Ep. 371 Valentyn Syniy - Serving God in the Midst of the War in Ukraine

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Valentyn Syniy, president of a theological seminary in Kherson, to explore what it means to lead, shepherd, and hold on to hope in the midst of war. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Valentyn lost almost everything - his home, his church community, and the entire seminary campus he helped build. Yet in the chaos of evacuation, the trauma of displacement, and the destruction of his city, he discovered a deeper sense of calling and a renewed understanding of God’s presence in suffering. We talk about spiritual leadership under siege, the impossible decisions families face when war arrives at their doorstep, the wound and weight of leaving or staying, the formation of pastors for a traumatized nation, and the surprising ways God rebuilds what has been shattered. Valentyn’s story, captured in his book Serving God Under Siege, is both heartbreaking and hopeful - a gripping reminder that faith can survive the fire and that the voices of Ukrainians must be heard. This episode invites you into a story of resilience, courage, and a theology forged under pressure.

Valentyn Syniy holds master’s degrees in theology and history and a doctorate in theology. Since 2006, he has served as president of Tavriski Christian Institute, an evangelical seminary in Ukraine.

Valentyn's Book:

Serving God Under Siege

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Transcript

Unknown: 0:38

I'm preparing my President's speech for student and August, 28 29 Hello.

Joshua Johnson: 0:47

Conversations about and the impact belongs to the body of Christ, look like Jesus. I'm your host. Joshua Johnson, before I never has a way of revealing to what we hope in and what we call home. When Russian forces invaded Ukraine, Valentin Sunny, the president of a theological seminary in Kherson, had to make impossible decisions in real time, decisions about his family, his students, his calling and his country, his home, his church, the entire seminary he led were eventually destroyed, yet in the rubble and the loss and the relentless pressure of war, Valentine discovered a deeper faith, a reimagined vision and a theology shaped not by comforts but by crisis. In this conversation, he tells the story behind his book, serving God under siege, a story first titled in Ukrainian, the man whose home was stolen. We talk about what it means to shepherd people while experiencing the same trauma they're living through. How to make decisions when staying and leaving both feel like wounds, how hope functions when the visible world gives you none and what it means to form pastors for a church living under invasion. Valentine offers not just an account of surviving war, but a testimony of God's presence in shattered places, a reminder that even in the world's darkest corners, Faith can deepen, communities can rise and love can endure. This conversation is sobering. It's honest, it's full of surprising beauty. It invites us to see Ukraine not as headlines, but as people, people whose stories deserve to be heard. In this conversation, Valentin sometimes uses an interpreter so work through the language, even though sometimes it is difficult to understand, it is well worth your patience to listen, to listen deeply and to understand what is happening in the Ukraine at the moment, this story is well worth your patience and your listen. So here is my conversation with Valentin. Sonny, well, Valentin, welcome to shifting culture. Thank you so much for joining me. Really excited to have you on. Thank you. Thank you. You've been through a very, very difficult time. We're going to be talking about your book in English, serving God under siege. You first wrote it in Ukrainian, but we're talking about the the war in Ukraine, as you were leading a seminary in the midst of the Russian invasion and coming in and that you had to figure out how to relocate, to evacuate and actually have theological education happen during the invasion, during a war, which is a very hard thing at the beginning of your Your preface of the English language version that I have here. You talk about home because you're talking about the difference between home in Ukraine. Can you tell me and give me a definition of why home is so important to the message of this book, and what is it in Ukrainian that gives us a little bit more information of what you're talking about here.

Unknown: 3:56

Yeah, think it's a really great name, a great great question, because my book in your Kenyan, Ukrainian language, have named man whose home was stolen. This is mostly narrative about my experience, and I'm start ask this question about definition of home after publish house Edmonds suggest change name, because I'm understand, for me, like cranials home, it's something very, very, very important. Of course, in this book, I'm not talking about home, but after this conversation, I'm stopped thinking what's home means for me and what I'm understand if compare Ukrainian culture and Americans in United States, most people, it's immigrants and live in this culture, in different idea of home and roots, and for me, personally, home, it's not questioned about house, about buildings, because my buildings like roof and walls, it's exist. I'm talk. I'm lose my home, and I mean about people and community. Because for me, home maybe means three meanings, it's my family, but mostly not about only my family, with my wife, but in bigger definition, with my parents, with my uncle and my nephew. Because in our culture, people, time to time, you. Have this events, some holidays and bigger family, have celebration time to time. Second what I understand it's George, because in Western culture, people think about George for place that gives some kind of service to a person. But in my in my understanding I'm I'm stay and I am with one church for all of my life, I understand where is different ladies stay. I understand the church. It's around 300 people, and I'm one of the pastor in this church, but I understand this is like home. Because after I'm relocated with seminary, with youth from our church, I'm understand in different church, you change your mentality about relation with God and relation with people, because if you stay in one church, like 25 years or 30 years, you build relation, you go through conflict, you understand your sanctification in different idea and third level, it's my home city, because I'm born in same city. I was at university in same city, married in same city, ordained for pastors ministry. Have first job. My children is born, and if I go in some street, I know people from my school, from my job, from job, and this is communication. This is my home, and home like family, like church and city, and lose everything, because most people from my church live, immigrate or relocate, and, of course, my father stay in Kherson with church. But this is different church because it's now it's mostly refugee or people who visit church after war start. And if talk about my city before war, it's good side of city, 350,000 and now it's less than 50,000 it's not enough people for

Joshua Johnson: 7:50

this city exist. Take me into a place where you had home, you had your your job, your family, you had TCI, your your institution that you were leading, or the invasions happened. You were getting ready because you heard rumors of invasion that it could come soon. You had an evacuation plan ready to go, take us into that place where you were starting to make plans even before the invasion happened. Why were you talking about evacuation?

Unknown: 8:25

Usually, in my work, every November I'm with the United States, to report about our ministry, about our education ministry and missions work in outside of Ukraine and in 2,021st I'm visit United States in November, with last November and in this month, a difference organization start talk about possible invasion. And people suggest me evacuation or moving a couple time before war. And I'm thinking, say it's not possible for my family only, and I need be with ministry. I'm starting to communicate with my friend who have experience in the United States Army, he immediately, and he consulted us about make this evacuation plan. Of course, it's not work excellent, because Russian start war very, very quickly. And if talk about our area, our city, it's nearby. Crimea and Russian after maybe five, six hour, will be nearby our city, our evocation plan not work, excellent, but because I have this evacuation plan, TCI can special bus to create people and work for this strategy. And this is our organization. I remember, after maybe two years, one gentleman talk with me, maybe it was one more than two years, and he say, in this similar situation, usually, organization no change to exist because ECI lose more than 40% of our income. Because 40% of our income connect with our location, small businesses for support our ministry at ECI lose a lot. Professor who. Immigrate or who stay in occupation after nine months, TCI lose five billions because our campus was, have 15 acres and five billions. Everything was lose library. It's 30,000 books. And after this, usually organization no change to exist, because God send the special workers who help us in this evacuation plan, our organization can go through this stress, through this critical situation, difficulty, difficult situation, yeah, and exist.

Joshua Johnson: 11:12

So you have a plan in place, and as soon as the invasion starts and the war starts, you say this, this plan may not work. What is it like? The beginning of of something to make quick decisions as a leader, to try and evacuate. How do you shift and adapt your plans to what was happening on the ground?

Unknown: 11:38

These good questions, because after worst time, understand something about leadership and our leader logical classes, I'm say maybe 90% of our plan. It's worked. The biggest part it's not work before evacuation, TCI, communicate with bus company and make agreements with bus company about People First from this company, take our people from evacuate, because in Ukrainian, not everyone family have car. It's different economic and different logistic. And because this, our biggest challenge is have enough busses to evacuate people approximately in 7am in day after Russians start bombing because the Russians start bombing us in 5am approximately in 5am and in 7am my co worker, who communicate with logistic company, he called me and say, and this driver say, no ever hate You because it's dangerous. And TCI take some money from our stabilization fund and buy first bus to evacuate people in week, maybe TCI buy two more busses, and later, one more and maybe in couple more months, and evacuate people from frontline and decide this is one of the first Ukrainian organization. It's maybe not the first, but one of the first who start evacuation people from frontline. If you have a vacation plan, it's help you, maybe for 90% 80% it's better if you didn't have because if you didn't have evacuation plan, you will be in stress. But every hour, worker understand what people need do, and our team maybe seven time talk with our worker in January and February about evacuation, because for people, it's it's hard to make this decision.

Joshua Johnson: 13:53

In that decision, I know that someone, some people in your family, also decided to stay, and then you decided to evacuate. How do you make a decision in moments like that, whether to stay or whether to evacuate? And why are those both can be both good decisions and they could both be bad decisions. What does it look like to figure that out?

Unknown: 14:20

It's really hard questions for me, and by the way, now I'm working with to my friends about theological question in time of war. And one theological questions. It's dilemma between leave or stay. This is huge dilemma, and Tertullian, maybe first, who start thinking about this. This is good questions, because my decision it's go with our school, with our seminary, and my father, who lead pastor in same church, I'm ordained, he made decision to stay. And this decision not only in ministers, but in family, in one family, father and my mom made decision to stay, and myself and to my brother and one sister my decision to leave, and this is broken heart, of course, leadership decision and our deep theology, it's work immediately and stress, because what you do in this situation, it's your practical theology, it's your practical leadership. So. I'm thinking, my father absolutely right because he stay with church, and I'm thinking, I'm right because I'm the student. Now, after three years, I understand at church and seminary, he have different visions and have different missions. And a mission for church. It's help people in location. And because this, my father make really hard decision and stay and serves people. And my decision prepare new generation of leaders and saved student and second one, because in our area, TSA, have the biggest number of international connection, and I'm before evacuation with leaders of our church and ask advice. And I'll say what you suggest. And most of local pastors say you need leave to build this partnership relation to support our churches. If work start and this second, because two of these decision connect with your missions, your personal missions, and missions of your part of church,

Joshua Johnson: 16:51

you work, I think that's a that's a helpful distinction for people. It's to know what is your mission, what's the vision. It helps then to make a good decision. I worked in the Middle East for a long time, and I worked with war refugees, and so I was sitting in living rooms with people who lost everything. Lost their home. How do you, as you evacuate people and move them to a new location? How do you shepherd people through the loss of home, through the loss of what they have

Unknown: 17:27

good questions yesterday, mortgage, Ruby, difficult for me in the beginning to to shepherd others, because I was going through the Same kind of thing. No subliminium, fundamental the pastors and later, your foundation for your shepherding is your experience. Yes, when we remember the story of two disciples after Jesus was crucified, when they were walking along the road. Why were they so sincere with one another? Because they had a very similar experience. They were involved in an in the same kind of job, insane company, unique, and they both had the same situation that happened to their boss. Animal, missed this nice. They could be very open and not be shy to share their experience, and then when a stranger comes up, they started defending themselves, and they said, Don't you know what happened? They did they were afraid of to hear some criticism, but Michelle ties to open source. But again, is fundamental pastors from so a similar experience can be a good foundation for for shepherding others, not at any moment. Yeah, but this is not the only thing as long like not the only thing. The most important thing is Jesus, Jesus, who lives in our heart and the Holy Scripture,

Joshua Johnson: 20:29

what you said is, it was difficult for you at the very beginning because you were going through the same thing. That's a that's a hard place to be in. How do you bring in support during that time for you, as you're leading and you're trying to guide people in a place where you're not in your location, everything is different. Was there any support for you? And what did that look like?

Unknown: 20:57

What watching Global purchase now leadership pretty much to a new, sick, double, triple. Well again, to be honest, leaders need to understand that not always they will be able to receive this support from others at the prison. Why? Leader of politics and its leaders call from God. Its leaders call to receive this support from God. Even though you don't receive any support from people, we do want to receive this support from people. Doesn't always work, not alone and just literally, and you really society. I was really upset when I heard other people saying that, you know, like when we help, help evacuate others, someone would say he is a leader. He He doesn't need to this support you, because he leaders, but, but through him, you can help different people from and in the beginning, it's a wounded me, but later, God changed something in in my emotion, and I understand this is role of leader, of course, in this book I am say About this in day of marriage of my daughter got support me through one church from United States. But this not happens often in leadership. It's very important teach George about support leaders. It's very important teach George to support pastors. But sometimes it's not happens.

Joshua Johnson: 22:58

I'm sorry that's a hard position to be in, yeah, but it is, it is hard, it is difficult. And so what did keeping education going through dislocation look like? How did you continue the work while you're dealing with war and displacement

Unknown: 23:21

in the beginning, from February to maybe June, July, tsci mostly working humanitarian questions, mostly in humanitarian help in the Medicine question, evacuation questions, send people through frontline to send some stuff to Kherson, work through river Nipper or volunteer. It's really hard, but in June or in July, it's meeting in Lviv city. And in this meeting, it's seventh seminary. It's all of the seminary I connect with Baptist union Ukrainian Baptist union churches and seminary in the stand in time of war, especially the first year, approximately 500 pastors leave the country. Some pastors was kidnapped. Of course, it's not so many, but couple pastors. Some pastor was drafted to army, and our churches in first year lose approximately 500 pastors. It's huge number. It's huge number, because this our seven seminaries start thinking about quick prepare pastors in new reality because church mentality or church ministry before war and church ministry after war start its defense missions of God in earth. And because this, our seminaries start make really short one year or two years course for pastors to prepare pastors in this new reality. And this, I start communicate with local churches in ivanovan Kiss, find one, and it's not really small, but not like this. I have if three floor building in ivanovan Kiss, outside of city, and ran this building and start education and God, teach me a lot about this. Because this year, for me, if talked about 2022 it's really hard year because this meeting was seven seminary. It will be in July, approximately, and in the end of August, I'm preparing my president speech for student. And August, 28 29 one pastor from his room called me and say, your campus destroyed Russian destroyed your campus. This happens three day before I need say my president speech in front of a new student, and I'm changed my President's speech, I am take a place. And destroy plate. And talk mostly about how Jewish people remind about destroyed temple, and how be leaders in time of brokenness and my my speech in 2022 in September. And talk about how be leader, how be hands of God in time of brokenness. And in this year, God make a lot visual fruit of our ministry, because sometimes you work to cut and you didn't see fruit of your ministry. And this year, God prepare a lot and help us a lot. And in the end of year, I am glue plate, pieces of the plate, and talk mostly about Japanese tradition, kenzuki. And I'm saying, God, glue everything. God provide everything. God help you go to through this wound situation and in Apple day, Russian destroy kahovka dam and our Oblast have been Yes, flattered after this. It's interesting, because sometime you think, Oh, God, everything. Put anything together. Yeah, put everything together. And then couple day, kakhovka Dump flooded my city,

Joshua Johnson: 27:44

when everything was destroyed and flooded the city. And there you're feeling like, hey, there might be some repair. Here we're gluing things back together, and things are destroyed again. How does that? How do you get through that? How do you help others get through things like that? Where it is relentless, it's it happens, we feel like there's something good coming, but then it's another setback. Yeah, what does that look like?

Unknown: 28:16

It's hard. It's hard. It's not easy. Maybe different idea happen in these questions. First, maybe I'm thinking about theology of hope because I'm thinking modern church not teach enough about theology of hope. And sometime our hope connect with visual stuff, and you think about Christians in first century and second century and diachylian neuron Christians have this theology of hope. And think about heaven and think about strong hope, God, because sometimes you looks what brach deal it, enemy, enemy do. But if you understand how your god strong, this has helped you go through this situation, through this terrible stuff. First, my answer is geology of hope. And second, in our life, of course, people have a lot of wound I'm thinking the biggest problem, if you're built, your lifestyle only think about your wound, but you think about your wound, and you need think about Holy Spirit gift. Very important to understand what your missions and your missions, what your unique, your unique in your womb and you unique in your holy spirit gift. And if you understand this, this has helped you for istlatza to be healed, to be healed. And this is how to be effective in ministry and extend your missions, why you live in this world, not why you have church, how you can help people, your experience of womb and how you help people with your gift.

Joshua Johnson: 31:19

What is the difference, then, of serving? So if you're you are educating pastors for war and brokenness instead of a time of peace. What are some of the things that you need to prepare pastors to lead in the midst of war and brokenness rather than in the midst of peace.

Unknown: 31:43

Good questions maybe a first time tell about my experience of my study, because I remember one of my my first study in bachelor's level, and I remember my class about Old Testament. And my professor, in introduction about Old Testament, He say Old Testament, writing in time of war and occupation. And he say, Me this in 1998 and from 1998 to. Before full invasion, this means, for me, nothing. This is only, only information you hear some day, many, many years ago. You hear Bible writing time of occupations, after war, start some verses from Bible start talk with me in different ways, because you start seeing this chapter or this verses, and you start to understand normally in a level of Muslim mind, not only in level of mind, but in level of heart. And this may be held, of course, if talk about a situation or prepare pastor or youth leaders, not everyone have same experience. Some people from area where is not war, and you need to understand modern war, it's very different, like if talking about Israel or difference area, maybe 50 kilometers or 100 kilometers, 70 miles, it's drones and missiles, and in 70 miles, people go to coffee shop and different world. People live like like in Europe and in 70 miles, people lose everything because this sometimes people who live 70 miles or 100 mile after two years, people tired about work and start yet, of course, if some relatives, what drafted to army, this family, of course, will be prayed every day. And because this need prepare churches in different understanding of missions, missions for God, not missions for international, missions work. How need short people some of our classes, it's classes in this different reality. Of course, in this situation, people in seminary in Christian school start talking about different questions, like hospitality ministry with wounded people, trauma, healing difference this chaplaincy ministry, because a lot soldiers, a lot pastors now, sort like chaplains in army, your

Joshua Johnson: 34:53

whole seminary, you lost your Buildings, you lost your library, had 30,000 books you have right now. So anybody watching video, you have a book that was burned. Losing 30,000 books is a lot of books.

Unknown: 35:10

Yes, it's interesting because Russian soldiers most of books, it's burn, and some books take in, bring, they took the books to the dumpster, and want the pastor from Kherson churches go to these dumpers, dumpster, dumpster, and take 18 or 20 books and say, of course, it's not possible to use these books, because this book everything destroyed, but he bring less than 20 books. And this is simple, what Russian do with our library. And it's interesting because God's make this special kenzuki For Christians, because in November, 2023 Lincoln Christians University from Illinois, connect with us and say this university won't donate for us around 30,000 books. Yes, it's a little bit less than TCI have, but this university, with partnership in theological books network and with scholar leaders, donate for us these books. And in this summer, in August, three librarian from two from United States and one from Austria, visit us to catalog is aid these books and Tsai open new library in same day after three years, in August 29 Open Library for glory of God, because I destroyed our library in August 29 in 2022 and God's help us open this library in same day in three years.

Joshua Johnson: 37:03

That's beautiful. Tell me what is happening in Ukraine now, what's the feeling in the country? What do we need to know about what's going on and how we can stand and pray and be with. People of Ukraine,

Unknown: 37:19

yeah, you need to understand, Ukraine is big country. This is the one of the biggest country in Europe, because this is different situation in our country. If talk about frontline like Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, kharkav, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk area, it's war every day. People not talk a lot about my homeland, Kherson, but this City bombing every day. In some day, it's approximately 500 600 missiles for every day. It's crazy. Of course, it talk about city who far from frontline, it's more safety, but in our country, not enough people to draft to army, because population, Ukrainian population, is many times less than Russians. And because this, it's very important have enough people in economical sector and in military sector. And now it's not enough people who can serve and who can work some restaurant not work, because not enough people to make business. And if talk about feeling most people didn't have enough hope and didn't have enough yeah, maybe hope in future, because most people connect hope with visual stuff, and if talk about political stuff, yeah, people, especially who nearby frontline. But of course, people want saved country and the she shot protect protect country. Opinions won't protect country and protect Europe, because Russian, time to time, attacked Poland Baltic country and yeah, how

Joshua Johnson: 39:16

has this transformed you and your your relationship with God. How do you view view God now differently than before the war.

Unknown: 39:28

I'm not lose my face. My face more deep. Maybe two story first or first, people really won't see miracle very soon in your life, and people really want, if someone pray, God immediately answer, and I'm understand your relation and your trust. God not negotiable. Not be, mustn't be. Mustn't be. Connect with miracle answer. Sometime, God, talk with you through Holy Spirit, but you didn't see miracle. Because if think about Abraham, Abraham have answered in time he 76 and 99 and no miracle. It's only communication here, because this, you build relation with God sometime you didn't have answer in medical way. Of course, I'm warned, but now I'm not expect this. This is maybe first one. And if talk about how my hope and how my understanding this life transform now, if you read Revelation, you see couple pictures about Jesus, and this has helped me in this stressful situation, because in first, second and third chapter, you see Jesus who pelosocinik, high priest, high priest, and he communicate With churches. And these churches have different experience. Have different problem. Some churches have problem with heresy, some problem. Some churches have problem with prosecution from society, some problem have some churches have problem with women or leadership or money. Some churches really good, have good situation, and Jesus say, I am highest priest, and I am lead by churches. If think about our situation, about churches in Ukraine and maybe in United States, not everything good in our church. Our churches have problem, but if you understand, Jesus now our high priest, and he help us, and He lead our churches, and he protect our churches, this helped me not expect something not realistic from church. Of course, church need focus to sanctification. Church need be church. Church must be sold. But I understand Jesus protect and Jesus love church later in the Revelation, you see Jesus like maybe not see in the beginning, John, hear lying voice, and he looks, and he see lamb, and this lamb was wound, and he understand this is Jesus, who creator, and who watches the world. And in our world, not everything good in our world, it's a lot problem, ecological problem, covid problem, illness problem, a lot problem, sometimes with water. But Jesus, watch what happens with this world. And the end of story, Johnson, this white king in white horse and only his robe in blood. This is blood of Jesus, and he say he king. And if talk about political area, not everything good in our political maybe only in the United States, everything good was political? A lot of problem with political situation, political, corrupt, political, not a in God's roles. But if you understand Jesus, understand what kingdoms and he have his voice in this question. And this is little bit help me, because sometime life not not easy. Of course, I know Americans mentality Life is good, but reality, life not is good, not always, not always good, not all. Life, sometimes it's hard.

Joshua Johnson: 44:21

Yes, it is. I don't know if we could answer this quickly, because it's a big question, but did your your thoughts on the peace of the Kingdom of God and peace building and peacemaking? Has that shifted or changed. Have you learned anything of what it looks like to be a peace builder and bring the peace of the kingdom of God into places?

Unknown: 44:50

It's hard question for Ukrainians. And of course, if I start talking about peace building, some people immediately start thinking political level. For some Ukrainians, it's really hard questions. Maybe you remember some journalist asked our president, and he asked about forget Russians and our president say, Forgive, forgive. And you say, budim de Pristina, we will never forget. We will never forgive. And this is theological understanding for some Ukrainians, because some Ukrainians believe if you forgive Russian, it's mean, Jessica, if you have forgiven Russians for what they have done, you forgot Nashua that 1000s of Ukrainians were killed in this war, and because this is womb, but I'm thinking our forgiveness and need connect with our relation with Jesus. And this is not, not easy questions. And of course, many Ukrainians now think if some some Christians start talking about forgiveness, many Ukrainians say it's political questions. But if talk about these questions, I'm understanding at least four level four built relations because it's personal relations. It's one level, and this will be difference in difference with different people. It's second question since relation for nations, I'm thinking it's almost no chance to change this situation for many years, talk about first level. It's a political level, and this is usually political not ask someone from church, what do you think about political level? It's not multi invitation. And of course, it's a church level. And all of these four questions, it's really hard, because what I am understand. I remember my conversation with some Russian Christians, one conversation I'm asked, because these people say, Oh, I'm sorry, what happens with your phone? And then say, but you sorry about what your people do? And he said, Oh, no, no. I didn't want to talk about this because this is political questions, and he will personally and for Russian Christians and for Russian churches, it's very important say what this is seen or not, because most of Russian people from churches, even general support Putin extremely and biblical theology of forgiveness. Connect with previous two, justice with justice, Bible, biblical understanding of forgiveness connect with biblical understanding of justice, because if forgiveness without justice, it's not biblical idea. And because this, you've talked about forgiveness, you need to talk about, remember and forgiveness for level of forgiveness, justice, forgiveness, and this is, this is not easy questions. It's a lot a lot of questions.

Joshua Johnson: 48:24

Briefly, Valentin, this has been a fantastic conversation. Thank you for for this. This book, serving God under siege. This is the the English version. You wrote it in Ukrainian. It was translated into English, which I'm very thankful. It was translated English, so I can read this, and a lot of people around the world could also read it. What hope do you have for this book? Both the Ukrainian version, so the people in your in your homeland, and then the English version, the people around the world,

Unknown: 48:55

maybe, as the biggest my hope. Daniel, up expectation, expectation people from Western world hear voice of Ukrainians. And because, especially Ukrainians like refugee and because now not many Ukrainians who refugee can't be heard. And and I'm, I'm hope this will be bridge for Understand, understand us. And if you remember Israel, culture, gods many times say you need help refugee, because you was refugee. And is Madrid time. Paslani Petra, well, when we read the letter of Peter, Peter one is a white circle. He calls the church refugees. Yeah, some something like refugees. And because this church need to understand this group of people for make this in order, in order to have so that people can feel sympathy.

Joshua Johnson: 50:23

I pray that that happens, that we actually can see the stories of Ukrainians, that we could hear directly from you and your story, and that could actually lead us into a place where we could see all the Ukrainians. I really hope that people go and get this serving God under siege. Is a fantastic book. It's actually a thrilling story. And so it's not just information, it's also a really like thrilling ride through your story, and it's a harrowing tale. So thank you for writing it so that we could actually see what is happening through your perspective and your understanding, so that we could get that as well. Is there anything that you'd like to tell the audience? How can people connect with what you're doing? Is there any needs that you have that we could connect people with? How could they connect with you?

Unknown: 51:15

Yes, I'm not prepared to resist. But yes, Tsai have a foundation in United States, American nonprofit organization, and name Tsai Foundation, and our biggest need to rebuild, or maybe buy at least, was one building to save our organization, because tied before work, have five buildings, a really huge campus, a lot small businesses, and now everything just destroyed. In the beginning was bombing, and after this was flooded. And yeah, if you want, you can find us. It's TSI Foundation. And yeah, can help us to rebuild our organization.

Joshua Johnson: 52:03

Thank you for this conversation. I really appreciate it, and I got a lot out of it, and I know a lot of people listening well as well. So thank you so much.

Unknown: 52:13

Thank you. Thank you. You.