“I was born into a family of unbelievers,” Andrey begins his story. “Nobody ever told me about God. When our family experienced difficulties and troubles with no visible solutions, we, as many other people, would rely on our connections to find solutions we needed. At the age of 15, I was already working at a factory. Every holiday there was accompanied by drinking. Therefore, in order to be the same as the other young workers I began to drink a little. Before I knew it I developed an alcohol addiction. All my attempts to break this habit were unsuccessful. My idea of changing jobs to overcome my addiction didn't work because it found me everywhere. My personality began to deteriorate. The good relationship I had with my family at that time were lost. Due to my ongoing binges I began to loose sight, as well as the ability to sleep soundly. My life began to be filled with worries and fear. The changes that our country was going through at that time only made my fears worse. I tried to “get a grip,” as I wanted to become a true father for my children and a husband for my wife, but nothing worked.”

“As time passed, I was approaching the most critical moment of my life.”

“The cold November wind was chilling to the marrow. I was standing by the road trying to hitch a car to take me to the family celebration my parents were having. A recent party with my friends consisted mostly of drinking alcohol in huge quantities, as usual. Now all I wanted was to get home as soon as possible. Suddenly I was hit by a car going one hundred kilometers per hour. I was taken to the hospital and operated on immediately. The surgery took five hours as I had broken bones, torn collarbone and many bruises. During the several months I was in the hospital I underwent a total of six surgeries. Then I was discharged and was qualified for disability. I was on disability for four years. After all this I was totally discouraged.”

“One day I was visited by an old friend of mine. He had a book in his hand — the Bible, as it turned out later. By that time he had already become a believer. He began reading to me something from that book. I argued with him and asked him questions. Although I didn't believe in God I considered myself to be an orthodox believer. I remember my friend telling me, “Andrey, you need to repent.” I decided not to argue with him and just did what he asked me to do: I closed my eyes and uttered the prayer of repentance. Suddenly I felt an urge to cry. I didn't suppress it, and wasn’t ashamed of it, and the tears flowed…”

“After this moment I began to read the Bible myself, little by little. My life began to change. While I was still walking with crutches, I decided to attend the church my friend invited me to.”

“As I listened to Pastor Sunday’s sermons I gradually began to understand how a person must live. I realized that every human life is a precious gift from God to people. The loving heart of God desires to see people happy but there can be no true happiness without the Creator. Therefore, God waits for people to dedicate their lives to Him and walk in it with him, for without God, people’s lives turn into catastrophes. Only the Heavenly Father can give security and joy. I realized why my life was full of destruction and discord. I was living without God. As I admitted my helplessness and inability to solve my problems in my own power, this gave God’s grace the ability to radically change me, my life, and relationships with my family. When my wife saw the changes in my character and my actions, my improving health and no more drinking, she came to church one year later and dedicated her life to Jesus Christ. Now she is the dean of Joshua Missionary Bible Institute.”

“I was so hungry for God that I began to serve in the house of God by doing the smallest things and diligently accomplishing the tasks entrusted to me. Then I began to study in the leadership schools and graduated from Joshua Missionary Bible Institute. God was lifting me up. He saw my faithful and dedicated heart and appointed me as an assistant pastor in the Embassy of God Church on the Right Bank (of the Dnepr) in Kyiv. I had to serve while I was still going to work. Some time later I was called to the full-time ministry.”

“Today I am no longer disabled and the doctors repealed my disabled status. Now my whole family serves the Lord.”

“On November 22, 2002, the Mountain of the Lord Church — a branch of the Embassy of God Church — was planted. I became its pastor. I also minister to elderly people in a nursing home in Novo-Belichi. All these people have become a part of me, my spiritual family. My life was radically changed because of God. His goodness and mercy are being poured out into my life in abundance. My heart belongs to Him forever. By His power I am restored as a person, a husband, a father, and a son. Today I can boldly say that there is nothing impossible for God, but everything is possible with Him.”