HE LIVED A LIFE WORTHY OF IMITATION
Former president of SIA of Ministries “Good Samaritan,” Pastor-missionary Pavel Radchuk, dedicated all the years of his life for God’s ministry working in churches and on missionary fields. The Holy Spirit called him to preach the Gospel in Ukraine and Russia and also among the minority ethnic groups of Chukotka, area of an unreached Northeast Siberia.
The fruits of this difficult missionary work are evident; saved souls and many new churches. Pavel was always intensely working, rushing to accomplish all he could physically do for the glory of God. He burned with desire to reach those who were dying without God. He dreamed about a spiritual awakening of the North, of opening Bible centers, orphanages, and prayed fervently for new projects which God laid on his heart. He was a man with a vision that never quit.
But the life of this fiery preacher of the Gospel suddenly ended on Thursday, August 8, 2002. While on a mission trip to Alaska, Pavel tragically died in a ultra-light plane crash. In his 41st year of life, Pavel Radchuk left this earth for a new home in heaven, leaving a pregnant wife and seven children. The last son, Andrey, was born without a father.
His ministry touched thousands of lives. His death was an inspiration for many to change their lifestyle and to follow an example of a life worthy of imitation.
You my order a DVD with the inspirational story of Pavel Radchuk's life. (Available in English or Russian.) Please request a copy by writing our office.
Memories From His Last Days Alive
By Russell Korets
On August 4th, 2002, Pavel Radchuk with his wife, 3 of his kids, and a group of 25 young people left to Alaska on a big bus, to hold crusades, youth services, and be at a youth camp. Lots of churches were praying for this trip, and we at Good Samaritan Ministries were excited about the opportunity to minister in Alaska.
Soon after Pavel's death, many friends and co-workers sent their sympathy letters and shared special memories to the family. Allow us to share a few:
Read articles from The Seattle Times, Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Anchorage Daily News
The funeral of Pavel Radchuk took on place on August 18th and 19th, in Washington State. On Sunday night (August 18th), over 5,000 attended the service, which was close to 5 hours long. There was many testimonies of brothers, ministers, missionaries, and friends, whose lives were changed because of Pavel's ministry. Many pastors and ministers came from different states and countries. Also, many missionaries came back from Ukraine, Russia, Taymyr, and Chukotka to be at the funeral. On August 19th, about 3,500 people attended the burial service.
We all miss Pavel very much. In our mind, we believe that Pavel has died, but our heart still can’t accept the fact. We will continue to do the work that has been started by Pavel.
You may order DVD's of the funeral service in Russian language by writing our office (contact us page).
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF PAVEL RADCHUK: Compiled by his oldest brother Slavik Radchuk
On August 8, 2002, at 41 years of age, he went into eternity: pastor, evangelist, missionary.
Pavel Radchuk was born in West Ukraine in the village of Zozov, Rovno region. As a child, the spiritual character of a future minister was formed. Father Vitaliy and mother Galina, had eight children, so Pavel’s childhood, as a twin, was not a life of privilege or luxury. His father received 100 rubles a month and it wasn’t enough to take care of the family’s needs. Now, the sons and daughters are thankful to the Lord for their father and mother who taught them to pray and trust God to provide.
On his knees, in this childhood home, Pavel received salvation. Neither winter blizzards nor fall’s cold rains stopped the faithful Radchuk family from walking the five miles one way to their church, “Molodizhnaya” which was persecuted and underground. Pavel started to preach the gospel at a young age. His messages were on fire, inspired and anointed by the Holy Spirit.
In 1976, after finishing the eighth grade, the twins, Peter and Paul, went to an institute in the city of Rovno. Life as believers was not easy for the brothers. Only in the archives of heaven, is written all the insults, offenses and persecution that Pavel endured in the atheistic society. He was not afraid of hardships and in testing he remained firm. One time, a group of youth, including Pavel, was caroling on the streets of Rovno. In a couple minutes, police came and Pavel was jailed for 15 days. He paid his price for freedom.
In 1978, late at night, by moonlight, Pavel went into the waters of baptism in the Oostia River and promised to be faithful to his Lord for the rest of his life.
In 1980, Peter and Pavel entered their mandatory military service as construction workers, but not bearing arms, which would have been contrary to their beliefs. Officials tried to separate the twins but they continued to stand together, depending on and drawing closer to God.
In 1984, in Rovno, there was a missionary conference in the house of D. Stasyuk. Brothers as leaders were, bishops V.Boyechko, A. Grinchuk, and F. Arteshuk. There were fervent prayers for the ethnic peoples of Siberia, Russian Far East and Soviet Asia.Pavel, like many others there, in the presence of God, joyfully committed his life to preaching the gospel in those remote places.
In 1985, two years before Perestroika, Pavel, with a group of missionaries, was sent to Tuvenskaya Republic in Siberia, to work. After one half year, he had to leave because city authorities used television and influence from Moscow to interfere with their work. He had to go to new areas to spread the gospel.
In 1986, he was chosen and ordained as a deacon. In 1988, the long awaited freedom came. He was among the first to step out and preach the gospel publicly.
In 1989, he married Svetlana Holkovskaya. In the same year “Good Samaritan” mission was organized. Pavel was elected Vice President, but in 1991 he was put in the director position. Seven years of prayer and a Macedonian Call (“Come over and help us.”) from the Russian Far East, Chukotka and the Siberian North, compelled Pavel to fly to the wild and severe Siberian lands.
In 1992, the first missionary group, under the leadership of Pavel, landed in Chukotka and Kolima. A sacrificial and dangerous but wonderful work of good news among forty nationalities of the Russian Far East was started. Many times since then, we have gotten telephone calls from the city of Magadan, Kolima region, that Pavel was in a snowstorm and for a couple days there had been no communication from him. Christians would earnestly pray and Pavel would return safely. After two years of missionary activity, 20 new churches were started in the Far Northern Regions. These people used to be idol worshippers, shamans, atheistic and alcoholics, but by accepting the good news of Jesus Christ, with faith, they were set free, forgiven and washed by the blood of the Lamb. Faces, lives and whole families were changed.
In 1994, Pavel, together with his wife and four children, immigrated to the United States. After experiencing the heat of persecution and the bitter winds of Siberia, you would have thought that he would rest and not strive so hard in the “Land of Plenty”, America.
But NO! Founding the ministry in Seattle, WA, missionary Pavel Radchuk, with even greater zeal, continued the work that had already been started. Making Mission trips, one after another, founding churches in Chukotka, Kolima, Siberia and Ukraine, opening an orphanage, sending containers of clothing and food, giving financial help to pastors and missionaries, opening Bible Colleges in Seattle and Ukraine, sending the students out to new places to preach the gospel are some of the activities he was doing.
In his planner there was not one free day. If he was not with his family, he was on the road or serving people. He was needed by believers in Ukraine, Chukotka and Magadan, couples who wanted him to perform their marriages, and hundreds of missionaries on the field. People in Alaska also had invited him and were waiting to see him. And so he went.
The last time he traveled, he went into the air….but he did not make the landing. He moved straight into his heavenly mansion. The ultra-light plane, crash-landed. Pilot Peter Morozov and passenger Pavel Radchuk died.
The life and ministry of the fiery preacher, true missionary, brother, husband and father will forever remain in our memory and hearts. We people make miserable comforters, in the midst of tragedy, for his wife and seven young children. We will remember them in prayer, Svetlana and children: Sergei-12, David-11, Yuliya-10, Angela-9, Pavel-7, Daniel-5, Arthur-3. Svetlana is seven months pregnant. The baby will be born but without a father. We all need Pavel very much. May the Heavenly Father be the father of widows and orphans, and we, as biblical Christians remember the family of Pavel Radchuk. May the unexpected short life of a young minister inspire hundreds and thousands of young people to continue what was started, of spreading the gospel.
The life of a person is short and precious. The fight for the Faith continues. Spiritual victory will soon be behind us and Pavel believed this!