“I could not imagine what would have happened to me if I had experienced all this without God and my mentors.” The family of God is so essential to the life of a believer. The strength that comes from the encouragement and help of others is what holds us up in the times where we feel like we can barely stand. But more importantly, it’s the lifting up spiritually that brings victory to our pain.

“This is a story with great pain and great victory in one person.” It’s about community prayer and trusting in God. It’s stirring up one another to love and good deeds, and keeping our eyes focused on the prize. We, as believers, have a huge responsibility to be the family of God to those around us. Please pray that our eyes will be intentionally looking for those around us who need to experience this kind of love. And also, pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the many SGA-supported servants who are this kind of family to those all around them.

We met Ivan when he was 13 years old. He learned about our Christian camps and came to one of them. After that, he began attending the ministry for teenagers in our church. He loved God so sincerely and fervently prayed for his alcoholic parents, so that they would also meet God and their lives would change. Sometimes his prayers were so desperate and in tears his heart sank with pain and compassion. God heard his prayers. His parents began inviting our family to visit.

 Ivan says:

“I remember how every Thursday you came to visit us. I was so looking forward to this day. From the very morning, I cleaned the house, cooked food, and eagerly awaited your arrival. These were the best evenings in my life. A quiet atmosphere at home, no alcohol, and no shouting. We read the Bible together and prayed.”

Gradually Ivan’s parents gave up alcohol and began going to church. And for a whole year their life was calm and serene. During this time, they were trained for water baptism and made a covenant with God through water baptism. A Bible study group opened in their house. Neighbors and relatives began to come to this Bible study. They began to restore their destroyed house.Gradually Ivan’s parents gave up alcohol and began going to church. And for a whole year their life was calm and serene. During this time, they were trained for water baptism and made a covenant with God through water baptism. A Bible study group opened in their house. Neighbors and relatives began to come to this Bible study. They began to restore their destroyed house.

Ivan’s father had to work a lot. During many years of drinking, they brought their home to an dilapidated state and now they had many goals to repair. God quickly began to restore their family. Blessing after blessing came to them. But after a while, the father began to take on even more work. He began to attend church services less often. He asked to move the Bible study group from their house to the neighboring house where new believers had already appeared. Crisis situations began to appear in the family. The father began to drink again. Later it turned out that he began to cheat on his wife.

 Ivan said: 

“ I remember how my father came to me and said, son, you are already an adult, I hope you will understand me. I am leaving your mother. I fell in love with another woman. But I will communicate with you.” 

Ivan continued:

“At that moment, the ground went out from under my feet. I couldn’t believe such a betrayal. Everything seemed fine. Mom doesn’t drink anymore. She’s become a good housewife. But even more heartbreaking, I experienced a double betrayal. There was a girl who went to the teen ministry. I liked her and we talked a lot. We became friends. My dad went to her mom. She knew all year that he came to them and lived with them. But she never told me about it. I was shattered, broken and disappointed.” 

We witnessed everything that was happening. We tried to talk to Ivan’s father, but it was useless. He was very infected with passion and didn’t want to hear anything. Ivan’s mother continued to go to church. She took these events very hard. She started getting sick. She had to go through several strokes. In the end, she ended up paralyzed. On the day she received a divorce from her husband, she had another attack and died. It was a terrible grief for Ivan. He loved his mother more than anything in the world. His father never kept his promise. After that conversation, Ivan was no longer involved with him. 

At that time, he was 17 years old. He was left alone, in an old house in which it was very dangerous to live because of its run-down condition. We took Ivan to our place. Sasha walked with him for hours by the river and talked a lot. Ivan did not want to live. Then he was afraid to live. We began to involve him more in ministry. He completed a leadership training course. Ivan began to serve with us in all the summer camps that we held in our house. His heart was especially touched by the camps for orphans, where he was a mentor. He showed special love for children. Ivan really wanted to convey to these children that they would not be as lonely as he was. Now he has a God who wants to become a Heavenly Father. Ivan was baptized in water. He entered college to become an architect, as his mother dreamed of. He graduated with honors. He works in his profession. He moved to live in Almaty and married a Christian woman. They had a son and are now expecting a daughter. Ivan gradually began to forgive his father. They have recently started communicating. We are always there for him at every stage. But the most important thing is that Ivan personally knows God. We pray to God and ask Him to lead Ivan along His path and grant him a happy future!

 Ivan said:

“I could not imagine what would have happened to me if I had experienced all this without God and my mentors. I know for sure that my mother was saved. I know that my family and I want to follow the path of faith in God. I thank God for Uncle Sasha and for the fact that there are Christian camps, where I learned about God. I thank God for the church and all the believers who were nearby.” 

This is a story with great pain and great victory in one person. Glorify Him!