Walking on the Edge of Eternity

Walking on the Edge of Eternity

Linda H. Wicks

ISBN 979-8-89309-020-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89309-021-5 (Digital)

Copyright © 2024 Linda H. Wicks

All rights reserved

First Edition

Cover artwork by Artist Paula Giltner of Joplin, Missouri

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

What people are saying about Walking on the Edge of Eternity…

Dedication

Introduction

Preface

Chapter 1

Beginnings

Chapter 2

Off Track

Chapter 3

Prison

Chapter 4

Divine Connections

Chapter 5

Loaves and Fishes

Chapter 6

Recruited

Chapter 7

War!

Chapter 8

Safe in His Hands

Chapter 9

Only Tears

Chapter 10

I Will Remain

Chapter 11

Proof of Life

Chapter 12

Evacuate!

Chapter 13

Saturated

Chapter 14

Exchanging Stories

Chapter 15

Christmas Miracle

Chapter 16

Bulletproof

Chapter 17

Cling to Jesus

Chapter 18

The Harvest of War

Epilogue

Photo Gallery

About the Author

What people are saying about Walking on the Edge of Eternity…

"In Walking the Edge of Eternity, Linda Wicks tells a gripping true story of the unexpected: a Ukrainian gang member turned preacher, a KGB colonel turned Bible college president, a shy girl turned gospel puppet playwright, an Iowa chiropractor's family adopting a grown man five thousand miles away. But God loves using the unexpected to accomplish his purposes: thousands of Muslim children enrolling in a government-ordered VBS, fifty crying babies abandoned in a basement suddenly cared for, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers hearing about Jesus on the frontlines, Santa Claus getting a new ministry van after his crashed into a Russian tank, and the gospel advancing even through a hail of bullets. This book is a page-turner, but it's also a faith-strengthener. Read it to marvel again at God's surpassing power and His surprising plans."

Dr. Matt Proctor

President of Ozark Christian College

This book will take you from the safety of a church in Bettendorf, Iowa all the way to war-torn Ukraine and back again. From the life of a young hoodlum in prison to a forgiven hoodlum preaching the Gospel in his native country at war with Russia. This book moves quickly from that prison to a pulpit where Jesus attracts hundreds of thousands to follow Him and be true to Him in spite of war and all of its deadly devastation. Linda Carlson Wicks, the author, although she lived at peace in the USA, also lived vicariously through Zhenia, the former hoodlum now turned Gospel preacher as he lived daily knowing his name was on the FSB (formerly the KGB) target list. In spite of that danger to himself and his wife and daughter, and because of his great love for God and his countrymen, Zhenia went wherever the need called him, often living', as he described, on the edge of eternity. In this book, you'll go with him via way of his own emails and conversations with the author. You'll wonder if he'll make it through the Russian checkpoints. You'll wonder if he'll ever see his loved ones again. You'll praise God every time scores of people in war-torn villages come to Christ. You'll be exhausted as you travel the frightening edge of eternity with Zhenia. And as you put the book down, you'll realize, perhaps more than ever before, the heroic story of a man of faith as he daily walks with God. But more than that, you'll praise the God of eternity who, through Jesus, walked on the same edge for you!

Bob Stacy

Founder of Christ In Youth, Inc. Retired Pastor

This had to be told! I'm so grateful Linda Wicks documented this well written story for us. I have the privilege of being one of the characters in this narrative. I had a front row seat to the story you are about to engage. This book recounts the amazing love and grace of God at work. This is about authentic faith, service, and sacrifice. This is about the real, quiet, unsung heroes whom God uses to make a difference in the most difficult of situations. This story will inspire you and my hope is it will move you to also make a difference right where God has put you.

Glen Elliott

Pastor Missionary

The story of our brother Zhenia is simultaneously thrilling and humbling. His amazing work as a pastor, a military chaplain, and a modern-day Joseph is something you must read! Bullet-riddled cars, bombs falling all around, and the precious response of hearts to the Gospel amidst war on the ground are but a part of this book.

Our Ukrainian brother has seen the mercies of our Lord at levels few ever experience. I was moved by the numerous stories of deliverance, of divine provision at critical moments, and of the kind protection of a heavenly Father that is watching over His beloved. I was encouraged to see the consistent faithfulness of our God in the lives of people going through unimaginable suffering. I was challenged by the immense faith of people that many of us will not meet until we gather at the Throne. I was motivated, yet again, to be faithful in prayer and to realize how high the stakes are when we pray!

May the Lord bless you as you read this amazing and intense story. Thank you, Linda, for recording the life and times of dear people that walk with the Lord!

Chris DeWelt

Professor of Intercultural Studies, Ozark Christian College

Retired President of College Press Publishing Co.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to God, who led me (yes, sometimes kicking and screaming)

through the Grand Adventure of writing this book!

Who knew He had this in store for my life at age 75?

Following God's plan for your life is the greatest joy!

Not only is He loving and forgiving, but also

patient and kind, encouraging and sustaining!

I praise Him for giving me the privilege of serving Him.

I also dedicate this book to my incredible husband, Tom, who has always been

my greatest cheerleader!

For 50+ years he has believed in me wholeheartedly and

always encouraged me to reach higher, to be all that I can be.

His constant support and love enable me to fly.

You are the love of my life, Tom….

The most amazing husband in the world!

Thirdly, I dedicate this book to Rod Petersen, who spent countless hours

editing my manuscript.

Before I had even finished telling him how the Lord was convicting

me to write this story,

he exclaimed, I'm IN! I'll do whatever it takes to help you!

His experience teaching in the MU Journalism School

has been invaluable.

I often felt as if I were in the classroom again, learning new and amazing things.

His editorial comments frequently made me laugh out loud.

But he, too, continually encouraged and cheered me on.

This book would be a shadow of what it is without his contributions.

It's been a JOY to work with you, Brother, and I thank you

from the bottom of my heart!

I dedicate this book to all the unnamed and unsung

men and women who pour out their lives daily

as they minister and serve,

as they share the Gospel message of Hope and Healing

in the midst of this terrible war.

I hope as you read this book, you will see that Zhenia is not the main

character – God is! Zhenia is simply the vehicle through which I have told

the story. But he is not the only vehicle God is using in such powerful ways

in Ukraine.

Introduction

All glory for this book goes to God alone! When a gardener waters his flowers to produce a lovely garden, do we commend the water hose for the beautiful flowers? Of course not! All glory goes to the gardener.

Zhenia (and I, in lesser measure) are simply the hoses through which the master gardener pours out His living water!

Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory.

—Psalm 115:1

*****

Within a few months after Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, my husband began telling me I should write the story of our adopted son, Zhenia, a national pastor serving his people in Ukraine. Each time he mentioned it, I had the same response: No way! I had written and sold various articles over the years but thought it was very hard work. An entire book? Not on my bucket list!

Before long, the Holy Spirit began repeating the same message to my heart. Same reaction: Absolutely not! I've been a Christian for almost seven decades and have always sought to be obedient to the Lord and sensitive to His Holy Spirit. But not this! It was impossible—I couldn't do it. There had to be someone far more qualified. In fact, thousands of people more qualified!

But the promptings only grew stronger and more frequent. For eight long months, the Lord and I battled about it, with me strenuously resisting and Him gently prodding. My normal sense of peace was shattered, and I felt miserable. Finally, I decided to put it to the test. I carefully explained to the Lord that I would only consider this if He were in every aspect of the work. I had to know that He was in this with me and would lead me every step of the way.

So I laid out a fleece: five people had to say these exact seven words to me, totally unprompted: You should write the story of Zhenia. Not six or eight words. Not something similar. Within three months, I heard those exact seven words from five people. Okay, now I was convinced in my mind, but still not in my heart. So I began to pray that if God really wanted me to do this, He would convince me. And He did! During the next three weeks, every word I read or heard, every song, and every conversation was an arrow to my heart. Tears flowed continually as I was convicted by the Holy Spirit. Finally, I submitted.

And repented. How could I, who have been a faithful follower of the Lord my entire life, have been so rebellious? Why couldn't I, like Mary of Old, have immediately responded by saying, I am the Lord's servant. May Your word to me be fulfilled. The eight months of rebellion grieved me greatly. But once I surrendered and repented, God comforted me with His peace, and I began to make a plan.

My mostly retired husband, Tom, worked all day on Thursdays, giving me eleven hours to concentrate. I committed to writing every Thursday and whatever free hours were available during the rest of the week.

I had only shared my plans with a few people, but several of them volunteered to pray for me, especially on Thursdays. The first day I sat down at the computer to write, I was flooded with the most amazing peace and joy I have ever felt! I had complete confidence that God was, indeed, leading this project. It was a wonderful feeling after resisting the Holy Spirit for eight long months.

Within a few weeks, I was obsessed with writing this book. I would have worked on it 24-7, if possible. I sometimes wrote until 2:30–3:00 a.m. It was not work at all but pure joy! Never have I been more overwhelmed by the sheer privilege of being used by the living God. God must have been laughing at me, and I so deserved it. What a fool I'd been to doubt and test the Lord and to resist His leading in my life.

*****

Here is a fascinating revelation. Part of the writing of this manuscript is simply a matter of entering Zhenia's emails and texts, but part is creative writing as I tell of his childhood and prewar life, gleaned from stories he's told me over the past twenty-four years. I soon began to notice something baffling. Some days, the creative writing flowed out of me effortlessly, needing almost no revision. On other days, no matter how much I prayed or how hard I tried, it was dull and flat. Why would that be? I couldn't understand this vast contrast.

One day it dawned on me. I was only able to write easily and creatively on Thursdays, when my prayer partners were lifting me up! That astonished me and demonstrated so powerfully what a vital part they were playing in this project. To say I couldn't do it without you is, in fact, the absolute truth! From the bottom of my heart, I thank these precious prayer warriors for their faithfulness!

*****

God has never spoken aloud to me. But multiple times during the writing of this book, just as I was drifting off to sleep, I would see a complete and perfectly crafted sentence in my mind. And I knew exactly where it should go in the book. I believe that was God, in His faithfulness, speaking to me.

*****

In the latter part of the book, I quote many of Zhenia's texts and emails. I have chosen not to correct any grammar or sentence structure. While his English is very good, in war, one doesn't worry about exacting English. It also gives the reader a flavor of talking with Zhenia.

Preface

I'll never forget a single detail of that scene—it is permanently seared on my heart.

We were standing in front of the kitchen sink, bathed in bright November sunlight that poured in through the window. Zhenia was telling me about some of his close calls. Since the war began in Eastern Ukraine in 2014, he had been making frequent trips to the front lines, ministering to the Ukrainian soldiers stationed there.

Now, in the peace and safety of my home in Iowa, he poured out story after story of near-death experiences he'd had. Horrifying accounts that made my blood run cold. After the fourth or fifth such account, I was overcome with fear. I threw my arms around his neck and exclaimed in horror, Zhenia! You could so easily have been killed!

He gave me a comforting squeeze before gently easing me back. My tear-filled eyes sought his, and I was shocked to see that he was positively glowing! His eyes shone with joy, and an enormous smile split his face as he said, Mom, I'm walking on the edge of eternity, and that's exactly where God wants me.

Little did either of us realize that those events were only the prelude to a death-defying walk with and for the Lord! Within