Pastor Ivan is a chaplain serving with an assault unit in Ukraine—a unit in which, on average, only a quarter of the soldiers who head into battle return safely. A few years ago, he undertook military training so that he could reach out to the soldiers and their families with the Word of God.

He frequently contacts the Bible Society of Ukraine with requests such as: “I need 100 to 200 New Testaments with camouflage covers, 20 to 30 complete Bibles, and around 30 to 40 children’s Bibles. Please help—this is urgent!” Sometimes, he would simply say: “Please send as many as you can provide.”

These Bibles are kept in his field chapel—a small tent where soldiers come to pray, receive spiritual guidance and attend worship services. Pastor Ivan is able to distribute these Bibles free of charge because the costs are covered by the Bible Society’s supporting partners.

 
One day, Pastor Ivan requested 2,000 copies of the Bible.

He told the Ukrainian Bible Society: “I need a lot today. I need 2,000 copies.”

The day before, Pastor Ivan had just attended the funeral of a soldier named Andriy, who had fallen on the front line. Andriy often visited Pastor Ivan’s field chapel to receive Holy Communion, and it was there that he received a New Testament with a camouflage cover.

Andriy had set off on a mission with a group of other soldiers, but he never returned. He was found lying on the ground, his hand clutching tightly the New Testament he had received from Pastor Ivan. In the final moments of his life, he remained steadfast in God’s Word.

Andriy’s love for the Holy Scriptures inspired others.

This sparked something extraordinary. The story spread rapidly within the unit, even reaching the ears of civilians. Before long, everyone—officers and soldiers alike—wanted a New Testament with the same camouflage cover as the one Andriy had been clutching.

“In all my time in the military, I have never seen anything like this,” said Father Ivan. “People realise that every day could be their last. They want to take with them what is most precious, just as Andriy did.”

When Andriy was found, his body had already stiffened, so the Bible could not be prised from his grasp. His comrades and relatives decided he should be buried just as he was—still holding onto the Word of God.

The demand for the Holy Scriptures in Ukraine continues to this day.

Yurii, a member of the team at the Bible Society of Ukraine, said: ‘On the one hand, we rejoice that people have such a deep longing for the Word of God. Yet on the other hand, we realise the high price that must be paid for this growing interest—namely, a human life.’

Thanks to the support of partners from various Bible societies, Pastor Ivan has received 2,000 copies of the New Testament, but he continues to contact us to request Bibles and other resources. The demand for the Holy Scriptures has not yet been fully met.
“Our mission remains the same,” said Yurii. “To continue serving everyone who needs the Gospel.”

Translated from: biblesociety.org.uk