Until All Have Heard
Until All Have Heard
What It's Like to Raise a Child During a War (Ep. 291)
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What is it like to raise a child in wartime? We’ll hear from a Ukrainian father who tells of the impact of the war on his children. It’s an important perspective as Ed and Wayne welcome Victor Akhterov, FEBC’s director for Eurasia and Igor Sereda on staff with Radio M in Kyiv. They’ll bring us up to date with the latest news from our ministry team. Igor will also detail how this is affecting his children who have grown up in with bombs and missile attacks. In the face of these conditions there is history being made as the radio team continue to have a remarkable ministry sowing seeds of hope with the next generation and with people desperate for a way to cope with anxiety…Until All Have Heard.
I'm so glad you could join us now for Until All Have Heard from the Far East Broadcasting Company. I'm Wayne Shepherd here with Ed Cannon. Ed is president of FEBC. Caught you in the country to talk and sit down here for a moment.
SPEAKER_01It's wonderful. I always love coming here and talking with you when you're going to be able to do that.
SPEAKER_00We enjoy bringing these stories of FEBC to our listeners, don't we? It's an incredible ministry, and it's just a privilege to represent it.
SPEAKER_01One of the things we always say is that because we have the privilege, I'd say the humble privilege, of having an inside glimpse into the way the Lord is working in these countries all around the world, it's our obligation to share that with our listeners here on this podcast.
SPEAKER_00And today we're going to have a special We are. We're going to have a guest from Ukraine here with us in just a moment.
SPEAKER_01But let's introduce Victor first. Trevor Burrus, Jr. Yeah, Victor is our Eurasian director, representing a lot of the countries in Eurasia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Russia. Yeah, great ministry going on there. So, Victor, why don't you introduce our guest today and share with our listeners what we're planning on talking about, the ministry in Ukraine and maybe just the emotional state of the people living there?
SPEAKER_03Definitely. And Igor is the best person to talk about that because he's at the center of what is going on in FBC ministry in Ukraine today. He became our program director at the most difficult time when the war began, when we did not know how to move forward, and and our program director, Max, was drafted to the army, and Igor was there. And it was so obvious to us how God prepared him for this role, for this time. And he just went in and you know, you've got to realize we we lost like a quarter of the team in the first days uh of the war. Then we had to double our team because the need was so great. Uh, we invited a lot of new counselors and people who are online evangelists, and Igor was bringing the team together and helping them um do the ministry that they are doing today. So um uh it is it is a privilege and a joy for me to to be working with with Igor in Ukraine today.
SPEAKER_00Welcome, brother. Good to see you and talk with you. We're connecting via Zoom here today. So are you doing okay?
SPEAKER_02Hello, everyone. Thank you. Yes, I'm I'm very, very okay.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and it just inform our listeners, Igor, where are you right now and yeah, how long have you been there?
SPEAKER_02Yes, I'm right now in uh Kyiv, Ukraine, in the capital. Uh where I'm actually right now doing this Zoom from our studio, and it's very interesting because uh it's it's really uh like a few hours ago, it was massive uh drones and uh missiles attack into Kyiv and Kyiv region. And even uh one of our uh co-workers, our uh technical uh engineer technical director, his name is Eugene. He has seven kids, and he's living in a Kyiv uh region area, and so he send it to us video that like it was very, very close to his apartment, and he's also have uh kids, and that's why we don't have uh electricity right now in Kyiv. Uh and uh thanks to God, dangerous already stopped, so they're not not flying anymore, these drones for this moment. But for us as Ukrainians, it's like a daily basis or weekly basis, anyway. And uh yeah, but uh life is still going on, uh, work is uh going on, and thanks to the Lord that we prepare it, and we we turned on our uh generator. Uh that's why we can work, and also we understand that the most important time to be with our listeners, it's right now when all this is going on to to say them about hope and truth. Yeah, and especially also like it's Easter time in Ukraine these weeks, let's say we're also talking about that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, you mentioned that that you're there in Kiev, there's missiles, there's uh drone attacks. Um you often get these air raid sirens, and and what do people do when the air raid sirens go off?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so uh usually uh people are going to to bomb shelter, uh, or it could be like subway or underground metro stations they are going, and even some people are so let's say desperate or afraid that they even uh preparing to spend night in a bomb shelter.
SPEAKER_01Sure.
SPEAKER_02So not to go like you know, at midnight at per night, they are going like 10 p.m. They are already there with tents, with uh different stuff. Uh yeah, and also we as a team, as a family, we try to be careful on that. Uh so like to to of course sometimes uh people are already tired and they don't want to go somewhere, but uh you know, like when when you hear that somebody exploded, uh you understand that you really need to take care of yourself, it's very dangerous, and especially like kids, of course. Uh for example, I also have two two daughters, nine and five years old, and uh they are going to shelter to basement in their school. It's very, very how to say cold place. And when uh every time when I see that there's LRM attack, I I I said because they can spend time with you know classmates, studying, just playing games, and they're supposed to be in a bomb shelter with a teacher, which is okay, but anyway, it's shelter and it's yeah, broken childhood in some way.
SPEAKER_00Igor, as a as a loving parent, you're seeing how this affects your children. Uh tell me, how what effects have you seen on them? What what stories can you tell about how they're coping with this?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's no in some way it's sad, but in some way I understand that it makes uh our kids stronger to to you know in in different situations, and they're prepared more than I guess other kids in the world. Yeah, but so one of the stories we played with my uh younger daughter, her name is Tabitha, like we can see in the Bible. Uh Tabitha, and we played with dolls. She asked me, can we play dolls? I say, Yeah, of course, it was uh like on Saturday. And uh suddenly she made a a sound, like you know, the sound like this. Woo woo woo! And I'm like, daughter, what is going on? What what what is this? Maybe it is uh ambulance or police car or something. What the sound? And she said, This is air alarm attack, like sound of when when it's going, uh there is dangerous or missile or rocket, everyone can uh hear the sound of this because uh they they uh say it about this. And I was sad because you know she she playing and she said, like those supposed to go to a bomb shelter because it's alarm attack.
SPEAKER_00So sad to have it affect her childhood that way, and and uh and yet maybe you know for it to come out that way is therapeutic at the same time.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Yeah, you know, here in the United States, people have no concept, Igor, what it's like. Your daughter, uh Tabitha, is five years old, right? So her entire life has been in a war situation. She doesn't really know life without war. And um I had the privilege a couple of years ago to meet both of your daughters. And we uh we spent some time together in the apartment. And I have shared with our listeners the story before that I heard from them when one of the little girls said, you know, when the war first started, we it was your older daughter, she said, every time we go into the bomb shelter, I would cry. But now it's been a year or so going, and I don't cry anymore when I'm in the bomb shelter. So it's like the impact on the lives of these young uh children is just horrific. And I think it's important for those of us in America to understand when we're praying for people in Ukraine, you have no idea the depth of the impact on people's lives, not only at children, but imagine Igor and his wife, how they view the life of their children through this lens of of war. So it's like you're raising a child, and this is what they have to be exposed to. So it deepens our need for for prayer for you. Yes. And um and concern for the situation you're in. And it's been four years now, right, that the war has been going on.
SPEAKER_02Trevor Burrus, Jr. More than four years, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Trevor Burrus, Jr.: Yeah. And so, yeah, we understand. And it's not just Igor, it's all of our staff. It's all of the people that live there. And I think Victor mentioned that we have counselors, and so these counselors are taking phone calls from thousands of people that are in this same situation and seeking help and seeking advice, and we turn them to the Lord. Trevor Burrus, Jr.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we love and admire you and the whole team there so much for what you're doing on behalf of the gospel. Uh may I share just one I know you received scores and hundreds of listener comments, but here's just one that came to my desk. This listener says, You sowed the seed of my heart, said a 41-year-old man who started listening to FEBC on the radio two years ago, so during the war. Last year he accepted Jesus as his savior and wrote to thank our prayer helpline for the programs that inspired him so greatly. That is just such a small sample of the ministry that you all have, Igor. It's it's remarkable that you're doing what you do in the midst of this war. I think it's historic. I really do.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's you know, w we don't think uh on that way that this is something historical. But we try to do our maximum for sure, because to use this opportunity, to use this circumstance or situation. And if it's okay, I I won't add a little bit about kids because like kids, teenagers, and youth, this is something which I have in my heart a lot, because I understand this is not a future of uh Ukraine, it's like generation who is raising up, growing up on this situation, and we try to help them and especially to uh reach them to Jesus as well, because as younger you can come to Jesus, the more your life will be in a good way. And we have one uh thing, it's a small toy uh with our programs for kids. It's like Bible stories uh which recorded for kids, and it's very interesting when uh we have some stories uh that parents and kids are taking these uh toys. Uh, it looks like a lamp with uh uh M3 player, where is uh of our uh stories, Bible stories for kids, and also some worship songs, and kids are listening there in the bomb shelters when when it's so dangerous. So, and it's really very how to say we we never thought that on that way we can serve to to kids and yeah to teenagers as well. Yeah, and uh stories really a lot. One of them is uh also one guy, he uh started watching uh our videos from radio and my own videos, and I asked uh we have volunteers who are Christians who are watching our videos and listening to our podcasts, listening to our radio, and usually we are asking them, what do you think? What people in Ukraine, uh which problems, which kind of problems they have, what they are thinking for. Because uh, thanks to God, we as a Christians, we have hope in Jesus Christ. Yes, we we you know, even to solve the problem when it's alarm attack, we can pray, we can gather, we can uh believe, and we we know that even something will happen, uh even excuse me for this, but this is our reality. When rocket will hit us, we will go to heaven. Yeah, we believe in this. But what about unbelievers? What about people who are very far away from church and when asking how we can serve them? And uh, so like uh young group of volunteers, they start texting to me their ideas to videos from their unbelievers' friends, classmates, co-students, uh ETC. And so I had a lot of ideas to making a video. So I started to make in a video, and they sent it to one guy who was totally unbeliever, even he was in an uh addiction in with alcohol and drugs and yeah, other problems. Teenager, 17 years old guy who don't know what to do, and also war and everything. And his parents, you know, like because of war, also it's a problem that in Ukraine parents are uh in general doesn't care about their kids, uh especially when they are teenagers, because they're working a lot, they're having their stuff and military problems and other. And so he was desperate, that guy. And then he started texting to me, asking me about God, why I'm believing in God, why should why I so uh convenient or why I know that God is exist and all these kind of questions. Then we met with him. I uh started to invite him to youth services, and in the end of that story, he repented, and not so far uh time ago, like it was uh two, like some some some some year ago, so he uh I baptized him on the water. And and even I have this very interesting picture, you know, like where where we were in the water, and he said really it's it's a miracle, and for me as well, because I see the transformation, of course, it's a lot of time when we are speaking, this videos, and it's one of these, I guess, hundred stories which we can uh share with you, but this is what God is doing, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. You know, you mentioned I I was really impressed when you mentioned uh this toy that you have for children. So because it's a wartime situation and people are doing things like going to the bomb shelter, so you have this lamp with an MP3 player. Yes. Which would only which would only be practical in a situation like going to a bomb shelter with no power and giving the children something to listen to. I'm so impressed, Wayne, with the staff. They've got so many creative ideas. Oh, I know. I I've heard of you telling that they're doing broadcasts from the bomb shelter on cell phones. Yeah. You you you have uh men like Max on the front line putting broadcasts together in the midst of the front line of a war situation with soldiers. Tell us a little bit about these creative ways that you're doing these broadcasts.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so uh situation where we're right now, we are already studied how to sometimes be very creative and do something. Yeah, one of them it's we are doing in a uh during when it's alarm attack, as I told before, that uh usually people are going to bomb shelter and some some of them are having internet on their phones, somebody knows, or also somebody can turn on radio and people sitting there and they wasting their time, yeah. Some desperate afraid, and that's why we always try to reach out to them through uh let's say modern technology as well to making videos, uh broadcasting. Uh, even we are in a studio in a bomb shelter which is close to our studio, and we are still working to be closely to people, especially in their situation, in their circumstances. Aaron Powell, Jr.
SPEAKER_00You know, I I mentioned this earlier, Victor and Igor and Ed, but uh in the in the history of war, has there ever been such a ministry in the middle of the war that's taking place right now in Ukraine through Radio M and FEBC? I I I can't imagine this ever happened before. Trevor Burrus, Jr.
SPEAKER_01Well, you know, it's just uh it it's a a miracle in and of itself that the Internet is still functioning. Trevor Burrus, Jr. True, yeah. And that the staff, despite no power, are able to put their broadcasts out. Um i it it's miraculous, and it's a tribute to your perseverance and your courage you and the staff, Igor, to keep doing this despite the really, really difficult situation you've got there. Trevor Burrus, Jr.
SPEAKER_00We want to pray for you and the whole staff. And Victor, I'm gonna ask you to pray in just a moment here as we wrap up. But uh Igor, is there one specific or a couple of prayer requests you would leave with us today?
SPEAKER_02Aaron Ross Powell Yes, I guess I will ask to pray for first thing I always ask in to this pray for wisdom, how we can serve for maximum to for our people, you know, because a lot of things uh some people are want to be an atheist because they are lost to their faith. Some people are desperate, and that we will have wisdom, how we can tell them about Jesus in that way that they will understand. And secondary, it's also for uh protection of our team. Oh, yes, and uh I I think that almost everyone from our team uh have some relatives who are in a frontline uh uh husbands or sons, uh yeah, fathers, and you know this is not that some somebody can choose. Even Victor mentioned about Max, our programmer director. I I know that Max would like to be here, you know, yeah, with his wife and and daughter as well, and also yeah, and of course, that this world war will end it. We we we we really very, very want to end this war and to live with another.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we all want to see it end, don't we? But the ministry goes on. Um Victor, can you do you mind leading us in prayer? Let's remember these items, and you know the ministry so well, others that you want to add to your prayer.
SPEAKER_03Of course, just before I pray, I I just want to mention when when Igor travels and he's you know he he's a very good speaker and and he's invited to to travel all over Ukraine uh speak at the youth conferences. And whenever he comes to to a new city, there's always someone who comes up to him and says, You're eager. You know, I became a Christian through through a Christian through FBC. So it's uh he's now anticipating that, you know, when I come to Zaporizhia, who's gonna come to me. So praise God, that's amazing. Yeah, such a blessing to uh to have Igar on our team. Yeah, but let's let's pray. Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for for the fact that that um uh your church is at work. It's not us, it's not even our team, it's it's the whole body of Christ that is that is bringing um the healing power of Jesus to uh to to the situation in Ukraine. As we are reflecting of on what you are doing in Ukraine today through FEBC, we are aware of the fact that there are so many people who are who are supporting us in prayer. And heavenly father, we are asking for your protection on the families uh of all the all the people who are serving um through FBC today. There are dozens and dozens of people, and as Igor mentioned, all of them um suffered from this war. Every single one of us lost someone, and we are we are ministering from this from this place of suffering, of pain, yet uh they are able to provide hope and joy in Jesus Christ. And and uh we realize like never before in our lives that salvation is only in Jesus Christ. So we we uplift the ministry of FBC, we uplift the the team members, and uh especially our listeners who still don't know you. Uh so bring to faith those uh that you chose. So in Jesus' name we pray.
unknownAmen. Amen.
SPEAKER_01Igor, it's uh it's such a joy to be with you today. And if I could tell our listeners, we have the opportunity here to see him on the screen. And the joy of the Lord is obvious on his face. Here's a man who's playing with his five-year-old daughter, and she's playing with the dolls to go to a bomb shelter. He's uh seeing the impact of war on the listeners of the station, yet he's smiling and he's joyful and he's hopeful and he's encouraged. The joy of the Lord is your strength, Igor, and it is such a blessing for us to be able to share with people in the United States your your courage and your perseverance and how you are serving the Lord despite. This difficult circumstance. So thanks so much for being with us. And uh I look forward to seeing you again soon.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, me too as well. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, men. All right, Ed, what a privilege to uh tell the story of God at work in Ukraine through the Far East Broadcasting Company. So our thanks to you who are listening. And if you'd like more information about Ukraine and our ministry there, of course you can go to our website, febc.org. Our producer is Joe Carlson. I'm Wayne Shepard for Ed Cannon. Thanks for listening to Until All Have Heard.