Excellent Ministry in a War Zone

Since the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020, I have been serving with some Russian speaking sports chaplains in Eurasia in monthly Zoom discussions about various facets of this ministry. Many of those people are from Ukraine, and recent events have certainly strained their lives. I was both surprised and thrilled when my colleague from Kyiv, Pavel Tian (Pasha), sent me WhatsApp message asking to schedule a meeting in mid-March. My first thought was, “Your nation is at war and being invaded by its neighbor. You are a refugee in Germany at the moment. How can you even think about hosting a meeting?” After gathering myself, I replied, “Outstanding! What shall we have as our topic?” Pasha wrote, “Ministry in times of crisis, difficult circumstances, and the importance of serving.” I wrote, “Perfect.”

On 25 May I prepared a few discussion questions to guide our time together and after greeting our friends, we launched into our Zoom meeting. Joining Pasha and me that day was a collection of amazing people. Our interpreter (best ever) was in the FCA offices in Kansas City, Missouri, one chaplain was in Donetsk, Ukraine (a war zone since 2014), another was in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains in western Ukraine, Pasha (our host) was in Germany, Carl Dambman of Athletes in Action (pioneer of sports ministry in Eurasia for over 40 years) was in Seattle, Washington, and I was in my home office in Carbondale, Illinois.

Our discussion followed this series of questions:

1. How are you serving coaches and players in these trying days?
2. Who is serving you well in this season of life? How are they doing it?
3. What are some ways we can serve our friends, family, coaches, and players in the coming days?

To that final question, my friend and colleague, Andrew Chernenkov of Rivne, Ukraine listed these four simple and brilliant ways of service.

1. Empathize (feel what those you are serving feel).
2. Listen (not just waiting to respond, but intently listen).
3. Help them physically (do what needs to be done, with them).
4. Provide spiritual service (prayer, sharing the gospel, etc.).

Andrew is chaplain to a rugby club, and though displaced due to the war has been in touch with coaches and players of the club by phone. One of the players who had joined the Ukrainian Army was killed in the war. The rugby club coach called Andrew to inform him and to seek his guidance for what he should say at the funeral. Andrew’s love for the player, for the coach, and faithful service of the team made room for all four points of his ways to serve in this painful and grievous season of life.

Andrew’s concise list is most prescient in light of his nation being a war zone, but it also serves us for whom life is a little less perilous. Let’s all commit ourselves to this these imperatives: Empathize, Listen, Help them physically, and Provide spiritual service. These activities are always proper for sports chaplains or character coaches, in times of peace, and in time of war.