Pavel has bright blue eyes that soften when he talks about his family and ignites with passion when he talks about sports and what God is doing in his home country of Kazakhstan. He understands hard work and patience as well, having devoted 25 years of his life to serving children and adults so they could experience the care and love of Christ. He believes God to be big, and lives accordingly.
Pavel came to know the Lord at a young age through the faith of his parents and made a personal decision to dedicate his life to Christ at a Christian camp. He also loved basketball. As a young man, he became involved in mas-wrestling, a traditional strength-based wrestling sport where two athletes compete in a stick-pulling match. His passion for sports led him to become a federation vice president and a coach.
Together with his wife, Viktoriya, Pavel began using sports as a tool for ministry through their church, serving children in orphanages and on the streets
Seven years ago, staff from FCA’s North Global Division were passing through Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, to another country. A friend suggested that Pavel meet with them since both were involved in sports ministry.
“I talked it over with my wife, and she said, ‘God is giving me clarity that FCA has come specifically for you,’” Pavel recalled. “But I replied that I probably wasn’t their main purpose, since they were just passing through.”
God’s purpose, however, was what mattered, and He indeed had a plan for Pavel and FCA. When Pavel met with North Global Division Vice President Andriy Kravtsov, it became clear how closely aligned they were in their vision for sports ministry.
Because Pavel had already been coaching and serving through sports for 18 years, FCA felt like a familiar, well-fitting sweater.
“I felt like I had already been part of the team for a long time,” he said.
Pavel stepped eagerly into his role, focusing more intentionally on serving coaches and athletes.
There was much work to be done. Kazakhstan is a vast country in Central Asia with open plains, rolling plateaus, striking mountain regions and wide steppes. It is the ninth-largest country by land area in the world, and most of its population is not Christian. Pavel’s heart is to reach coaches with the love and care of Jesus, knowing the powerful influence coaches carry once they understand their deeper purpose.
“Coaches have a powerful influence,” he said. “In Kazakhstan, there are about 50,000 professional coaches and 100,000 physical education teachers. Our goal is to reach them all.”
It’s a huge task, but Pavel has faith.
“We are growing as a team as we work with different federations and develop All Ability across various sports,” he said. “Step by step, we are doing it.”
Two years ago, Pavel and his team opened the 360 Coach Training Center to come alongside coaches and help them develop body, spirit and mind. Combined with training through the 3D Institute and positive collaboration with government sports organizations, Pavel takes a hands-on approach to meeting the needs of coaches in Kazakhstan
“Coaches are extremely busy, and their families are often left behind,” he explained. “They leave home while the family is asleep and return when everybody is already sleeping. Weekends are filled with competitions or travel. They have little time with their own children.”
The Coaches TimeOut family retreat format has become a source of renewal for weary coaches and their spouses.
Another important area of ministry is through All Ability family sports camps. Over the past five years, Pavel, in partnership with other leaders, has hosted 10 camps in Almaty, each serving between 50 and 160 participants.
“Each month at our center, we train an All Ability team using cornhole and adaptive sports,” Pavel said. “I always involve parents because I want them to understand that children need to be prepared for everyday life.”
While challenges like funding and staffing remain constant pressure points, Pavel has learned not to worry.
“We don’t do ministry because we have money,” he said. “We do ministry because it is our mission and because we understand what God is calling us to do. I’ve seen how He led us through the 360 Coach Training Center this past year. I see miracles, and I know God can do more.”
Pavel often reflects on Jesus’ words in John 4, where He speaks to his disciples about the will of the Father:
“’My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work,’ Jesus told them. ‘Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest. The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor.’” –John 4:34-38
After many years of sowing through consistent relationships and faithful service, Pavel has begun to see more coaches come to know Christ. It has been a slow process requiring perseverance, but he trusts God’s timing and understands his responsibility is to remain faithful.
“Sometimes we help people and don't see results right away,” Pavel said. “But two or three years later, we find out they know Jesus and is part of the church. We sow by faith, building relationships. It’s a process — not in one moment."
Please pray that Pavel’s team would continue to grow and meet the needs of Kazakhstan, a vast country.
Pray for continued financial provision for the 360 Coach Training Center, and that God would use this facility powerfully for His glory.
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Photos courtesy nygi, yuriy-yosipiv and xuon-nguyen of Unsplash