Stephanie Cartwright
Rudik and Julietta’s story
“Rudik and Julietta gladly welcomed me into their tiny rented room in a hostel,” recalled, Inna, a member of Mission Eurasia’s Field Ministries Team. “Although I saw them for the very first time, I felt part of the family right away. They quickly set up a table with all the fruit and sweets they had in their home and we started talking. “I learned that the couple had been married for over 40 years and they had happy lives in Hadrut, Nagorno-Karabakh,” she said. “Rudik was the head of a large bakery and Julietta worked in a store. They had three children and now have eight grandchildren. They lived their comfortable lives in a nice beautiful house and drove a nice car. “But when war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan last fall,” she said, “the couple boarded a bus, like many other people. They were told they would be back in…
Natalya’s Story
On June 25-29, 2019, the Lausanne Global Workplace Forum took place in Manila, Philippines. About 850 Christian professionals from 109 different countries participated in this unique event. Mission Eurasia was honored to have Natalya, a Christian teacher from Siberia (not pictured), represent our ministry at this special event. Natalya was recognized as the best teacher in her region and she serves as a leader for the community of Christian educators in Siberia. She also spoke at our April 2018 Next Generation Professional Leaders Initiative (NGPLI) forum in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. The forum in Manila focused on helping Christian professionals recognize that work is a gift from God, rather than a punishment. It also called them to expand their understanding of ministry by teaching that they don’t have to travel somewhere far away to serve the Lord, but rather they can serve Him right where they are through their professions. One presenter…
Madina’s Story
“I live in Tajikistan, and I graduated from law school two years ago. In my country, women are primarily engaged with family, and few of us pursue higher education, especially in the legal sphere. My stepfather, who is a pastor and School Without Walls (SWW) graduate, helped me a lot in both my career and my faith. He shared with me that SWW taught him that Christians need to hold influential positions in society so we can positively impact our country. That is why I decided to become a lawyer,” said Madina, who is not pictured for security reasons. “During my final year at university, I also joined the SWW program, and my favorite part was getting to participate in Next Generation Professional Leaders Initiative (NGPLI) events. During one of these events, I heard the story of William Wilberforce, a British lawyer and politician who helped lead the abolition movement against slavery. I was particularly moved…
From Social Outcast to the Mayor’s Office
There is a Bible on the corner of Roman Polikrovsky’s desk. It’s something of a miracle that it’s sitting there in plain view, for all to see. You see Roman was born in 1979 to evangelical Christian parents who endured all manner of Soviet oppression. The Soviet authorities wanted to eradicate the church and eliminate the Bible, so back then, believers hid their Bibles because if the KGB showed up, they would go to jail. Roman’s parents had high hopes and dreams for their child. But because the USSR had never allowed Christians to enter professions that would allow them to influence society, they held little hope that he would be allowed to obtain an influential job. But then the USSR collapsed, leaving behind a spiritual vacuum. Roman then had his opportunity to pursue an influential career that would allow him to share his faith. Today-at just 42 years old-Roman…
Evangeline’s Story: 6-year-old sharing Christ at Bible camp
Lives are changing for Christ across Eurasia through our summer camps every year. Just ask Evangeline of Novomoskovsk, Ukraine. During the pandemic last year, the 6-year-old seized on opportunities to share the gospel with other children while serving alongside her parents at our neighborhood Bible day camps. While she has endured her own ongoing health challenges and disease, her parents-Sergey and Valentina-say she is growing strong physically and in her faith. The young girl speaks about God with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that is far beyond her years, her parents say. Instead of fearing death, Evangeline sees it as a road to eternity with the Lord. Sergey, who is a pastor, sees his daughter’s name as an example of God’s providence. Her passion for sharing the Good News of the Jesus with everyone is evident, he says. While working through their daughter’s health issues, Sergey and Valentina have learned to trust God more…
Yevgenia’s Story: I really had a spiritual ‘reboot’
You can see the joy on Yevgenia’s face as she stood in the water. She will never forget the five-day “Restart” Christian camp led by School Without Walls (SWW) leaders that stirred her to make the most important decision of her life – the decision to put her trust in Jesus Christ and be baptized that week. The 20-year-old refers to her decision to follow Christ as a “reboot” that has given her life new momentum. “During the year, I had to overcome a lot of difficulties that taught me to trust God,” she said, “and a lot of the decisions I made at camp had a greater impact on me. I started a new life with Christ and became softer, more courageous, and happier.” This “reboot” has given Yevgenia the strength to handle a difficult season of life where she has dealt with a series of health challenges, the death…