14 days later on, longtime chapel commander and theologian Igor Kozlovsky, which spent nearly 2 years due to the fact prisoner out-of pro-Russian separatists, passed away out of a coronary arrest. He was 70.
‘The guy protected his household members, our very own country’
Created ily in the a rural Ukrainian community, Vinogradar’s mothers separated when he is younger. Their mother remarried, along with his experience of their stepfather try burdened, said Alexei Kalchuk, a former minister about Ukrainian city of Mariupol and long time buddy.
“When his mom provided birth to help you their stepfather’s young buck and you will de completely superfluous in this pleased relatives,” Kalchuk advised Brand new Religious Chronicle. Vinogradar decided to go to a great boarding university in Poltava, where an instructor ingrained within the him a fascination with their country. He turned into a beneficial cadet of your own Ukrainian Cossacks.
“Throughout his last 24 months from research at boarding college or university, Christians regarding Church regarding Christ started initially to check out the college,” Kalchuk said. “These people taught courses concerning the importance of ethical and spiritual philosophy inside people lifestyle, and you will Artem in the future generated family that have Christians and started to attend church meetings.” He was baptized in 2018.
The guy finished during the years 17, “and you will kept the walls that had warmed your recently,” Kalchuk said. “Being unsure of how to proceed next and which place to go, the guy turned to the latest church, and that currently believed Artem to-be one its own.”
The guy resided witch chapel users and turned alongside Christians as well as Fedor Chernichkin, an excellent minister toward Church regarding Christ just who gone to live in Poltava once pro-Russian separatists caught command over his homeland in east Ukraine’s Donbas part into the 2014.
“He had been younger and calculated to help you suffice throughout the church and you will as devoted in order to Goodness,” certainly one of Vinogradar’s nearest and dearest, Artur Lytvynenko, informed Suspilne, Ukrainian societal radio. “I recall your while the an earlier, stubborn and you may brave people with a rather hard-core.”
Vinogradar went to the new Ukrainian Bible Institute – which in fact had moved regarding east Ukraine toward state’s money, Kyiv. The school try regarding the Texas-mainly based Sundown Around the globe Bible Institute.
“He had been a-sharp student, and i will always be contemplate their a good characteristics, their smile along with his want to make fun of,” said Brandon Speed, director of the Ukrainian Bible Institute. “He previously beat much within his earlier in the day, and his upcoming try vibrant.”
Their girlfriend, Valentina, and additionally had overcome a difficult past, Kalchuk said. Orphaned during the ages step three, she was raised from the their unique cousin and then have had read on an effective boarding school.
“Artem have a tendency to found Valentina’s house and you will aided his girlfriend and you will their (aunt) to the housework to be romantic,” Kalchuk told you. “He was trained from the chapel just how an effective Christian need to look just after a good girl … In the near future Valentina recognized Christ for the her lifestyle plus they started to attend conferences of one’s Chapel from Christ to one another.”
“Artem and Valentina planned to become the finest parents because of it baby,” Kalchuk said. “They planned to offer your just what no-one provided all of them … It been successful. But in February, the battle began.
“Artem, already a childhood chief throughout the chapel, aided for the offering immigrants and you may refugees. He registered brand new ranks out of volunteers just who evacuated people from places that have been regarding the conflict area and you may directed as well as basic aid so you can areas where there can be no fuel, communications and you will drinking water, but there is dying and exhaustion. His spouse was waiting for your at home and you can prayed one that it glass create citation away from your.”
“When Artem titled their partner and you can family, he usually said that he don’t need certainly to destroy some body and you may (which he) wished that combat perform end prior to the guy accomplished their knowledge. But the guy and additionally asserted that he was named to protect their country, family, family unit members – and this refers to additional while there is no better love than when someone offers his life for his household members,” Kalchuk said, citing John .
Vinogradar offered while the an excellent sniper from the airborne physical violence tool, Suspilne stated. The guy passed away into the combat Aug. 15 close to the village out-of Verbove.
Valentina is actually pregnant along with their 2nd youngster. System getting Humanitarian Assistance, a good nonprofit backed by congregations for instance the A good&M Chapel off Christ within the School Channel, Tx, repaid new couple’s book because they served new church.
“Artem try one of the high school students – and you can part of PHA’s ministry for many years,” told you Wes Hawthorne, invention officer to the nonprofit and you may a member of the latest A good&M church. “He involved the june camps for many years.”
Preacher-Turned-Soldier and you can Tortured Theologian Mourned for the Ukraine
His wife and child moved to Greece that have Chernichkin along with his loved ones. Ukrainians across European countries het bosnien-flicka mourn, plus Kalchuk, who invested 51 days caught up from the Mariupol church’s strengthening that have other believers due to the fact severe attacking raged exterior.
“My buddy are murdered,” said Kalchuk, now from inside the Poland. “He secure his nearest and dearest, all of our nation, his children. Artem, we’re going to definitely view you! Others inside tranquility, my buddy.”
