Ep. 228 - Valentyn Syniy - "God Under Siege: How War Transformed a Ukrainian Community" pt. 2
The Deconstructionists
John Williamson
4.4 • 823 Ratings
🗓️ 9 February 2026
⏱️ 19 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this deeply moving conversation, John sits down for part two with Valentyn Syniy, a Ukrainian pastor, theologian, and author whose life and ministry have been profoundly shaped by the reality of war.
This interview was recorded under extraordinary circumstances. Scheduling had to account for the very real possibility of Russian airstrikes and power outages. Valentyn’s wife graciously joined the conversation to assist with translation at moments, helping ensure that everything Valentyn wanted to communicate was conveyed with clarity and care.
Together, we explore:
- What it means to live, pastor, and hold onto faith in the midst of active war
- How violence and trauma test long-held theological assumptions
- The difference between discussing war and surviving it
- Where hope, honesty, and spiritual resilience are found when everything familiar is under siege
Some stories shared in this episode may be difficult to hear, but they are necessary—and deeply human.
About the Book
Valentyn is the author of God Under Siege, a powerful and unflinching reflection on faith, suffering, and God’s presence amid the devastation of war. Drawing from lived experience rather than distant theology, the book challenges easy answers and invites readers into a more honest, grounded faith.
Get the book:
- Amazon
- Major booksellers
- Wherever books are sold
The Music For this Episode: Forrest Clay "Child of War"
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before we begin, a brief listener note, this episode contains first-hand accounts of war, |
| 0:06.6 | including descriptions of violence, loss, and trauma. |
| 0:09.9 | Some of what you'll hear may be difficult or emotionally heavy, |
| 0:13.4 | especially for listeners who have experienced trauma themselves. |
| 0:16.9 | Please take care while listening, and feel free to pause or step away if you need to. |
| 0:36.6 | Welcome to the Deconstructionist podcast and part two of my conversation with Valentine. |
| 0:43.3 | And part one of this conversation, we sat with the reality of war, not just as an abstract idea, but as lived experience. |
| 0:50.6 | We heard what it means to carry faith while siren sound, while power can disappear without warning, and while daily life is shaped by uncertainty and loss. |
| 1:00.0 | And we began to glimpse how war doesn't just destroy buildings and infrastructure. |
| 1:04.2 | It presses directly on the soul. |
| 1:06.4 | In this second part of my conversation with Valentin Sini, pastor and author of God Under Siege, |
| 1:12.1 | we move even deeper into those questions. |
| 1:15.1 | What happens to faith when suffering is not temporary, but ongoing? |
| 1:18.9 | How do you preach hope to people who are exhausted by fear? |
| 1:22.6 | What does prayer look like when outcomes feel painfully uncertain? |
| 1:26.4 | In this episode, Valentin reflects more directly |
| 1:28.6 | on theology forged under pressure, on doubt, resilience, and the ways faith can be stripped down |
| 1:33.9 | to its most essential elements when everything familiar is taken away. As in part one, |
| 1:39.4 | Valentin's wife joins him at moments to help translate and clarify, ensuring that nothing important is lost, |
| 1:45.4 | especially when the questions themselves are heavy and the answers matter deeply. |
| 1:50.3 | This is not a neat or tidy conversation. It doesn't offer easy conclusions or polish platitudes, |
| 1:56.3 | but it does offer honesty, and it gives us a rare window into what faith looks like when it's lived |
... |
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