Bringing the Kingdom to a War-Torn Country
Memoir
Date Published: 08-06-2024
Publisher: King’s Glory Publishing House
He was told to renounce his belief in God or face certain death. He chose
God. In this powerful story we follow the lives of two Ukrainian
natives-Peter and Irina Tkachuk, who went against the cultural norm of their
country and chose to follow God. Through uncertainty and an authoritative
rule, they chose radical obedience. The Tkachuks took the charge to share
the Kingdom with those around them from school age children to wounded
soldiers. The Ark of Ukraine is more than a missionary’s memoir. The
moving testimonials and resilient faith exhibited by the people in these
pages is captivating and moving. The work they did and the lives they
touched are nothing short of a miracle. This book will ignite your faith and
inspire you to do your part in sharing the light and life of the Kingdom.
Grab your copy of The Ark of Ukraine today.
EXCERPT
Irina’s father, a devoted pastor and missionary, passionately spread the gospel in his local region. He shepherded several churches, ensuring their spiritual growth. Volodymer was a compassionate man and would regularly visit the elderly members of the community. His faith and love for Jesus set him apart from the members of legalistic churches which were typical in Ukraine. People aren’t known to reach out to their neighbors in love even if they call themselves Christians, but Volodymer was unwavering in his beliefs and worked tirelessly to share the love of Christ with others, which left a lasting impact. His ceaseless commitment to serving the Lord continued until his passing in 2021 at the age of seventy-five. Unable to recover from the loss of her husband of 52 years, Nadia Yukhimets succumbed to her illness two years later, in January of 2024. Irina and her family still feel a profound loss.
Still, the legacy of faith endures in Irina’s family. Under Soviet Rule in Ukraine, Irina’s great-great-grandfather and his son were exiled to Siberia for steadfastly refusing to renounce their faith. His wife and daughter moved to Siberia to be close to them. Irina’s great uncle endured torture and eventually perished in a Siberian prison. Stalin caused widespread starvation in 1930-33 known as the “Holodomor, a term derived from the Ukrainian words for hunger (holod) and extermination (mor)” or “Great Famine” (Applebaum, A. (2024,3)) This was to eliminate a Ukrainian independence movement. According to Britannica, around at least 5 million perished in Ukraine during this time.
The “Great Purge” or sometimes known as the “Great Terror” occurred in 1937-1938. This dark period in history included a mass execution of thousands of people in Ukraine under Soviet control by Stalin, who was determined to purge his perceived enemies. It was during this time that General Secretary Joseph Stalin consolidated his power of the Communist Party.
To say that the Ukrainian people have suffered greatly under Soviet Rule is an understatement.
But the legacy of faith lives on. Irina’s siblings are, as of this writing, serving in some sort of Christian ministry. All her brothers are either deacons or pastors. Her father and all his brothers were pastors. Her grandfather was a pastor as well. Faith has sustained every family member.
Irina met Peter at a church meeting in Ukraine in 1989 after he returned home from serving in the army. They married on August 12, 1990, when Irina was only 16 years old!
“It was not easy being 16 getting married,” Irina explains. “For many years I kept everything inside me; I wouldn’t talk about it. I have learned to trust my feelings and share them with Peter over the years. But still, if I think he won’t understand me, I might not share my thoughts or feelings.
About the Author
Lura Hunter is an author, missionary, and heart healer. She holds a
master’s in counseling and special education. Lura has a passion for the
lost. Her desire is not just to see them saved but to make disciples as the
Great Commission commands. Lura has traveled to nine different countries:
Brazil, Ghana, China, El Salvador, Ukraine, Cameroon, Papa New Guinea,
Uruguay, and Indonesia. With each country she met new people and experienced
God’s heart in a new way.
When she is not on the mission field abroad, Lura takes on the role of
healer for many. With over ten years of experience under her belt, Lura
helps people break out the things like generational curses, guilt, shame,
pain, and anxiety. She helps them step into spiritual freedom through Sozo
and Prophetic Heart Healing.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
https://mybook.to/TheArkofUkraine
