“Special Operation ‘Peace’: How to Become a Professional Draft Dodger?” — Sunday sermon from August 16, 2026

Introduction and Context

In modern society, the word “draft dodger” carries a distinctly negative or controversial connotation. However, pastor Oleksandr Koltukov turns to Holy Scripture to show that the Bible directly calls every Christian to become a professional dodger—specifically, to consciously and decisively dodge all evil.

The central text of the sermon is a passage from the First Epistle of Peter:

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.'”

1 Peter 3:8-11 (ESV)

Three Rules of a Biblical Dodger

Drawing upon verse 11 of chapter 3 in 1 Peter, the preacher highlights three main rules for a spiritual special operation aimed at building peace:

1. Dodge the Victim Mentality

Dodging evil is not cowardice or passive hiding; it is a conscious choice to stop the pain and refrain from passing it along. It is the strength to refuse revenge, slander, and responding to evil with evil.

To illustrate this, an example is given from the life of Bill Wilson—founder of the world’s largest children’s ministry, Metro World Child. At age 12, his mother abandoned him on a street corner in St. Petersburg, Florida. For three days, the boy sat on a bench as indifferent people walked by. Only one person stopped—a Christian mechanic named Dave Rudenis, who fed him and paid for his ticket to a Christian camp where Bill accepted Christ. Instead of growing bitter at the world, Bill Wilson decided to “dodge evil” and dedicate his life to saving children from underprivileged and dangerous neighborhoods (particularly Brooklyn, New York). Today, his ministry reaches over 250,000 children every week.

2. Build Peace and Do Good

Christianity demands an active stance: it is not enough merely “not to do evil”—one must actively do good. As pastor emphasizes: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men” (quote by Bill Wilson). Investing time, love, and spiritual values into children and those around us is necessary before their lives turn into ruins.

3. Pursue Peace Relentlessly

Peace does not happen automatically—it must be pursued with active effort. A need nearby is a call to action from God. We should not wait for society or the state to change on their own; transformation begins with the personal responsibility and service of every believer.

Summary

The sermon calls the church not to be passive bystanders, but to become those who stop sin, serve those in need, and shape the future of the new generation through love and Christian values.