{"id":44290,"date":"2022-10-25T14:00:40","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T05:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=44290"},"modified":"2022-10-25T13:06:23","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T04:06:23","slug":"vomk-report-226","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/10\/25\/vomk-report-226\/","title":{"rendered":"UKRAINE: DEACON KILLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR CHURCH BUILDING"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44294″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea has confirmed that a deacon who traveled 1,300 kilometers to Siversk, Eastern Ukraine to prepare his church building for the winter has been killed by shrapnel from a missile attack. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley, <\/span>Mikhail <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> was a <\/span>deacon <\/span>at<\/span> “Rock of Salvation”<\/span> Church in <\/span>Siversk<\/span>, Eastern Ukraine<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>In February, <\/span>Deacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> and his wife, Lily, and three of their five children <\/span>traveled to <\/span>Truskavets<\/span>, a Ukrainian town near the border with Poland<\/span>,<\/span> intending on a short stay,\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>But w<\/span>hen <\/span>the <\/span>war broke out<\/span>, they realized they <\/span>would need<\/span> to remain there temporarily.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”44297″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that the <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> family stayed at a Christian mission in<\/span> Truskavets<\/span> but <\/span>Deacon and Mrs. <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> had <\/span>traveled back to <\/span>Siversk<\/span> several times <\/span>since February<\/span>,<\/span> bringing <\/span>humanitarian aid <\/span>to distribute there.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Siversk<\/span> had a population of around 13,000,<\/span> but it has been at the front line of conflict for much of the war so many of the residents <\/span>have been <\/span>forced to flee,<\/span>\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>But for the <\/span>Makhnik<\/span>s<\/span>, this was their hometown. <\/span>They <\/span>had <\/span>lived there all their lives<\/span>, and <\/span>before the war <\/span>their home <\/span>had been <\/span>a place where <\/span>townspeople <\/span>gathered<\/span> literally every day<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]One of the couple\u2019s children <\/span>told Voice of the Martyrs Korea, \u201c<\/span>Dad is <\/span>a <\/span>very kind, modest, open person. He loved and always helped everyone. He used to give everyone a lift, was ready to fix everything that was broken. People would often come to him asking for help. His home was always full of guests, relatives, youth. Their home has always been open to everyone. [Mom and Dad] would pay attention, fe<\/span>e<\/span>d, and help everyone. Young people from the church gathered in their house almost every day. My mother ran a Bible study group for teenagers at their house. Young people celebrated the New Year and many other events took place at their home with the involvement of father and mother.<\/span> It can be said that he was a father of many [people].<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Deacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> had recently traveled back to <\/span>Siversk<\/span> with food and other aid<\/span>, intending to cover the roof of his home church with plastic tarp. \u201c<\/span>The roof <\/span>of the church had <\/span>previously <\/span>been <\/span>damaged by <\/span>shrapnel from several <\/span>Russian missiles that <\/span>had struck the <\/span>churchyard<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cDeacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> was concerned that <\/span>rain would leak through <\/span>the <\/span>holes in the roof and <\/span>damage <\/span>the church sanctuary.<\/span> The p<\/span>astor of <\/span>the church, <\/span>Alexander <\/span>Ivanovich<\/span> Kobzar<\/span>, <\/span>said that <\/span>Deacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> wanted to make sure there was a<\/span> safe, warm place where resident<\/span>s<\/span> could go <\/span>and eat and sleep <\/span>and find sanctuary <\/span>during the winter<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44299″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Deacon Mikhail Makhnik. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44307″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Deacon Mikhail Makhnik works on a home repair.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Voice of the Martyrs Korea confirmed that o<\/span>n Saturday evening<\/span> October 8, Deacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> was with a local doctor and <\/span>one of the <\/span>Makhnik<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> longtime <\/span>neighbor<\/span>s<\/span> in the gazebo of <\/span>the neighbor’s house<\/span> when a shell struck the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cDeacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> and the<\/span> doctor died from shrapnel<\/span> wounds<\/span>, and the neighbor <\/span>was<\/span> hospital<\/span>ized,\u201d says Representative Foley.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea, <\/span>Mrs. <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> wrote on her husband\u2019s Facebook page, \u201c<\/span>My dear, you loved this home (prayers), tried to keep it safe. But our heavenly Father has prepared for us a house unmanageable, eternal. That’s where we will meet again.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea recognizes Deacon Makhnik as a martyr.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMartyrs are Christians who make a conscious decision to lay down their lives in service to the Lord,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cThey commit to making a faithful witness unto death, testifying of the Lord\u2019s grace to those for whom they lay down their lives.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that it is a mistake to think that martyrdom is the result of persecution. \u201c<\/span>We sometimes think that a person is a martyr because the<\/span>y <\/span>are persecuted<\/span>. <\/span>But biblically<\/span>,<\/span> the word martyr means \u2018witness\u2019<\/span>\u201d, says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Biblically, f<\/span>aithful witness\u2014martyrdom<\/span>\u2014<\/span>always comes first, <\/span>and the result <\/span>it produces is <\/span>often persecution.<\/span> Sometimes that persecution <\/span>comes <\/span>from other human beings. Sometimes it comes from the spiritual realm.<\/span> In the case of <\/span>Deacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span>, <\/span>it came from his refusal to abandon the sheep the Lord Jesus had entrusted to his care, even on the front line<\/span>s<\/span> of a war<\/span>.<\/span> His home <\/span>had<\/span> been<\/span> open to all before the war, and he <\/span>had <\/span>shared the gospel then. He endeavored to keep the church ho<\/span>use<\/span> open so the gospel <\/span>could be heard<\/span> above the weapons of war<\/span>.<\/span> There is always a high price to be paid for faithful<\/span> witness to Christ<\/span>. P<\/span>aying that price willingly and joyfully is what makes<\/span> a Christian <\/span>a martyr.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44304″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Deacon Mikhail Makhnik\u2019s funeral service. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44309″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Deacon Mikhail Makhnik with his wife, Lily.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]V<\/span>oice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span> sent <\/span>a <\/span>love offering<\/span> to <\/span>the family <\/span>of Deacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> from <\/span>the organization\u2019s <\/span>Families of Martyrs fund<\/span>.<\/span> \u201cThe most basic and important ministry of Voice of the Martyrs <\/span>Korea <\/span>is to care for the families of those who are martyred or imprisoned for their faith,\u201d says Representative Foley.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that <\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span> also sent a love offering to Deacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> church <\/span>in <\/span>Siversk<\/span> from its <\/span>Ukraine Christian Emergency Relief <\/span>fund. <\/span>\u201cWe want to make sure that the work for which Deacon <\/span>Makhnik<\/span> laid down his life <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>carried on<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea is continuing to make disbursements from its Families of Martyrs fund to the families of other Ukrainian Christians who are killed in the act of Christian witness, and from its Ukraine Christian Emergency Relief fund to churches which are continuing to make a faithful witness under duress. Those who are interested in making a donation to either fund can do so at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/a><\/span> or via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> (KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span> (Account Holder): (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the word \u201cUkraine\u201d or \u201cFamilies of Martyrs\u201d with the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44294″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea has confirmed that a deacon who traveled 1,300 kilometers to Siversk, Eastern Ukraine to prepare his church building for the winter has …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":44291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44290"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44290\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}