I Was Converted from a Dead Belief into a Living Faith!

Luke - New York, USA

Hi there!

My name is Luke, and I’m from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and I'd like to share with you how I was converted from a dead belief into a living faith!

What is really amazing is how the Lord has worked through many circumstantial events, which are in hindsight nothing short of a miracle!

You could say the story began when I was a boy, and was raised as a believer. The real story starts, however, when the time came around for me to choose which language I wanted to study at college. I looked at the course list and saw a long list of languages, but one language stuck out: Russian. I said to myself, "sure, why not?" I knew the class would be small, and the likelihood of having a good Russian teacher in the middle of an American cornfield was small, but something inexplicable drew me into the Russian language classroom.

Soon my junior year (the third year of undergraduate study) was coming around and I wanted to spend a semester studying somewhere else. In fact, I wanted to study overseas in Asia or Europe. There were several exchange programs that I wanted to apply for, but found myself unable to do so. I still wanted to study abroad, but not with the programs available. Then one day, out of the blue, a man came from a college just outside of New York City and spoke with my Russian professor. It turned out that this college was looking for determined students of the Russian language to study in a specialized overseas program and my professor recommended me. I initially declined, but after meeting with the visiting gentleman myself, I made the decision to go with his program.

When I left for St. Petersburg I didn't know what to expect! A different culture, a different religion and a different language all posed ominous and elusive obstacles to friendships and common interaction. But I had made two resolute decisions: I was going to keep to my Christian morals, even if tempted severely, and was going to learn Russian. Please understand that I grew up in a conservative Christian home and church (Dutch Reformed), and had read and heard the Bible since I was young, yet I knew something was missing in my faith. I knew that the Orthodox faith was not right and that it did not teach the Bible as complete truth; however, I knew that the church I grew up in also did not even attempt to follow all of the teachings from the Bible. In fact, I had become interested in learning about the Jewish holidays and religious practices, as well as Catholic practices because I knew I lacked something. I believed in Jesus Christ, but the faith was not "alive" in my heart, and I sought for that life, but did not know that this life was what I was looking for...

While I was in St. Petersburg, those temptations came and I did give in to excess drinking, smoking, and lewd behavior: my spiritual life was going down the drain. Of course I was learning the language and was quite successful according to college standards, but inside I was becoming cold, uncaring, and heartless. My so-called "Christian" faith could not carry me through, even though I went to an American church, sang the hymns, listened to the sermons, participated in church events and many youth group outings! My faith was dying, and so was that of those around me - I could feel it and see it. They were just going through the motions. It was just the same as back home in America! People were going to church, then going home and resuming their everyday lives: sins and hypocrisy included. No one was trying to change; no one was really learning; no one had a relationship with God; no one was really dying to themselves and desiring to become like the disciples I had read so much about as a boy. I felt hopeless inside, but my pride kept me from showing it.

Then one day when rounding a corner, I literally bumped into two blokes who handed me a Russian tract. We spoke about Jesus Christ, salvation, baptism, faith and going to church. Afterwards we parted ways and I immediately forgot about the leaflet I had just received. Two months later, I was cleaning out my coat pockets and found the leaflet. I was shocked and happy to see that the leaflet said exactly what I knew in my heart: that liars, cheaters, whoremongers, fornicators, adulterers, murderers, thieves, etc. would not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10; GALATIANS 5:19-21). I knew that scripture said this, but had never heard it preached in church and was excited to hear that someone was willing to stand up for the entire Bible and not just the nice parts! So, I decided to go along to a meeting there in St. Petersburg. Afterwards, I was challenged by a gentleman to read ACTS chapters 1, 2, 8, 10 and 19, as well as 1 CORINTHIANS chapters 12 and 14. These scriptures speak about the Holy Spirit, how the disciples received it, and the power it gave them to do wondrous things. I had never heard these verses preached in church before and was excited to learn more! The people from this assembly knew something I didn't and I wanted to know and have what they knew and had!

I knew this was right and that I would have to leave my old life behind and start again. I was baptized according to scripture, by full immersion after repenting. Then after the laying on of hands I received the Holy Spirit, and could speak in a new God-given language, just as the disciples did 2,000 years ago! But what is more important and amazing is that my faith came to life because of the Holy Spirit! The dead belief and failing heart I once had were gone! And the Bible was opened to my eyes as though it were the first time I had ever read it! The stories I had learned as a boy became real and practical. The power of the disciples is mine because of the Holy Spirit, which lives in me! Is it not strange that an American would go all the way to Russia to get saved on the 4th of July - Independence Day? The change in my life has truly been amazing and as I look back on how I was brought to this Assembly by such a strange order of events, it really does show that God calls His sheep by name! Now I pray that others who have a dead or dying faith might be "fished" by God and added or brought back to His fold.

Praise the Lord!

Luke