International Leadership Academy in Belarus | Our ministry

Report of the 1st year student Olga Tumar

On Saturday Yura and I were in Nesvizh. We went to the teaching training college hoping to share the gospel with some people. One young girl attracted my attention. I explained to her that I was doing the survey and asked whether she would agree to answer some of my questions. To my surprise she did.

I began asking her questions. The girl thought on every question and gave me very serious answers. Then she listened to 4 spiritual laws with great interest. When we came to the prayer of repentance she turned to God asking Him to forgive her sins. This girl's name is Irina. She studies to become a teacher of primary school; she is fond of drawing, plaiting and judo. She'd been thinking about God and the meaning of life before. A girl who works as a Sunday school teacher, used to study with her in college. Irina heard about God from that girl. We took each other phone numbers.

I had been praying before to meet a person whose heart would be eager to accept the Gospel. I am sure that God answered my prayer sending me that girl.

Report of the 1st year student -Sergey Ahramenya

On Thursday evening we decided to go for a walk with brothers. Nobody planned to evangelize but God has His own plans. We walked for a while and then decided to sit on a bench and sing songs. On one of the benches near the house I saw a man of about 45 years old. He didn't look great; it's likely he lived in the street. I sat to him and engaged the conversation. I spoke with him about God and through 4 spiritual laws. These words touched his heart. I shared my testimony with him. Then I asked him "How do you evaluate your own life?" The man answered: "I had a lot of good things, but everything was empty and vain…" He had tears in his eyes. Yet when I asked him if he wanted to accept Jesus in his heart, he gave me a negative respond. He promised to come to the church though. I'll pray that he would come to Jesus Christ.

Report of the 1st year student - Yelena Hulup

On Thursday having prayed for the people I was going to share the good news with I went downtown. On the way I met an elderly lady walking. I started talking with her about God and 4 spiritual laws. I was surprised that she listened to me very attentively. But when I listened to her response and her attitude to God I got upset. She spoke very dryly about it.

Later near my house I met another elderly lady, she seemed to be very nice and pleasant. We talked and I found out that she was a believer but attended the church seldom. She told me about her hard life and that she remained faithful to God. Then I explained to her 4 spiritual laws. We prayed together. She said she read the Lord's Prayer at home. I noticed that it was very good, but it was also important to pray with her words. The lady enjoyed our fellowship, since she was lonely.

Report of the 1st year student - Ivan Garasuk

There are moments when you don't want to talk to anyone. That day was one of those moments. Yet the Lord does everything according to His will and sends people we need to evangelize. I was on the platform at the railway station when a young guy asked me for a cigarette. He was slim, about 18 years old. I asked him: " Are you also smoking?" He replied: "What else can I do?" then I asked him if he believed in God. "Of course, I do!" - I heard the answer. I didn't have time to explain 4 spiritual laws to the guy since I hurried for the train. I just gave him a booklet and invited him to the outreach event.

On the train I met an acquaintance that was working in Minsk. He asked me what I did. He was very surprised to hear that I was a student of Bible College. We began talking about spiritual things. I asked him if he believed in God. He said he did and added that he would like to have the Bible to read. Then I offered him to listen to 4 spiritual laws. He listened to me very attentively without asking questions. He left me his phone number and asked me to call him in Minsk.

Report of the 2nd year student - Stepan Prokopuk

On Monday I went to Kiev to buy some books for the college. On the train a man of 30 was in the same compartment with me. Talking to him I found out that he lived not far from the "Bethlehem" church. I told him where I studied and what I did. I also said that I believed in Jesus.

On my way back to Minsk I met the same man in my compartment. I am sure that the Lord arranged that. We warmly greeted each other and then talked about God, Bible, and necessity of being grateful to God for everything we had. I recited him a poem "Thank you" in the Ukrainian language. I liked my companion's statement about the Bible: "I personally don't believe in God, but there is something valuable and useful for every person in the Bible. You cannot take this book lightly; you need to think while reading it. I see deep meaning in this book"

We also discussed the issue of hypocrisy and sincerity.

I had some cards with the words from the Scripture. I gave one of them to my companion and invited him to the church.

I am thankful to God for this trip. I am thankful to my brothers and sisters for their prayers.

Praise the Lord for everything.

Report of the 2nd year student - Galina Belogortseva

On Friday after classes we decided to go to the park not far from our house to share the Gospel with people. We saw a man of sixty years old. He was sitting on bench thinking. Luda came up to him and asked if he wanted to answer the questions of the survey and talk about God. We started the conversation. The man heard of God for the first time though he called himself an Orthodox. He had a New Testament but liked reading other books.

We asked him if he believed in heaven and hell. His answer was "No". Then we explained to him the Gospel and the way of salvation with the help of 4 spiritual laws. At the end we gave him the booklet.

Report of the 2nd year student - Tatyana Kleshenko

On Tuesday I went to Svetlogorsk to the outreach event. I wanted to invite my parents to this event. As soon as they heard my invitation they began finding all kind of excuses why they couldn't come. My mom said she had a lot of work to do and my dad said that he was tired after the hard working day. Then he added he would go for the sake of me.

My sister, my friend and I went to the church earlier to help in preparation. I was praying for my parents to come that night. Praise the Lord my dad came. He enjoyed the meeting. After that he talked to some Christians.

At home he asked a lot of questions about God and sufferings of Jesus Christ. I explained the gospel to him. At the end of the conversation he asked: "If I go to the church, will your mom stop sinning?" What could I say? I only said: " We should pray for mom". I could see that God was working in his heart.

When my mom heard of what was at the meeting she said: " I wish I could go". I was glad to hear that, since I saw obvious answers to my prayers. I'll continue praying and believe that someday my family will go to the church with me.