The full-scale war has become a challenge not only on the battlefield, but also in the hearts of those seeking to live with faith amid the reality of war.
Ukrainian Christians are reconsidering how to be present where blood is being shed — and how to witness to Christ in the harsh and brutal struggle. One of those who chose the path of military chaplaincy is Ivan Horbyk, a pastor from the Baptist community.
Horbyk serves in the armed forces of Ukraine as an officially recognized chaplain — unarmed but always present among the soldiers. Just before Christmas in 2024, he was wounded by a drone strike but returned to his unit after recovery.
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In this interview, Horbyk shares his calling, experience, pain and hope.
Why did you become a military chaplain during the war?
I came to Christ in 2006, when I was 22. It was a time of deep inner crisis for me. My believing grandmother prayed for me, and the Lord touched my heart.
My wife is a fourth-generation believer. Her great-grandfather was a pastor in the village of Baburka, near Zaporizhzhia.
In the 1930s, he was taken straight from his house and executed by order of the KGB. That story became part of my calling. The descendants of those who executed him are now bringing death and destruction to our land—and they already have plans for our children. I couldn’t stand aside any longer.
I worked in the IT sector with foreign clients. My life was stable and predictable. I even had an official exemption from military service. At the time, I wasn’t seeking career advancement or money.
But deep inside, the voice of God spoke with a question: “How will you serve me when your country, your church and your family are in pain?”
I prayed and came to understand I must be where the pain is — among those who protect us.
What is it like being a military chaplain?
My service as a military chaplain includes four main areas: pastoral care, religious and outreach activities, charitable assistance and consulting military leadership on religious issues.
I pray with the commander and the officer team, and I visit wounded soldiers and the families of the fallen every week. I visit different units, meet with the soldiers, talk with them, pray and hand out Gospels. For me, this isn’t just serving in the military; it’s my mission.
Once, after a warning about an upcoming assault, I decided to go to the front positions with my assistant and a group of brothers-in-arms. I spent five days there with the guys, and on the last day, I was wounded by an explosive dropped from an enemy drone.
I spent the next few days afterward in prayer, filled with anger, pain and questions. But then, peace came. The Lord gave me strength to return to my brothers-in-arms after treatment and recovery. My place is with them. Where there is pain, there must be a witness of Christ.
What other kinds of ministry are you engaged in?
In addition to my spiritual work, I’m actively involved in organizing voluntary aid. People donate clothing, equipment and food. But more than just material help, they bring love, support and prayer.
Soldiers begin to feel hope again because the Lord, through his church, is caring for them. Sometimes, this care becomes a kind of ‘Fifth Gospel,’ a living testimony of Christ’s presence and love.
Constant stress, fatigue, family issues, surface-level religiosity — the greatest challenges aren’t only physical. Many soldiers have some kind of inner faith, but they lack spiritual discipline and knowledge of God’s word. That’s where I come in, not to pressure them, but to walk alongside them.
My task is to be present, not to impose, but to bear witness. And I’m already seeing fruit: regular prayers within the unit, prayerful blessings during award ceremonies and growing trust among the soldiers. This is part of building the culture of the military unit, where instead of ideology or apathy, a spiritual dimension — brought by the chaplain — takes root.
Is it hard to serve as a chaplain when the soldiers come from different denominations?
No. We focus on what we share — Christ, salvation and hope. We pray together and read the Bible.
I remain a Baptist, but I’m open to cooperation. I’ve led prayers with Orthodox priests, welcomed Greek Catholics who came with Christmas carols, and prayed with an interdenominational chaplaincy group.
What unites us as chaplains is the Ukrainian soldier — and Christ, who is with us.
How is chaplaincy changing during the war?
Today, I’m working on a mobile spiritual center project — a converted minibus where soldiers not only can shower and do laundry, but also find a place to rest their souls. I learned about this kind of ministry resource during my training at the Military Chaplain Training Center.
Inside this minibus, there will be a small sauna, a coffee machine, spiritual literature, and space for pastoral conversations and prayer. It’s a response to the new reality. Drones and artillery shelling make it impossible to stay at positions for long. That’s why I want to be a mobile chaplain — always available, always nearby.
How can others pray for you?
I’m grateful to God for the path he’s been leading me on. But now, my current position in this unit is being phased out, and I’m seeking a new place of ministry.
I ask for your prayers:
- for the completion of the mobile spiritual center.
- for clarity in understanding God’s next steps.
- for constant renewal in my relationship with God.
My dream is Ukrainian soldiers always would have someone nearby to remind them the Lord is with us — even in the darkest valley.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Denys Gorenkov and originally published by Baptist Standard.
