Valerii Tseona is a pastor at a church in Ukraine and also leads a Christian school.
When did you trust Christ?
I was raised in a Christian home, attended Sunday school and youth ministry, and heard about God all my life. I went forward to repent four times at various churches, but the final time was after I got married and had a family. I realized my life was going wrong and I didn't know how to build my family properly, how to love, or how to experience family happiness. I realized I needed to read God's Word for myself. This was the turning point in my spiritual life. God began to reveal Himself to me personally through His Word and my faith grew. Since then, I am a new person who has found answers in God's Word and am reminded of them by the Holy Spirit daily. I now realize what Jesus did for me on the cross and how He gave me freedom from death and instructions for life.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
One of the most significant moments was in a Bible study led by my pastor on the book of James. Hearing that we should rejoice when we fall into various trials, I asked the pastor how to know when a situation is a trial from God or not. His answer stunned me: “All situations are trials." I was 18 at the time, and since then, my approach to reading and studying the Bible has completely changed.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
Because of Covid and the war, I have not been to events of this level and scale for many years. I look forward to being a listener (not a preacher) and being saturated with the Word from wise, experienced people. I want to rest my body and enrich my spirit. I know this experience will refresh me in my ministry and expand my horizons and circle of acquaintances.
What is your ministry?
I am one of six pastors in our church, House of Peace. I preach, counsel, prepare young couples, and lead Bible studies, seminars, and youth meetings. As a veteran of our church's media ministry, I continue to help motivate our media team. I am frequently invited to teach at other churches and help organize evangelistic retreats for Christian teachers and their non-believing colleagues.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I have been a pastor, preacher, Bible study leader, home group leader, and an evangelical ministry interpreter.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
I am a young pastor and have a large circle of people I influence. My wife and I also lead a Christian English school for children where we have great access to parents who we strive to reach and develop.
