Serge enjoyed good health his whole life until he suffered an injury just before he planned his first expedition at sea. His dreams of working on an oil rig were shattered when the doctors told him that he would need surgery. He had been raised Christian, but felt that God was punishing him. It was then that Serge decided to turn his back on God.

As his health improved, he heard tragic news that the ship he would have worked on sank at sea, and eight people died in the wreck.

“I recognized it as God’s plan for my life, because He saved me. I had to go through the surgery to stop me from getting on the ship. God kept me on the ground for a special mission, but I didn’t know what the mission was.”

Not long after, he met an Adventist man, who invited Serge to church. He didn’t know much about this faith, but the following Sabbath, Serge set foot in an Adventist church for the first time. It was a welcoming environment and he continued to attend over the next few months. Serge grew certain that he should accept Jesus back into his heart and was baptized.

During the next few months, he met his future wife at church. Serge asked God for direction and felt called to become an Adventist pastor. He is now studying at the Adventist theology school in Russia.

“Everyday I have the opportunity to testify about Christ. I’m very glad to be God’s servant. I’m so glad that I can do it and I’ll do it in my future as a pastor. I do it all for His glory.”

Serge is active in his church and prays to have an impact in this city of more than one million people.

Churches here have various ministries to reach out to their communities. Today, this youth group is visiting a local park to hand out balloons and books to bring joy to those they meet. Small gestures like this can make a big impact.

Serge’s church plans to expand its ministries. They hope to use this building as an outreach center to meet the needs of the community. They will be able to host programs to mingle with the people around them.

Please consider supporting this goal through prayer and the mission offerings. Thank you for supporting mission!

Serge enjoyed good health his whole life until he suffered an injury just before he planned his first expedition at sea. Serge’s dreams of working on a big ship were shattered when the doctors told him that he would need surgery. He grew up as a Christian but felt that God was punishing him. It was then that Serge decided to turn his back on God.

As his health improved, he heard tragic news that the ship he would have worked on sank at sea, and eight people died in the wreck.

“I recognized that this was God’s plan for my life. He wanted to save me. I had to go through the surgery to stop me from getting on the ship. God kept me on the ground for a special mission. I didn’t know what the mission was until this happened.”

Not long after, he met an Adventist man while playing sports, who Serge invited to church. He was nervous because he had heard some bad rumors about Adventists in the past, but decided to attend anyway.

It was a warm, inviting environment and a woman came up to him to talk and share some encouraging words. Over the next few months, Serge decided to accept Jesus back into his heart.

Six months later, he received a call from a big ship company to go to America to work on a large oil ship. This job would make him a lot of money and fulfill his lifelong dream. But he felt conflict in his heart because he wasn’t sure this is what he was supposed to do. He asked God for clarity.

“When I was disappointed in this big city with a population of 1 million, out of nowhere the same sister that I met at the church and came to me again and said, ‘Look towards God’s kingdom of heaven and God will do everything from Him to you.’ It was very exciting for me at that moment.”

He decided to officially become baptized and decline the ship company’s offer. Soon after, he met a girl at church that he later married. Now he feels the direction for his life is clear. Serge is attending Theology school with dreams of becoming an Adventist pastor.

“Everyday I have the opportunity to testify about Christ. I’m very glad to be God’s servant. I’m so glad that I can do it and I will do it in my future as a pastor. I do it all for His glory.”

Serge is an active participant in his church and prays for strength to have an impact in this city of more than one million. Churches here have various ministries to reach out to their communities. Today this youth group is visiting a local park to hand out balloons and books to bring joy. Small gestures like this can make a big impact on the people they interact with.

Serge’s church plans to expand its ministries. They hope to use this building as an outreach center to meet the needs of the community. They will be able to host programs to mingle with the people around them.

Please consider supporting this goal through prayer and the mission offerings. Thank you for supporting mission!

Serge enjoyed good health his whole life until he suffered an injury just before he planned his first expedition at sea. Serge’s dreams of working on a big ship were shattered when the doctors told him that he would need surgery. He grew up as a Christian but felt that God was punishing him. It was then that Serge decided to turn his back on God.

As his health improved, he heard tragic news that the ship he would have worked on sank at sea, and eight people died in the wreck.

“I recognized that this was God’s plan for my life. He wanted to save me. I had to go through the surgery to stop me from getting on the ship. God kept me on the ground for a special mission. I didn’t know what the mission was until this happened.”

Not long after, he met an Adventist man, who invited Serge to church. It was a warm, inviting environment that he continued to attend over the next few months. Serge was certain that he should accept Jesus back into his heart, and was baptized.

In the next few months, he met a girl at church that later became his wife. Serge has asked God for direction and now feels the plans for his life are clear. Serge is attending Theology school with dreams of becoming an Adventist pastor.

“Everyday I have the opportunity to testify about Christ. I’m very glad to be God’s servant. I’m so glad that I can do it and I will do it in my future as a pastor. I do it all for His glory.”

Serge is an active participant in his church and prays for strength to have an impact in this city of more than one million. Churches here have various ministries to reach out to their communities. Today this youth group is visiting a local park to hand out balloons and books to bring joy. Small gestures like this can make a big impact on the people they interact with.

Serge’s church plans to expand its ministries. They hope to use this building as an outreach center to meet the needs of the community. They will be able to host programs to mingle with the people around them.

Please consider supporting this goal through prayer and the mission offerings. Thank you for supporting mission!

SUMMARY

The Adventist man he met on the sports field invited me to attend church. The first time he attended an Adventist Church he wasn’t sure what to think. He was nervous because he had heard some bad rumors about Adventists in the past.

He visited the church and talked with a woman who gave him spiritual encouragement that left him with a positive experience. While at the church he saw a picture on the wall of a girl whose face he couldn't get out of his mind. Six months later, I received a call from a big ship company to go to America to work on a big oil ship. He dreamt to be financially independent. This job would make him a lot of money.

He felt a conflict in his heart. Although this was a great job opportunity, he knew that God was calling him in a different direction.

(met woman)

He fasted for 3 days and asked God for clarity to help him make the right decision. He decided that he wanted to be baptized. My parents and my friends were against my decision. He lost almost all of his friends because of his decision to be an Adventist.

A few years later he met the same girl he saw in the picture at church and now they are happily married. A few years after he was baptized, almost all of his friends came back to him and it was a great opportunity for him to witness to them about how God had worked in his life.

(Studying theology now)

Serge QUOTES

I liked the sea. I like to work on a ship. Some people get seasick but that never happens to me.

And then I got the news that my ship had sank. Eight people died and only three people survived.

I recognized that this was God’s plan for my life. He wanted to save me. I had to go through the surgery to stop me from getting on the ship. God kept me on the ground for a special mission. I didn’t know what the mission was until this happened.

In 2011 on the Sports field I was introduced to an Adventist.

Earlier on that very day I became an Atheist. I took the cross necklace off my neck because I accused God being unfair, unjust, many bad things. I blamed him for a lot of things.

I had been working up to this dream for 6 years but when I finally got the call, I wasn’t very happy because I was a believer and had accepted the Adventist message.

When I was disappointed in this big city with a population of 1 million, out of nowhere the same sister that I met at the church and came to me again and said, ‘Look towards God’s kingdom of heaven and God will do everything from Him to you.’ It was very exciting for me at that moment.

This year in September I began studying theology. I am planning to be a pastor. I am so happy. It’s a very good thing for me. I am glad that I can serve God.

Everyday I have the opportunity to testify about Christ. I’m very glad to be God’s servant. I’m so glad that I can do it and I will do it in my future as a pastor. I do it all for His glory.

I want to tell other to follow Jesus. If you have been rejected from something in your life, don’t worry about it. Follow Him and He will provide for you and your family. Believe Him and God will bless you.