Every one of our Bible study groups has stories to tell about how God has changed the lives, given hope, and led people to Himself as they studied the Gospel story. Here is one of them.

Life Near the Front Line

Olena and her family are from the small village of Vodyane near Donetsk where she worked as a postal worker. When Russia invaded In 2014, Olena’s village quickly became a hot zone with frequent shelling from from the Russian controlled side. However, like many of their neighbors, Olena’s family chose to stay despite the danger, holding on to their home and community.

Forced to Leave Home

Everything changed in February 2022 with the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. With heavy hearts, Olena and her family were forced to leave their home together with their elderly parents. They relocated to the city of Myrnograd, where some christian friends provided shelter in a house that was vacant.

Soon after arriving in Myrnograd, Olena began attending services at a local Baptist church. Not long afterward, she also started attending a small group Bible study that was working through our course The Story of Hope.

A Changed Heart

In the winter of 2023, the Holy Spirit worked in a special way in Olena’s heart. She turned to the Lord in a prayer of repentance and placed her faith in Jesus Christ.

Olena shares that from that day forward, her life began to change under the influence of God’s Word. She experienced the joy of forgiven sins and a peace she had never known before. Gradually, a new purpose began to take shape in her life.

Each week she faithfully attended the Story of Hope small group, where she found new friends, warm fellowship, and a welcoming environment to ask questions and seek answers about her new found faith.

Baptism and Evacuation

After some time, Olena expressed her desire to make a covenant with the Lord through baptism. This joyful event took place at Salvation Rock Baptist Church on August 18, 2024.

Sadly, by that time the front line had moved dangerously close to the city of Pokrovsk, where the Church was located. By very next day, Olena’s family had to be evacuated once again. However, this time Olena was not discouraged leaving the city, because she was taking with her, her new found hope.

A New Life and a Living Faith

Today, Olena lives in a village in the Kyiv region, where she attends a small local church and continues growing in her faith.

She often reflects that the war brought much sorrow into her life, yet it was through those difficult events that her heart began searching for God.

Olena expresses deep gratitude to everyone who played a role in her journey to Jesus Christ, including those who helped develop and publish the Story of Hope course.

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