Natasha…a teenager’s story of loss, poverty and deprivation. Yet, even more, it is a story of faith and triumph.

May her story inspire us all to gather strength from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

If you look into Natasha’s eyes, you will see deep sadness. She is harboring soul-changing heartaches. In her early teens, death stripped her of her loving father. One year later her mother remarried. The initial stability of this subsequent family was thwarted as within a few years her mother’s life ended.

The only one left to care for Natasha, her stepfather, paradoxically also died…leaving Natasha alone in this world. Before her 15th birthday, Natasha found herself shuffled from home to home and then to the Andreapol orphanage. During this time she endured physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual suffering.

Our missionaries have an on-going outreach with the 120 children placed in the orphanage. Through the loving guidance of our missionaries, Natasha and Masha (another teenage orphan) attend services at the local Evangelical Church.

These orphans have given their hearts to God and found the Father who is always with them. Fueled with the assurance that God is leading them forward and providing all that is needed to fulfill His calling, these children are leading others to learn of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I would love for this to be the end of their story. Often it is easier for our missionaries to be harassed themselves rather than to see new believers suffer: Such was the case with Natasha and Masha, The local Orthodox Church sent a priest and deacon to “persuade” these children to give up their cultist (Evangelical) beliefs.

They humiliated the orphans and made them bow down 30 times in repentance. However, persecution always makes one grow and these hurting children had serious thoughts and serious answers. “I made a difficult decision.

I will not turn from my faith; I will serve the Lord whether I am hungry or poor or beaten. I will be faithful to the Lord no matter  what,“ said Natasha.

I am confident that God has His hand on Natasha. Perhaps she’ll be a Christian leader. Maybe the Lord will use her to soften the hearts of the Orthodox officials, paving the way for other children to know Jesus, I don’t know what the future holds for her, and I get anxious about it, but each day I pray that God will prepare her for whatever He has in store.

Throughout Russia, Evangelical believers like Natasha face persecution. Yet, like unseen angels, they deliver the saving message of Jesus Christ by taking opportunities where none seems to exist.

May they encourage us to do likewise!

Your Brother in the Lord,

Pastor Vitali Yuchkovski