My name is Vitali. This is my story/testimony:

Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

The Lord has always been very gracious to me. Looking back now, I can clearly see His plan being at work in my life, when He brought me from Russia to America 26 years ago. Coming to a small Bible school in Ohio, with just a few dollars in my pocket, was quite challenging and frankly frightening. I remember abandoning myself to the Lord in hopes that He would provide. And here I am 26 years later standing before you guys, blessed beyond measure.

The Lord has been gracious to me from my mother's womb. You see, my mother didn't want another child. They already had 4 children and when she found out she was pregnant with me, she decided to get an abortion. When I became a Christian, and then later my mother became a Christian, she confessed to me how she wanted to get rid of me. But you know what? The Lord spared my life through the very doctor that was supposed to perform the abortion that morning. For some strange, miraculous reason the doctor convinced my mom not to do it. He said to her: "Look, you're still young, you should keep the baby. Everything will be fine." And my mom decided to keep me.

The Lord showed His mercy to me when He touched my life by His Holy Spirit when I was 24. I still remember, many years later now, that night when I went out for a walk. It was one of those cold winter nights in Russia. The sky was filled with dark, heavy clouds. I remember feeling really insignificant and small. I was young, insecure and I needed direction for my life. I remember looking up at those dark clouds saying: "Whoever is holding these clouds, whoever is holding this world, whoever you are - please help me!"  After I became a Christian I remember reading the story of Jesus talking to Nicodemus thinking how God touched my life that night. 

In the story a Pharisee by the name Nicodemus came to Jesus. He started by telling Jesus how they all thought he was from God. But Jesus answered and said something very interesting to him: "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." Nicodemus replied "How can someone be born when they are old? Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!" 

Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again." The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." - John 3:1-8

I get goosebumps every time I read the part "You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." I believe that night the Spirit of God touched my life and began His work in me. No more than two weeks later, I was sitting at our rock club (I used to play in a rock band) and a young musician guy that I knew happened to sit right next to me. We started to talk about something and, out of the blue, he says: "Do you want to know about Jesus?" What I didn't know was the guy had become a Christian just a couple of months prior to that. I wanted to say "no", but the Lord did not let me say a word. I felt completely numb. I couldn't even move. The guy shared everything he knew about Jesus with me and I knew, right there and then, that something different was happening in me. He invited me to his church and after about three Sundays I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.

Friends, I can tell you countless stories of all the amazing things that the Lord has done in my life, but there's not enough time. Instead I want to leave you with this song  that I've been listening to and singing quite a bit lately: 

Goodness of God - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvSuGyJQ6oM

Let's never forget how good the Lord has been to us all. He is our Father, He is our friend and He loves us dearly. May the Lord bless you. Amen.