Born and raised in Ukraine until the age of 8, we immigrated to the United States with my family in 2000. I grew up going to Russian Protestant/Baptist churches, believing in hardcore Lordship Salvation and denying any kind of Eternal Security. Although not saved, I’ve always believed in the Bible being the final authority, and constantly prayed for God to reveal me the truth from His word. About a year into consistent prayer on that, in late 2013, accidentally stumbling upon Pastor Steven Anderson’s preaching on YouTube, I was taken aback by the amount of scriptures used in his sermons. My instant reaction was scoffing at the Once-Saved-Always-Saved and post-tribulation-rapture sermons, but I could not deny the scriptures that were preached. After a couple of months and several videos, including the complete gospel presentation from the KJV, I understood that I wasn’t saved and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ alone for my salvation, and called upon His name to be saved. My testimony, I believe, is comparable to Cornelius’ from Acts 10, in the sense that, although Cornelius was not saved until he met Peter and believed the gospel by Peter’s preaching, he had been praying and fearing God before that. And therefore, God said, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God… Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.”
This all took place in 2014 during preparations for my wedding, and shortly after being married, I was able to get my wife saved, who was a Pentecostal at that time. We have since been part of a local, independent Baptist Church and have both been biblically re-baptized. Thank God for the HARD preaching of His word that comes from the pulpits of real IFB churches. If it were not for the bold preaching done by Pastor Anderson, I don’t believe I would’ve been saved today.
My goal is to see the newly completed Russian translation of the KJV to come into mainstream Russian churches and replace the corrupt Synodal translation that currently occupies 99% of all Russian churches. The Russian gospel presentation recorded in KJV-RVG app is from that Bible. Please contact me if you’d like to get a hold of one.