In the story below, SGA Storyteller Angela shares truth from a young SGA-supported pastor: “The best scenario for our life isn’t the one where we have stability, comfort, or a guarantee of tomorrow—but the one where we fully trust Christ, no matter what comes.” Pastor Maks and his wife Sofia who continue to serve in the face of great difficulty and trial in Ukraine.

Please continue to pray for Maks and Sofia and for all of the faithful pastors and their families who need the strength and peace that only God can supply. “We need prayer for perseverance,” Maks says. “That we would continue to live, serve, and work with faithfulness in this season. And we need prayer for the people of Ukraine—that in the midst of so much darkness, they will see God’s light and know Him as their only hope.”  

Here is the story of Maks and Sofia as shared by Angela . . .

For one young pastor’s family in Ukraine, war is not just a distant reality—it is woven into the fabric of their daily lives. Although they live further south, air raid sirens, drone strikes, bombings, and the looming threat of conscription is ever present. At any moment, the husband could be called to the front lines, leaving his wife and their small daughter behind. The uncertainty is overwhelming. Yet, in the face of it all, they have made a choice: to trust Christ completely. This is their story—one of surrendering fear for faith and finding true security not in the absence of danger, but in the presence of Christ.  

Maks, from a small village in western Ukraine, and Sofia, from faraway Kazakhstan, came to faith through the ministry of Word of Life Bible Institute in Ukraine. There, both found answers to their deepest questions about faith and doctrine. In time, God also brought them together as a couple, and after completing their studies, they married—committing not only to each other but to a life of service for Christ.  

As they sought direction for their ministry, God led them to [a city in Ukraine], where a relative invited them to join a church-planting team. For a few years, everything seemed to be moving forward—until the full-scale Russian invasion changed everything.

Like many others, they never imagined that following Christ would mean serving in the midst of war. In the chaos that followed, the entire leadership team of their church plant left Ukraine. Maks and Sofia had a difficult choice to make; leave as well or stay and continue the ministry. Seeing the needs around them, they felt a strong conviction to stay. With so much uncertainty and fear in their city, the church became not only a place of worship, but also a source of practical help and encouragement. Maks stepped into a leadership role, first informally and later as an ordained pastor. Together, he and Sofia worked long hours, serving both in the church and working in their community.

Their decision to stay came with significant challenges. In 2023, Sofia became pregnant with their first child. By then, power outages were frequent, and bombings in [their city] had intensified. They had to pay a large amount of money just to secure medical care for the birth. During labor, the electricity went out, forcing doctors to rely on flashlights to deliver their daughter. A missile later struck the post office where they had ordered a car seat.  

Meanwhile, Maks lived under the constant weight of conscription. He knew that at any moment, he could be drafted and sent to war. The pressures of leading a church, supporting a young family, and living under the daily threat of violence were nearly unbearable. Fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty threatened to consume them.  

Until God met them in His Word. As they read Scripture, they were reminded that every biblical hero faced trials—Joseph was betrayed, Moses wandered in the desert, and David fled for his life. Before God did something through them, He did something in them. This realization gave them renewed strength. They began to see that God was present in every fear, doubt, and hardship. He wasn’t absent in their suffering—He was working through it.  

“The best scenario for our life isn’t the one where we have stability, comfort, or a guarantee of tomorrow—but the one where we fully trust Christ, no matter what comes,” says Pastor Maks. “Our circumstances haven’t changed, and the war still rages. But when we place our trust fully in His hands, that’s when we find peace.” Sofia adds, “The war does not determine what this year will be—God does. He holds each day and continues leading it.”

Despite the hardship, God continues to refresh their souls through the fruit of ministry.  

One woman from Zaporozhye, whose home was occupied by Russian forces, arrived in [their city] as a refugee. With no Christian background, she hesitantly attended church services. Over time, she found a place of belonging. One day, she approached Maks and Sofia and said, “I don’t know what’s happening in my life, but I wake up in the morning wanting to talk to God. I want to know Him. I want to read the Bible.”  

Another young woman who came to faith was baptized in their church and began bringing her mother to services. Recently, her mother told them, “I have repented! Now, I have so much joy in the Lord. I can’t wait to read my Bible and pray!” The glow of new life in Christ was unmistakable in her eyes.  

As Maks reflects on the future, his heart is burdened with prayer requests. The physical, emotional, and spiritual toll of war is relentless. Every day, there is news of death. Drones and missiles overhead keep people on edge. People lose their loved ones on the front lines. Fear and grief threaten to harden hearts—especially toward God. The hardships of war have made it difficult for people to believe in a good and loving God.

“We need prayer for perseverance,” he says. “That we would continue to live, serve, and work with faithfulness in this season. And we need prayer for the people of Ukraine—that in the midst of so much darkness, they will see God’s light and know Him as their only hope.”  

Still, despite the uncertainty, they remain firm in their faith. “There is no place so dark that God’s light cannot reach it. The darker the night, the brighter His presence shines. We don’t need to know what’s ahead—we just need to be faithful today,” they share.

For Sofia, one phrase stays with her each day: “Walk with your feet on the earth, but in your heart, be in heaven.”