‘We are all missionaries’

BELARUS — Another regular visitor to the bookshop operated by the Bible Society of the Republic of Belarus (more...) is 21-year-old Anja. Having become a Christian a few years ago, she is now seeking to use her talent for languages to serve God.

“We are all missionaries. It is important that we use the opportunities God gives us to bear witness about our faith to others. Nine of my former classmates are Christians, and I live my faith as well as I am able.”

Anja was born into a non-Christian family. As a teenager, she enjoyed listening to ‘alternative’ music such as punk. Towards the end of her school years, she met another girl who was also different from the others and became friendly with her. It turned out that this girl was a Christian and gradually guided Anja towards faith in Christ.

Pentecostal

“In my family, we attended the Orthodox church at important times of year, but I never believed in God. When I came home and told my family that I had joined the Pentecostal church, they were very angry. They told me that I had to choose between them and God. They threw me out of the house and I had to take care of myself for many months. It was a very difficult time, but fortunately I had friends who supported me and prayed for me. I lived with them: they had four children already, but they took me in.

Returned

“After a while my mother contacted me and I returned home. For the last four years our relationship has been good. God has given me love for her. She now attends Orthodox services regularly. I also have a good Christian relationship with my brother.”

Anja’s Pentecostal congregation is actively involved in outreach work. At weekends, they travel to small towns and villages and lead Sunday School classes and other activities. Anja herself often dresses up as a clown to entertain the children. Sometimes they hold parties for the children to which parents are also invited, and they find that many parents begin to attend church events as a result.

During the week, she is studying French and Spanish at university.