Ukrainian pastor lands in Kelowna to thank community for donations

A Ukrainian pastor who was captured and interrogated by Russian forces touched down in Kelowna Tuesday to show his appreciation for donations made by the Lake Country Alliance Church.

“Christian or non-Christian – everybody is helping, but there are still a lot of needs there. When it comes to churches and helping as a church ... We help people with the gospel, and right now it’s very important to help this way and that way, so I am so grateful for all the churches and Christians all over the world that are helping Ukraine right now," Dimitry Bodyu said upon arrival at Kelowna's airport.

Bodyu, who is from the city of Melitopol, says he was having morning coffee and reading the bible with his wife when Russian soldiers suddenly charged over his fence and took him captive, something he will never forget.

“They put me into an old prison cell. It looks like no one was there for a few years, it was so dirty and everything was broken. It looked like they held someone there before me in that cell because the blood was everywhere... But the other guys that were in prison – I never saw them because we were all in different cells – but they were beating them pretty heavily.”

Not knowing if he was going to live or die, Bodyu was released after eight days of interrogation. He is now doing everything he can to help his fellow Ukrainians, including collecting donations.

David French of the Lake Country Alliance Church says they have been able to send $20,000 "directly into Warsaw to help a network of churches in Warsaw provide food, housing, medicine, whatever was needed for women and children who had to leave Ukraine and were there by themselves.”

Bodyu will visit the Lake Country Alliance Church to share his story and thank the community for their generous donations. If you wish to take part, the event will begin at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Everyone is welcome.