From the orphanage and prison to God’s amazing grace

From Russia’s Irkutsk Region

My name is Artyom, I am 40 years old. I would like to share a testimony of God’s mercy, which He has shown in my life by His grace.

I was brought up in an average family. At the age of 11, I lost my mother and father and was placed in an orphanage. By the age of 18, I was in trouble with the law enforcement. While serving a prison sentence, I was thinking a lot about the meaning of life. I realized that there was another life out there. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t change anything on my own strength! Our souls seek something bright, something better, something new. I needed a guideline in my life, a foundation on which I could stand.

And I was searching. I began to come to the Orthodox church. There I found some peace of mind, but my soul was still locked up, and the sin was still luring and holding me.

In 2015, I met Pastor Artem (supported by SGA in Compassion Ministry) who was serving at the prison where I was serving my term. Artem witnessed to me about Christ. I saw a genuine sparkle in his eyes and heard the sincerity in his words. He invited me to a meeting attended by believing prisoners, and so I found myself among the believers. They were praying out loud for me, for my heart, thanking God that He had brought me to their meeting. They were men with their own wounds caused by sin, but they have already had Christ in their hearts. Among them I felt truly at peace and realized that I wanted to belong there. I turned to God saying that I couldn’t and didn’t want to live like that anymore, asking Him for forgiveness of my sins and for changing of my heart. 

I had another year and a half to go in my term. I exchanged phone numbers with Artem, communicated with him via cell phone, and he even came to visit me, mentoring me and supporting me spiritually throughout the time before I was released from prison. As time went on, my faith was strengthening, and I was establishing in the love of our God! I made a covenant with the Lord by receiving water baptism.

The Lord granted me freedom from the addictions that were weighing me down and He did change my heart! My character began to transform, and my attitude toward the world around me has changed, as well. I have true friends, my brothers, and sisters in Christ, who help me grow spiritually and draw nearer to God. By His grace, the Lord did not stop there. He also gave me a loving and caring wife! Truly, without Christ I would not have it all. If you choose this path once, you must remain faithful to God! He is leading me step by step to the fulfilling life I once dreamed of! Today I am an absolutely happy man, and I am thankful to Jesus for my new life! To Him be eternal glory for all things!