War Divides Their Homelands; Christ Unites Them in Cleveland

Story by Francis Tuffour

In a small Cleveland church, where worshippers from Russia and Ukraine kneel side by side, peace reigns, defying the war that divides their homelands. This unique congregation sings, prays, studies and fellowships together, with no trace of the painful divisions or hatred that mark their nations' conflict.

The church's story began after Pastor Gennadii Kasap arrived in Cleveland at a challenging time. Before his arrival, there was just a handful of Slavic members in the area—mainly a Ukrainian family who attended a church with only American members. "I arrived in Cleveland on March 10, 2022, just weeks after the war began on February 24," he shares. "Of course, the beginning of the war created certain problems from the very start of my ministry." Having come from Moscow, Russia, Gennadii faced initial resistance to forming Ohio Conference’s Slavic Mission church, however, he believed the congregation's closeness to God would overcome negativity. 

Andriy Skitsko, now one of the Ukrainian members at the church, candidly admits, "At first, I was categorically against being part of a church with a Russian-speaking pastor, especially one from Moscow. I had a bad experience being in the same church with Russians. I envisioned myself either as a member of an American church since I live in America or a Ukrainian church since I am Ukrainian." However, his perspective changed after a conversation with Gennadii. "I saw that the pastor is a truly spiritual person with no imperial superiority," Skitsko shares. After consulting with his wife, they made a pivotal decision: "We decided to support him in his ministry. If this is a human project, it will not succeed, and there will be no Slavic church. But if it is from God, we have no right to refuse to support the pastor. And we were not mistaken." Andriy highlighted Gennadii's selfless ministry and its profound impact on the congregation. Despite not knowing Ukrainian, the pastor tries to learn and sing Ukrainian songs, ensuring that worship services are conducted in both Ukrainian and Russian. For Skitsko, these gestures of inclusion have made him feel welcome and valued. With just a few core members at the start, the church has since grown to more than 40 believers. 

Karina Kolotilina, a Russian church member, consciously maintains a cordial relationship with her Ukrainian fellow worshippers. Acknowledging the language barrier, she shares, "I always try not to hurt the feelings of Ukrainians and show respect for their language, even though I don't understand it very well. I serve in the music ministry, and we regularly sing songs in Ukrainian—a vision of our pastor that I fully support. This ensures that all church members can worship in the language closest to their hearts."

The church has remained a place of unity despite the conflict abroad, a testament to their unwavering focus on Jesus. 

With roughly 50 percent of the congregation being Russian-speaking and the other 50 percent Ukrainian-speaking, the church intentionally fosters inclusivity. Services, slides and congregational songs are conducted in both languages. Remarkably, none of the praise team members speak Ukrainian fluently, yet they try to learn and sing Ukrainian hymns. This effort reflects their shared belief that "heaven is for all." Kristina Kasap, Gennadii's daughter and a praise team member, explains, "Half of the songs we sing are in Russian, and half are in Ukrainian."

Tatiana Druzhenkova, whose family recently arrived in the United States from Russia, expresses deep gratitude for how the church has supported them. Reflecting on the church's unity, she shares that what is happening in this church is an opportunity to show the world that "God has no nationalities."

The Christian bond between Russian and Ukrainian members extends beyond the church walls. Gennadii states, "They not only worship together in church but also help each other. Considering that some of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters have been here longer, they often assist the Russian brothers and sisters more. They provide help with food, furniture, jobs and even invite each other into their homes." This sense of unity is further strengthened through the church's initiatives. One such project is a picnic program where members invite friends to socialize over shared meals, aiming to rebuild friendships and foster connections. The church also actively helps newcomers to America adapt to their surroundings, regardless of whether they come from Ukraine or Russia.

In addition to these efforts, Gennadii leads a personal project called "Learning to Drive a Car," which has helped him connect with many individuals while practically showing God's care. The congregation embodies their commitment to unity and compassion through these acts of service and fellowship.

When Vladislav Kolotilin and his family, Russian Seventh-day Adventists, fled their country, they experienced mixed emotions. Reflecting on their journey, Kolotilin shares, "At the end of August 2023, we were forced to leave our beloved city of St. Petersburg due to persecution by the authorities for publicly expressing our religious views and open anti-war stance. We had to abandon our property and business. Despite the uncertainty, we had no doubt that we would be free in America."

Gennadii invited the family to join the Slavic congregation in Cleveland. Kolotilin recalls their initial apprehension: "We felt excitement and anxiety about how we would be received by our spiritual brothers from Ukraine in this congregation. We realized it was hard for some of them to hear Russian speech." However, their fears quickly subsided. "Our acquaintance with the Ukrainian church members exceeded all our expectations. They welcomed us warmly, helped us with food and clothes, and supported us in all our needs." Kolotilin emphasizes the shared history and bonds between Russians and Ukrainians, noting how their countries once co-existed peacefully as neighbors with "similar languages, culture, cuisine and way of life." While the terrible war has divided their nations, he reflects, "It has not divided us in the church. We have the most important thing in common—our heavenly Father."

Sofiia Zaviriukha, a Ukrainian member, speaks passionately about her homeland. "I love my country, and, of course, I want to contribute to its prosperity. The war has affected me deeply, and life feels as though it has been divided into 'before' and 'after.' Terrible things are happening in our country," she says, unable to hide her patriotism and the pain caused by the conflict. Lidiya Zabrecky, another Ukrainian member, reflects with a positive attitude on her experience with the church: "In my church, there are people who came from Russia, but I know they didn't start the war, and they are not supporting it. These people are my brothers and sisters in Christ, children of God in God's big family. I believe that God is the Creator of all people, and He died for everyone."

Vladimir Druzhenkov, a Russian member, believes that his faith has been instrumental in helping him cope with the challenges and emotions brought on by the war. He understands that the Bible foretold that before the second coming of Jesus, there would be wars and rumors of wars. Still, Druzhenkov expresses deep sorrow over the current situation. "Of course, we are very sorry to see that there are full-scale military operations in Ukraine now, and we pray that it will soon stop," he says.

For Druzhenkov, the church family's motto, "Heaven for All," has been a source of inspiration. He credits this unifying message with helping members foster an atmosphere of "friendliness, kindness and a prayerful spirit" within the church.

Gregory Arutyunyan, a retired Adventist pastor from Russia and now a church member, expresses his joy at witnessing the unity among the congregation. "It's amazing to see that all members—Ukrainians, Russians and others—are so united, peaceful and loving toward one another as if there was never a war," he says. He commends Gennadii for his leadership and the good spirit of the members, adding, "I am truly proud to be part of this congregation."