2 weeks later on, longtime church leader and you can theologian Igor Kozlovsky, which spent nearly 24 months just like the prisoner from specialist-Russian separatists, died out of a coronary arrest. He had been 70.
‘The guy protected their household members, our very own country’
Created ily inside a rural Ukrainian community, Vinogradar’s moms and dads split up when he are younger. His mommy remarried, and his awesome reference to their stepfather is strained, said Alexei Kalchuk, an old minister regarding the Ukrainian town of Mariupol and you can longtime pal.
“When his mommy offered delivery so you’re able to his stepfather’s son and you will de- entirely superfluous inside delighted family members,” Kalchuk informed This new Christian Chronicle. Vinogradar decided to go to an effective boarding school in Poltava, in which an instructor ingrained inside the your a love for their nation. He became a beneficial cadet of one’s Ukrainian Cossacks.
“While in the their last couple of years out of study at boarding university, Christians regarding the Church out-of Christ started to visit the college or university,” Kalchuk said. “They taught classes towards requirement for ethical and you can spiritual thinking within the human life, and Artem in the near future made members of the family which have Christians and you can started to sit-in church group meetings.” He was baptized inside the 2018.
He graduated within many years 17, “and you can remaining the fresh new walls that had warmed him in recent times,” Kalchuk told you. “Not knowing how to handle it next and you may where to go, he considered brand new church, and therefore currently sensed Artem to be one its own.”
The guy existed witch chapel members and you can turned into alongside Christians along with Fedor Chernichkin, an effective minister toward Church regarding Christ which moved to Poltava shortly after specialist-Russian separatists caught control over his homeland within the east Ukraine’s Donbas part inside 2014.
“He had been young and calculated to suffice in the chapel and you can to be faithful to Jesus,” certainly one of Vinogradar’s household members, Artur Lytvynenko, informed Suspilne, Ukrainian social broadcast. “I recall your given that an early on, stubborn and you may daring guy having a rather hard-core.”
Vinogradar went to the fresh new Ukrainian Bible Institute – which in fact had moved out of eastern Ukraine for the country’s capital, Kyiv. The school was regarding the Colorado-dependent Sundown Fortsätt länken nu Around the world Bible Institute.
“He had been a-sharp pupil, and i are always think about their a beneficial character, their smile and his awesome like to laugh,” said Brandon Rates, manager of your Ukrainian Bible Institute. “He had defeat much inside the earlier in the day, with his future is brilliant.”
His girlfriend, Valentina, together with had overcome a difficult prior, Kalchuk told you. Orphaned at the decades step three, she spent my youth from the their unique aunt and have now got analyzed within an effective boarding college or university.
“Artem often found Valentina’s home and you can aided his girlfriend and you can their unique (aunt) towards the cleaning to be close,” Kalchuk told you. “He had been taught regarding the church exactly how a Religious will want to look immediately after an excellent girl … In the future Valentina approved Christ towards their particular lifestyle as well as started to attend group meetings of your own Chapel from Christ to each other.”
“Artem and Valentina wanted to end up being the ideal parents for this little one,” Kalchuk said. “They desired to offer him just what nobody offered all of them … It succeeded. In March, the battle began.
“Artem, currently a youngsters commander regarding church, aided inside providing immigrants and you may refugees. He joined brand new ranking out of volunteers exactly who exhausted folks from towns that were regarding combat region and you can directed as well as very first help in order to places that there can be no power, communication and you can liquid, however, there clearly was demise and you will depletion. His spouse are waiting for him yourself and prayed one to this mug create admission regarding him.”
“Whenever Artem titled his wife and you may family unit members, he usually asserted that the guy didn’t need to eliminate somebody and you will (he) expected your combat would end ahead of the guy done their studies. However, the guy and additionally mentioned that he was named to protect their country, home, members of the family – and this is more while there is zero better like than that if someone brings their life to own their friends,” Kalchuk said, pointing out John .
Vinogradar served while the a sniper from the airborne assault unit, Suspilne said. He passed away inside handle Aug. 15 nearby the town out-of Verbove.
Valentina was pregnant the help of its next youngster. Program to own Humanitarian Assistance, a beneficial nonprofit supported by congregations for instance the A good&Yards Chapel from Christ during the School Channel, Colorado, paid back the new couple’s book while they served the newest chapel.
“Artem try one of the high school students – and you can section of PHA’s ministry for many years,” said Wes Hawthorne, advancement administrator into the nonprofit and you may a person in the latest An effective&M church. “The guy found our summer camps for several years.”
Preacher-Turned-Soldier and you may Punished Theologian Mourned when you look at the Ukraine
Their wife and child relocated to Greece having Chernichkin and his friends. Ukrainians across European countries mourn, together with Kalchuk, exactly who invested 51 days caught up from the Mariupol church’s strengthening having other believers just like the serious attacking raged exterior.
“My cousin was slain,” told you Kalchuk, today within the Poland. “The guy secure their members of the family, the country, his people. Artem, we are going to positively see you! Other people in the comfort, my good friend.”
