This personal testimony of Br. Vadim Gorelov was received March 11, 2003. Br. Gorelov and his family is now serving as a full time pastor working with Faith Mission in our mission outreach in the Kolyma region of Siberia.

    I was born in 1975 in the city of Gubaha in the Permskiy region of Russia. My parents were simple working people. My mother had a New Testament and was convinced of God’s presence in her life when she read the Bible. I learned the story about Jesus from my mother.  At the age of 5, we moved to the Kolyma region of Russia, and that was where I grew up. When I was 12 years old, I went to visit my relatives in Novocherkassk, Russia. While there, I was baptized in the Orthodox Church. I did not understand many things and was irresponsible in doing this – there was no change in my life. I continued living a life of sin. Later, I learned that my mother was praying to God that He would make me a minister – in the Orthodox Church.

    I lived as a sinner, but my soul was striving for something to bring light into my heart. When I went to the military, I met a soldier that was a Christian. His name was Renat. He told me that I was living in darkness and that there was a real life that could be lived. Renat was later transferred to another region, and I was very much alone. My mother had sent me a New Testament and I began to read. I did not understand much that I read and my heart was still reaching out. I read the New Testament through several times while in the military. Satan caused emptiness and darkness to fill my life and I thought of suicide, but thoughts of my mother would not let me do this.

    When I came home from the military, my father met me with alcohol and said, "You are an adult now." One day when walking down the street in Yagodnoe, I noticed a torn poster (praise the Lord, had it not been torn I would have not noticed). I went over to where the poster was and put the torn pieces back in place and read: "Church of Christians of Gospel Faith invites you to services." After reading the poster I went to the Orthodox Church but it was closed. Then I went to the culture hall and found the services were being held there. The service had already started and as I came to the door many thoughts began going through my mind: "Go away from here….If you go in you will have to leave your way of life….You will be a hyprocrite……" There was something that kept urging me to go in. When I entered the hall, I was surprised to see a young man behind the pulpit. As I listened to him, I decided to stay after the service and ask him questions that were bothering me.  After the service, I asked to speak with the minister. His name was Igor, and he was a very calm and peaceful man to talk with. He never quarreled with me but gently answered my questions. I left with all the things we talked about ringing in my ears, and in a few days I gave my heart to the Lord. In a few weeks, I made a real commitment to the Lord. Some time later a German evangelist of the Baptist faith, by the name of Irvin Plat, came to the Kolyma region. I began to travel with him to different villages for services. One morning while in prayer, God baptized me with the Holy Ghost. At first, I did not understand what had happened to me, but later I understood clearly.

    My parents moved to Magadan, and I stayed in Yagodnoe alone. I began to pray that God would provide me with a wife. In 1997, I went to a conference of Kolyma region and the Chukotka region brotherhood in Magadan. One evening while praying, the Lord said to me, "Look behind the piano". I had not even noticed who was playing the piano. I remembered the choir, soloist, and others but not who played the piano. Without hesitation, I talked to the pastor about who was playing the piano for the meeting. I learned that it was a young sister from the Chukotka region by the name of Alena. God put us together, and we were married that same year. We now have two charming daughters and one beautiful son and wait for the forth baby to be born.

    The church in Magadan ordained me as a deacon, and I began to work for the Lord in Yagodnoe. There was only one church in Yagodnoe, the Orthodox Church. I was working a full time government job, working many hours, and trying to work for the Lord. I would have to ask leave of my job to go to the villages to share the Gospel. I began to pray fervently that God would help me and solve this problem because the government job was preventing me from giving myself fully to the work of God.

    God answered prayer! Br. Gene arrived in Yagodnoe. The work here in Yagodnoe, and the needs for the church were discussed. We talked about me leaving my job and becoming a full time pastor. After Br. Gene had gone, I began to worry about my job. What will the people think, and what will the government say about me not working? I would have no insurance for my family, and there were other unanswered questions. For several weeks my wife and I prayed for an answer from the Lord. Prayer was requested in Ukraine at the church in Zhitomir,Ukraine and also in America. God gave us His word through two prophecies.
(prophecy: "O why is your heart divided? Why? Is my power short to spare, to show mercy, to help, to reveal my work, which could be perfectly made in greater measure? But it is needful to watch greatly for the enemy not to undermine the work, because the enemy plans to do this. But my Angel stands in the breach and there is no place for the enemy for destruction yet. It is needful to strengthen the prayers, and strengthen the petitions. Amen.")

    After this word from the Lord, I left my job to begin a full time ministry. Not long ago on a trip to a village for services, the Lord proved His word of prophecy. Traveling in our van on a very high hill, along with one Sister and another Brother, the van began to slip on the road. We skidded off the road and down the mountain, turning over and over. When the van came to rest on its top, the three of us walked away from the van. Many people are killed here because of wrecks like this, but God spared us, "Praise the Lord".

    The van was a total loss, but not even one string was broken on our guitar. When we came up to the top we glorified the Lord for His mercy and love, and we began to sing. We sang several songs in praise to God. Later, we learned that intercessory prayer was being made for us in Kiev. We give Him all the glory! I now must hitchhike to visit villages for services. Pray for the Kolyma, there is a great need here for the Gospel.

May the Lord bless you,