Green Beret Christian Hickey's Journey: Missionary to Ukrainian Soldiers

From Green Beret to Missionary

• 🇺🇸 Christian Hickey, a U.S. Green Beret and member of the Florida Army National Guard, felt called by God into ministry while attending the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course in early 2022.
• ✈️ He initially went to Ukraine with a conventional mindset, packing his Bible and stepping out in faith, unaware of the specific ministry God had in store for him.
• 🗺️ Upon arrival in Mykolaiv, near the front lines, God revealed his calling: to minister to soldiers, leveraging his military experience and faith.

Divine Revelation and Military Skills

• 🎯 Hickey encountered young, unprepared conscripts struggling to sight their rifles before heading into battle.
• 📖 God impressed upon him that he was uniquely prepared as a Green Beret to not only teach these soldiers practical skills but also to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• 🙏 This realization was profound, showing him that God would use his entire life experience, including his military training, to bring light and reveal Christ to soldiers in their time of need.

Spiritual Ministry to Soldiers

• 🕊️ Hickey emphasized to the soldiers that Ukraine's strength, like America's, comes from Christ, encouraging them to place their hope in Him.
• ✝️ He has spent the past three years ministering full-time, finding purpose and confirmation in God's consistent presence and provision.
• 🇺🇦 The war is seen as a tool God is using to bring light and hope to Ukraine, with a significant spiritual response from the people.

Challenges and Persecution

• 💔 The documentary "A Faith Under Siege" highlights the systematic attack on evangelical Christians in Ukraine, a reality difficult for many in the U.S. to fully grasp due to their own blessings and distractions.
• 🗣️ Hickey notes that political narratives and iniquity can drown out the spirit of God, making it hard to see the real needs of people facing immense struggles.
• 🕊️ Despite churches being attacked and destroyed, the church in Ukraine is actively living out faith, needing equipping, instruction, and the ability to enact the body of Christ.

Spiritual Growth and Impact

• 📖 The experience has pushed Hickey and his family to walk out their faith fully, witnessing scripture unfold and living a purpose-driven life, experiencing peace and the fruit of the spirit.
• 🤝 He collaborates with organizations like "Faith Comes By Hearing" and "Reboot and Recovery" to provide faith-based tools for post-traumatic stress injury, enabling Ukrainian leaders to multiply their efforts.
• 🌱 Ukraine is described as one of the most fertile spiritual grounds in the world currently, with an unprecedented response to the Holy Spirit.