An evangelical church chief and his 19-year-old son have been discovered tortured and killed in Ukraine.
The our bodies of Anatoliy Prokopchuk, 52, and his son, Oleksandr, have been found in a forest 4 days after being kidnapped by Russian troopers, reviews Launch Worldwide, a charity supporting persecuted Christians.
In response to the Kharkiv Human Rights Safety Group and the World Investigative Journalism Community, they have been kidnapped by Russian troopers at 7pm on 22 November whereas they have been working of their storage close to Kherson.
Prokopchuk was a deacon and preacher at a Pentecostal church within the close by metropolis of Nova Kakhova.
Pavel, a Launch associate in Ukraine whose actual title can’t be revealed for safety causes, mentioned their our bodies confirmed indicators of “extended and excruciating torture”.
“They have been so mutilated that it was tough to establish them,” he mentioned.
Prokopchuk leaves behind a widow, Irena, and 5 different youngsters – 4 sons and a daughter.
Pavel remembered Prokopchuk as somebody who had “helped many individuals in sensible methods, enthusiastically and sacrificially, no matter whether or not they have been members of his church”.
It was reported that when the 2 have been kidnapped, Russian troopers advised them, “Your church has no proper to exist, because it has connections with America and different western international locations.”
Pavel mentioned this had echoes of the Soviet period, “For this ‘crime’ many hundreds of evangelical Christians have been put into prisons and focus camps for a few years. Many have been tortured and killed.”
He requested for prayers for the household and forgiveness for the perpetrators.
“Please pray for Irina, for her orphaned youngsters and younger grandchildren who’re simply initially of their lives. Pray for associates and family members and for the church in Nova Kakhova, for all who knew Anatoly. They’re going by means of super grief proper now,” he mentioned.
He added, “The Church of Christ doesn’t name for hatred and revenge in the direction of murderers, however for prayer, forgiveness and belief in God’s justice.”
