From Occupation to Leading a Youth Revival Team

Youth ministry is one of the main directions for the future of the church in Ukraine. This story is an example of how God forms a new generation of leaders even in the toughest times.

Mark is a young minister who twice had to leave home due to war, built a youth ministry from scratch, studied in places he never imagined, and now sees the fruits of his labor together with his team. His journey shows how God leads through chaos and pain toward clarity, calling, and a mature ministry team.

Mark was born in a small village near Komsomolske in Donetsk region, about 20 kilometers from the Russian border. In 2014, he was 13 years old when the war began. For six months, his family lived under occupation, surrounded by shelling with no way to leave. Later, his parents managed to move him to Berdyansk, where he spent eight years actively serving in the local church.

His father was a pastor of a local church in Donetsk region. After the occupation, the church was practically taken away, pastors were hunted, and the ministry was under threat.

After the full-scale invasion, Mark once again found himself under occupation—this time in Berdyansk. Leaving was dangerous, as his father was a former soldier and there were real risks of detention.

“Every day was precious. When we finally left, God performed many miracles—He preserved my dad, my wife’s parents, and my uncle from Volnovakha. And all this happened literally in two days. This was a moment that forever changed my life.”

After moving to Mukachevo, his priorities shifted completely.

“In Berdyansk, I had great success in my work, but I didn’t feel I was in the right place. Here, after what I experienced, I realized I want to serve God 24/7, not just earn money.”

Mark began serving youth at age 14—organizing evangelistic meetings and community gatherings every Saturday. Shortly before the Steiger team arrived, he prayed specifically about his calling.

“I clearly heard God say, ‘Your calling is to serve youth.’ It was like an inner voice, very distinct.”

The team arrived in Berdyansk unexpectedly—they were supposed to go to another city, but plans changed at the last moment. For Mark, this confirmed God’s guidance.

Starting in Mukachevo was not easy. “When my wife and I were looking for a church, I didn’t immediately find my place. It was difficult to gain trust, especially among youth. But it was an important lesson: ministry requires openness and time.”

Mark then began building the youth ministry. One major challenge was creating an atmosphere where newcomers feel welcome.

“We realized that whenever someone new arrives, we need to meet them, invite them for coffee, and involve them in activities immediately. People need to know they are valued and expected here.”

Now, meetings gather 40–60 people. The youth ministry has grown from a small home group to a full team with vision. They run camps, conferences, and have a structured plan for development.

Mark’s journey to UETS was unexpected:

“Honestly, it’s a little funny. Radyslav came to our church and spoke about the Theology of Transformational Leadership. I thought, ‘God, this is definitely not for me.’ I was a poor student in school, and education seemed distant. But after the service, he came to me and said, ‘Mark, you’re great, I want you to study.’ At first I smiled, but then realized—without training, we’ll keep making the same mistakes.”

Along with six team members, Mark joined the Theology of Transformational Leadership Program  (TTL) and immediately began applying what he learned: structure, vision, leadership, values, and even fundraising.

“We purchased equipment worth over 700,000 UAH in just a year and a half. I didn’t even know what fundraising was before.”

“One 17-year-old boy came to play tennis. I invited him to the youth ministry, and later he became actively involved, went to TTL training with us, and is now a leader and resources coordinator. Another girl came to faith at a camp and is now preparing the next one. Five people were baptized this summer. This is not a once-a-year thing—it’s an ongoing movement.”

“The greatest gain wasn’t just knowledge—it was relationships. I now have many friends among the students, and we help each other. Also, communication with the teachers—being able to call Radyslav or Fedir and ask, ‘Which book do you recommend?’—is invaluable.”

Mark emphasizes that youth ministry is always in flux. Some get married, some move away, and new people join.