A year has passed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. For many people, this period has been a time of unexpected, unusual events. Those people who experienced the influence of the Holy Spirit and opened their hearts to the Savior Jesus Christ experienced special changes.
In Korop, Chernihiv, Gospel meetings were held by Pavlo Stepashko and Vitaliy Reshitko. Seven women accepted the Word of God by faith and, on January 28, 2023, entered the waters of baptism, which took place in Radychiv in the pool of the Desna Recreation Center. A week later, another man joined the local community by being baptized at home.
In Obukhiv, Kyiv, two people were baptized on January 31, 2023. On February 1, 2023, the Omelchenko couple from Horodnia, Chernihiv, entered into a covenant with God through water baptism. On February 11, 2023, three people were baptized in Skvyra, Kyiv, where they made a vow of good conscience.
The work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of people led to a solemn service in the Spiritual Center of Dnipro on February 19, 2023, where eight brothers and sisters from the city and region came to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The baptismal rite was performed by Pastor Oleg Gnidenko.
In Sumy, spiritual and social programs are regularly held, and as a result, people decide to dedicate their lives to God. Thus, on March 4, 2023, a baptismal ceremony was held in Sumy, where seven people were baptized: three sisters from the first Sumy community, one from the second Sumy community, two from Krasnopillya, and one from Okhtyrka.
On March 11, 2023, a solemn baptismal service was held in Zhytomyr, where eight dear children of God dedicated their lives to their Heavenly Father.
An evangelistic program was held in Poltava with the participation of evangelist Viktor Begas. The program was attended by 270 people. Seven of them decided to enter into a covenant with God and made this decision on March 18, 2023.
On the same day, a solemn baptismal service was held in Kyiv at the Podil Church, where 12 brothers and sisters from different communities of the city were born of water and the Spirit.
On Sabbath, March 18, 2023, two young people were baptized in the Adventist community of Pid Vynohradiv, Berehove, Zakarpattia. For a year, Pastor Andriy Konashuk has been conducting Bible studies with the youth. And on March 12–18, 2023, an evangelistic program for young people was held, led by the director of the Youth Ministries Department of the Western Ukrainian Conference, Oleksandr Koropets. As a result, on March 18, 2023, Ruslana Vovchok and Ilya Konashuk, the son of Pastor Andriy, who performed the rite, were baptized.
On the same day, in the Eternal Gospel community in Lviv, seven people made a covenant with God through water baptism, and one person joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church through a profession of faith. Five of the newly baptized members are from Lviv; one, from Brody; one, from Busk; and one sister, from the Barvinok sanatorium. Among them, three are internally displaced persons, and one of the women lives in a shelter on the church's grounds. The baptismal ceremony was performed by the community's pastor, Volodymyr Skyba.
March 18, 2023, was a joyful day for three young people from Bukovyna who made a covenant with God in the community of Nedoboivtsi. One of them belongs to the Grozintsi community, and two are from Nedoboivtsi.
An evangelistic program was held in Khmelnytsky, led by Viktor Voitko. The church united in a common ministry, inviting their relatives, friends, and acquaintances to the program. In total, about 60 people attended the meetings, including nearly 20 regular listeners. The result of the divine influence and efforts of the church members was the baptism of six people on March 19, 2023.
Since the beginning of the conflict, social support programs have been held in Apostolove for IDPs and all those affected. These people are invited to attend Gospel meetings. Bible studies were held with those interested. On March 19, 2023, two men decided to dedicate their lives to God and were baptized. The ministry continues in the communities of Apostolove and Zelenodolsk. More than 200 people attend weekly meetings.
The original version of this story was posted on the Ukrainian Union Conference Ukrainian-language news site.