Finding the God of Second Chances: Impact Eastern Ukraine

Do you know the meaning of words like hopelessness, loneliness and vagabonding? Pavel* does. The death of his father led to a terrible drinking addiction. He started losing his vision as well as his connection with reality. In addition, Pavel’s stepmother tried to take away his only inheritance – a house. Pressure just added and added to the point where he believed that drinking his sorrows away was the path to true peace.

Before all this, Pavel had spent three months in rehab. However, he decided that he could control his thoughts and desires himself. He no longer wanted to be amongst alcoholics and drug addicts. He thought he was different; that he was better.

Pavel left rehab and started attending church. Eventually, after accepting Jesus, he got baptised. Little did he know that his trials were just about to begin. Again, the young Christian believed that he was able to deal with his troubles on his own, and he left the church. Sadly, this lead him right back to drinking. A plum tree that Pavel and his dad had planted when he was young was his only source of food. His neighbour, an old lady who had been watching Pavel spiral out of control, couldn’t watch him suffer anymore. She went to the church he used to attend to ask for help.

Soon our pioneers paid Pavel a visit. They saw a young man in a devastated condition that was hard to describe. He could barely speak and could not process any information. The pioneers told him: “If you want to live, come tomorrow, we will take you to the rehabilitation centre.” They left him a note that said: “Wednesday, 14:00, Good News Church.” The whole team prayed for his salvation, and that he would read the note and come.

The next morning, as the clock struck 10am, Pavel appeared in the doorway of the church holding a bag in his hands. They were surprised that he came so early, but he replied: “I better wait here because, if I go back home, I ‘ll go wrong.” That same evening, Pavel arrived at the rehab centre. He got back his freedom, work and a desire to know God personally. The rehabilitation centre became a place in which Pavel’s life was changed forever. Now he helps at the church and is a living testimony of God’s love to those who have seen the changes in his life.

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