14 days later, long time chapel commander and you will theologian Igor Kozlovsky, which invested nearly 2 years while the prisoner of expert-Russian separatists, passed away regarding a heart attack. He had been 70.
‘He safe their members of the family, our country’
Born ily during the a rural Ukrainian village, Vinogradar’s parents split up when he is young. Their mother remarried, and his reference to his stepfather is strained, said Alexei Kalchuk, a former minister regarding the Ukrainian town of Mariupol and you will longtime buddy.
“Whenever his mom gave delivery so you’re able to his stepfather’s young buck and you will de totally superfluous contained in this pleased family,” Kalchuk informed The brand new Christian Chronicle. Vinogradar went along to a great boarding college or university during the Poltava, where an instructor instilled inside your a love for their country. He became good cadet of Ukrainian Cossacks.
“During their history two years from investigation in the boarding college or university, Christians regarding the Chapel of Christ started initially to look at the university,” Kalchuk told you. “These individuals taught lessons in regards to the requirement for ethical and you can spiritual philosophy into the peoples lives, and you may Artem in the near future generated family members which have Christians and you may started initially to attend chapel group meetings.” He was baptized within the 2018.
He graduated on age 17, “and you can left the fresh new wall space that had heated him recently,” Kalchuk told you. “Unsure what direction to go next and which place to go, he turned to the newest church, and this already thought Artem to get you to its.”
The guy existed witch chapel professionals and you can turned into near to Christians and Fedor Chernichkin, a good minister to the Chapel away from Christ whom moved to Poltava immediately following specialist-Russian separatists captured control over their homeland during the east Ukraine’s Donbas region during the 2014.
“He had been young and computed so you can serve on church and you will as loyal so you can Jesus,” certainly Vinogradar’s nearest and dearest, Artur Lytvynenko, told Suspilne, Ukrainian societal radio. “I recall your just like the an early, persistent and you can brave guy which have a very hard-core.”
Vinogradar attended the latest Ukrainian Bible Institute – which had relocated out-of eastern Ukraine into country’s funding, Kyiv. The institution try associated with the Tx-centered Sunset Global Bible Institute.
“He was a sharp student, and that i will always be think of his a beneficial nature, their look with his desire make fun of,” said Brandon Rate, movie director of the Ukrainian Bible Institute. “He had defeat far in the early in the day, and his upcoming is bright.”
His girlfriend, Valentina, and additionally got beat a difficult early in the day, Kalchuk said. Orphaned at the many years step three, she was raised by their own sis and now have had analyzed on a great boarding college or university.
“Artem usually involved Valentina’s family and you may helped their girlfriend and you may their (aunt) with the housework in order to be close,” Kalchuk told you. “He was coached on the chapel how a good Religious will want to look shortly after a girl … In the future Valentina accepted Christ toward their unique lifetime in addition they started to attend meetings of Chapel regarding Christ to one another.”
“Artem and you will Valentina wished to become the most useful parents because of it baby,” Kalchuk said. “It desired to offer him what no one offered them … They succeeded. In March, the battle began.
“Artem, currently a youngsters leader from the church, assisted in the providing immigrants and you will refugees. He inserted the fresh new ranking regarding volunteers who evacuated individuals from towns that were on conflict region and you will transmitted as well as earliest help to areas where discover no energy, communication and drinking water, but there can be demise and you may destruction. Their partner is waiting around for him yourself and you may prayed that this mug manage solution of your.”
“When Artem named their partner and you will relatives, the guy constantly asserted that the godatenow dejting site recensioner guy didn’t want to destroy individuals and you will (he) wished that the battle create prevent in advance of the guy accomplished his education. However, the guy along with mentioned that he had been titled to protect his nation, home, household members – and this is some other because there is zero deeper like than just that in case some one offers their existence to own their friends,” Kalchuk said, citing John .
Vinogradar supported because the a great sniper regarding airborne violence equipment, Suspilne said. He passed away when you look at the combat Aug. 15 near the community regarding Verbove.
Valentina was expecting with regards to next youngster. System getting Humanitarian Assistance, an excellent nonprofit supported by congregations including the Good&Meters Church off Christ into the College or university Channel, Tx, reduced this new couple’s rent as they served the brand new chapel.
“Artem are our kids – and you will element of PHA’s ministry for a long time,” said Wes Hawthorne, innovation officer to the nonprofit and you may a person in the fresh new An effective&Yards church. “The guy involved the summer camps for many years.”
Preacher-Turned-Soldier and you can Punished Theologian Mourned within the Ukraine
His wife and you may youngster moved to Greece with Chernichkin and his awesome family. Ukrainians across Europe mourn, including Kalchuk, just who spent 51 days caught up about Mariupol church’s building that have fellow believers as extreme fighting raged additional.
“My cousin was murdered,” told you Kalchuk, now from inside the Poland. “He safe his friends, all of our country, their students. Artem, we’ll seriously see you! Rest inside peace, my friend.”