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Exclusive interview with the pastor in the war in Ukraine

Learn about the challenges facing servants bringing hope and faith to those in distress, in an exclusive interview about the war in Ukraine.

5 min readBy Editorial team

The war between Russia and Ukraine has made headlines worldwide, but little is known about this: what is a pastor's daily life like during war?

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You will understand the demanding routine of God's servants in Ukraine in the documentary series “UM DIA NA VIDA do pastor na Ucrânia”.

Beyond the challenges of living in a country caught in an intense international conflict, discover the perspective of people who chose to bring hope, salvation and faith to those in distress.

In an exclusive interview with UNIVER, Bishop Tiago, responsible for the local work, shared some of his experiences:

🔹U: What is it like to serve God in Ukraine during wartime? 🔹T: Serving God in Ukraine during this time of war is a privilege, a pleasure, because God is counting on us at this moment. In a world of thousands of people, servants, the Lord chose us. That is why we value every minute, every second so much, because there are still many regions and cities where the church has not yet reached, as there are few of us here. In a country that currently has more than 45 million people, the desire to serve and win the souls of these people, who have been suffering the worst moment of their lives, burns within us. So many people come to us who have lost their child, husband, home—everything! And who is here to help them? We are. So there is no greater honor for a servant than to be where his Lord has sent him and be used there.

🔹 U: What lifelong lessons will you take from your experiences in Ukraine? 🔹 T: The situation we live in here teaches us many lessons, and the one that has marked me most is that, amid the many difficult situations, we have matured greatly and learned to be content in any situation. Looking at circumstances is no longer part of us; our goal is to fulfill our mission and see a solution where, humanly speaking, there is no way out left. And all this is based on trust in God, which is the greatest lesson. With everything we have been through, without trust in God's character, it is impossible to continue. That trust makes us keep going, without looking back, without wavering (...)

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🔹 U: Which verse has marked you during this period? 🔹 T: “Those who serve at the Altar receive their sustenance from the Altar” (1 Corinthians 9:13). For the Holy Spirit is our sustenance!

🔹 U: What is the biggest difference our pastors make for the Ukrainian people in wartime? 🔹 T: Just as the Holy Spirit is our Sustenance, He has used us to support these people who have suffered so much here in Ukraine. (...) We strive to represent God Himself to those who think they have been forgotten, but God has never forgotten them. And most importantly: there has not been a day, an outreach action or a food donation without these thousands of people hearing God's Word, Food for the soul.

🔹 U: What sets our pastors apart? 🔹 T: One of the things that has set the pastors and servants here in Ukraine apart is this: in a place many want to leave, we choose to stay and make a difference in these people's lives.

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🔹 U: Is there any interesting detail or highlight from filming the documentary that you can share? 🔹 T: One of the highlights everyone can see in the documentary is the gratitude of Ukrainian pastors and wives toward the church, which welcomed them and has done everything possible to continue God's Work here in Ukraine, and they have witnessed this. That gratitude extends to the people. In some parts of the documentary, you can see people calling or writing to the pastors and wives to ask whether they are well and safe. This is our daily reality here: people showing us so much affection and gratitude. And once again, this proves God's own care for His people: He has not only given us the privilege and honor of serving Him, but has also cared for us.

🔹U: What message would you give to everyone who has decided to live the GO of the Great Commission and go out into the world preaching the gospel? 🔹T: The center of God's Will is where you should be, and remain until your final breath. For those who live at the center of God's Will do not waste time or give doubt a voice. It is the place where all the answers and direction are found to do what pleases God. Without worrying about what will happen, how it will be, the country you will be sent to, the language or whether you can speak it. All this becomes very small compared with the purpose God places in the hearts of those who have truly and sincerely decided to live the GO of the Great Commission.

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Take advantage of this Daniel Fast and watch stories that teach us to fulfill the GO of the Great Commission in practice.

Watch “UM DIA NA VIDA do pastor na Ucrânia” exclusively on univervideo.com

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