February 21, 2022
“Ministry should be holistic in nature, demonstrating that Christianity is not just a religion, but a way of life.” Tom Steffen, Encountering Life and Missionary Work
Born in the Ukraine during the 1950s, Natasha* grew up in a culture where persecution of Christians was very common. As a young believer, Natasha was pressured multiple times to renounce her faith. However, her love for Jesus and heart for people moved her to become a missionary despite the difficulties that she faced. Natasha spent several years attending medical school with the hope of becoming a nurse-missionary, but just weeks before graduation the school informed her that she would not receive her diploma unless she rejected her belief in God. Her parents, who were also believers, refused to cave under pressure. They met with the president of the school and asked him, “Why are you doing this? Do you think you are fighting against this girl? You are fighting against God!” When graduation day arrived, the president secretly awarded Natasha her diploma. This unexpected change of heart was evidence that the Lord was fighting on her behalf. Soon after, Natasha felt called to take the gospel to secluded people in Siberia. She began traveling throughout the region with other missionaries, sharing the gospel as she treated people’s medical needs. In 2000, she joined a groundbreaking expedition in which a group of missionaries traveled over 6,000 miles across the Siberian tundra during the middle of winter to provide medical relief and deliver the message of Jesus Christ to several unreached people groups. There are now over 500 believers in that region because of their efforts! Natasha dedicated her life to sharing Jesus not just through her words, but through her actions, and many lives were changed because of it.
*name changed for privacy
