens often feel uniquely yours.
Many leaders quietly admit that the role can feel lonely. Yet loneliness does not have to become isolation that harms both the leader and the people served.
“Leadership will always have moments of loneliness. That comes with the territory. But that doesn’t have to mean isolation.”
Throughout the Bible, God provides companions for those He calls to lead. These relationships offer wisdom, encouragement and accountability that solitary leadership cannot supply.
“Build deep friendships with fellow leaders. No leader feels like they have time for this. Yet few leaders make it to the finish line healthy without it.”
Leaders are encouraged to take two practical steps. First, seek a coach or mentor who is a few steps ahead and willing to share honest insight and guidance.
Regular meetings with such a mentor can help a leader recognize blind spots, set growth goals and stay faithful when the fire of service begins to fade.
Second, build deep friendships with other leaders who share the same values and challenges. These relationships offer laughter, correction, prayer and perspective that refresh the soul.
For more than twenty years, one minister has walked alongside six fellow leaders from Texas, Oklahoma and California. They meet weekly by video, attend conferences together and retreat each year for three days of honest conversation and prayer.
The investment of time and travel has strengthened each man’s ministry and personal walk with the Lord. Distance and busy schedules require intentionality, yet the spiritual return far outweighs the cost.
Christian leaders are urged to pray for the right companions, take the initiative to reach out and keep showing up even when the effort feels awkward at first. The people entrusted to their care deserve leaders who remain spiritually and emotionally healthy.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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