Dumped in a Trashcan - Called by God
The Ukrainian night was cool, dark and damp. The trees that lined the street had shed their array of spectacularly colored leaves. The street was cluttered with garbage and trash that was strewn in every direction. During the quietness of that starless night there was a soft cry that penetrated the solitude of the evening. A gentleman in the neighborhood went out into the evening air to discover the source of the cry. His search led him to a trash can where to his absolute surprise he found a newborn baby! Upon a closer look he realized the baby was a gypsy child. This discovery was amazing as it was well known in gypsy culture that gypsy children are NEVER discarded no matter how poor or how large the family.
The police were called and the baby boy was taken to a hospital where with the attending care of the hospital staff the child's life was preserved. Then he was transferred to an orphanage where he spent the next 8-9 years of his life. This child came into this world with no name, no home, no clothes, no family, (forsaken by mother and father) and no hope. While in the hospital, the doctors and nurses gave him a name. He now was called Amir Ivanovich Bogdan. Bogdan means "given by God." He now had a name, clothes, food, a bed, but still no home or parents to love him.
For several years he watched as orphan after orphan was adopted but no one wanted to adopt the gypsy boy. He watched as child after child was taken to a new home and family. He noticed a pastor came many times to adopt children. One day Amir jumped into the car of the pastor and begged the pastor to "Take me to your home." The pastor inquired about his smoking and Amir replied, "I'll stop right now." He did and now 10 years later he is saved and has a sweet Christlike spirit.
Dumped in a trashcan, called by God!
The police were called and the baby boy was taken to a hospital where with the attending care of the hospital staff the child's life was preserved. Then he was transferred to an orphanage where he spent the next 8-9 years of his life. This child came into this world with no name, no home, no clothes, no family, (forsaken by mother and father) and no hope. While in the hospital, the doctors and nurses gave him a name. He now was called Amir Ivanovich Bogdan. Bogdan means "given by God." He now had a name, clothes, food, a bed, but still no home or parents to love him.
For several years he watched as orphan after orphan was adopted but no one wanted to adopt the gypsy boy. He watched as child after child was taken to a new home and family. He noticed a pastor came many times to adopt children. One day Amir jumped into the car of the pastor and begged the pastor to "Take me to your home." The pastor inquired about his smoking and Amir replied, "I'll stop right now." He did and now 10 years later he is saved and has a sweet Christlike spirit.
Dumped in a trashcan, called by God!
Toma's Story
Toma and Ira were born into a Russian Orthodox family, but only attended church twice a year - Christmas and Easter.
Everything changed after their mom started searching for truth.
"There is a Baptist church in our village. My mom visited services at this church and took us for children’s Sunday school, where we learned about God. I liked it very much.
One day after the service my mom responded to the invitation and came forward to receive Christ into her heart.
After that I thought much about my life. I was 8 at that time. I was afraid because I was not sure that if my life would suddenly end I will be with God in heaven. I could not wait till next service. When pastor made an invitation, I and my sister went forward and repented. We have dedicated our lives to God.
Everything changed after their mom started searching for truth.
"There is a Baptist church in our village. My mom visited services at this church and took us for children’s Sunday school, where we learned about God. I liked it very much.
One day after the service my mom responded to the invitation and came forward to receive Christ into her heart.
After that I thought much about my life. I was 8 at that time. I was afraid because I was not sure that if my life would suddenly end I will be with God in heaven. I could not wait till next service. When pastor made an invitation, I and my sister went forward and repented. We have dedicated our lives to God.
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SBI
MISSION TRIP |
These four men and seven ladies went on a mission trip with SBI, and believe that God has called them to missions.
From Alexandr Makanov:
"[In the 7th grade] I began to use cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. By the age of 25 I had not done anything useful in my life...I tried to get rid of my bad habits using my will, therapies and rehabilitations, but despite all these efforts, I would just come back to my old ways. Nothing and nobody could stop me from doing this, neither my wife nor my child.
By the age of 30, I was a complete drug addict. At that time I began not only to use drugs but sell them. I believed that God existed, but did not realize that I was a sinner. I always thought that God would punish only for great sins such as murder or so and the rest of them He would just forgive somehow. I did not consider the fact that by selling drugs I was killing people...
About 3 years ago I met my friend whom I knew for 20 years. I just could not recognize him. He explained that Christ had totally changed him. I remembered this man being like me and now I saw a totally different man. He looked so happy…no, he was happy in contrast to me.
We met for two years and he kept telling me about Jesus Christ. For two years I resisted. I found a lot of excuses: problems at work, in the family, my bad habits…
In summer 2009 I found myself in a helpless situation and I realized that unless I changed something I would just die. I followed my friend’s advice and went to the rehabilitation center. I did it, having no faith that God was able to set me free. But praise the Lord! He touched my heart and in autumn I accepted Jesus."
From Sergei Chernov:
"I was born in the Soviet Union during communist atheism. I was no different from millions of other people my age. My knowledge of God was like knowledge of ancient Greek myths.
I was a very rebellious young man and caused much pain to my family and other people. Very soon alcohol, drugs, theft, adultery, robbery became my normal life. The more I was sliding down, the more bitter I became. Loneliness and despair became a usual condition for me. I tried to get rid of it by means of drugs, wine, fun but nothing could fill in the emptiness of my soul and suppress the dreams of a better life.
Once I saw a very expensive antique book, which I stole in order to sell. It was the Bible. Sitting in the bus I opened it, trying to entertain myself on my way home. I began to read it and just couldn’t stop. I kept reading it all night long and the next day. Then I understood that there was a God. I began to seek Him. I attended Orthodox church services, but the soul remained empty. I studied Bible with Jehovah witnesses, got a lot of knowledge but there still was emptiness in my soul.
Once the Lord brought me to the Baptist church and I heard the words I had read, so I wasted no time and repented, soon I was baptized and became very religious, but the emptiness never left me. Some time later I experienced a backsliding and the Lord took away my mask of religiosity and showed me that I needed Him, true and living God and nothing else. And that was it."
"[In the 7th grade] I began to use cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. By the age of 25 I had not done anything useful in my life...I tried to get rid of my bad habits using my will, therapies and rehabilitations, but despite all these efforts, I would just come back to my old ways. Nothing and nobody could stop me from doing this, neither my wife nor my child.
By the age of 30, I was a complete drug addict. At that time I began not only to use drugs but sell them. I believed that God existed, but did not realize that I was a sinner. I always thought that God would punish only for great sins such as murder or so and the rest of them He would just forgive somehow. I did not consider the fact that by selling drugs I was killing people...
About 3 years ago I met my friend whom I knew for 20 years. I just could not recognize him. He explained that Christ had totally changed him. I remembered this man being like me and now I saw a totally different man. He looked so happy…no, he was happy in contrast to me.
We met for two years and he kept telling me about Jesus Christ. For two years I resisted. I found a lot of excuses: problems at work, in the family, my bad habits…
In summer 2009 I found myself in a helpless situation and I realized that unless I changed something I would just die. I followed my friend’s advice and went to the rehabilitation center. I did it, having no faith that God was able to set me free. But praise the Lord! He touched my heart and in autumn I accepted Jesus."
From Sergei Chernov:
"I was born in the Soviet Union during communist atheism. I was no different from millions of other people my age. My knowledge of God was like knowledge of ancient Greek myths.
I was a very rebellious young man and caused much pain to my family and other people. Very soon alcohol, drugs, theft, adultery, robbery became my normal life. The more I was sliding down, the more bitter I became. Loneliness and despair became a usual condition for me. I tried to get rid of it by means of drugs, wine, fun but nothing could fill in the emptiness of my soul and suppress the dreams of a better life.
Once I saw a very expensive antique book, which I stole in order to sell. It was the Bible. Sitting in the bus I opened it, trying to entertain myself on my way home. I began to read it and just couldn’t stop. I kept reading it all night long and the next day. Then I understood that there was a God. I began to seek Him. I attended Orthodox church services, but the soul remained empty. I studied Bible with Jehovah witnesses, got a lot of knowledge but there still was emptiness in my soul.
Once the Lord brought me to the Baptist church and I heard the words I had read, so I wasted no time and repented, soon I was baptized and became very religious, but the emptiness never left me. Some time later I experienced a backsliding and the Lord took away my mask of religiosity and showed me that I needed Him, true and living God and nothing else. And that was it."