Stories from the Field

Olga Emma in Kyiv

I met Amelia* a year and a half ago. A brother from our Jewish congregation gave me her contact information. It turned out that my husband, Anatoli, had ministered to her before the war. At that time, her heart was closed off, and she wouldn’t hear the gospel, yet her paralyzed husband was open to God’s Word. To my surprise, as I ministered to her, she was open to me and to the gospel. During a recent visit, I offered to pray with her to accept Jesus, and she agreed right away. Amen! I believe God will continue his work in her.

Elisha Lazarus with So Be It!

While we were out filming for So Be It!, we met a young woman named Eden. What began as a simple conversation quickly became something much deeper. My fellow missionary and So Be It! co-host Arielle Randle shared the gospel with her and explained who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Eden was deeply moved by what she heard. Then Arielle asked her, “Is there anything stopping you from receiving Jesus into your life?” Eden said, “No. I would love that.” Right there on the street, they prayed together, and Eden received Jesus into her life. It was such a beautiful reminder that God can use an ordinary conversation to change someone’s life forever. Watch this So Be It! episode on YouTube.

Rachel Stepakoff in Los Angeles

Maddie* is a junior in college whom I met through a mutual friend. As our friendship grew, we began reading through the Gospel of Matthew together. She had many questions about what she was reading and what it meant for her. Then she asked me if she could be saved right then. Of course, I said yes! We read Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Maddie said yes! So, we went outside, and she repeated a salvation prayer after me. Praise God!

Svetlana Adelson in Sydney

Vera* was probably the person I found hardest to read. She always arrived at our Shabbat gatherings quietly and left just as quietly. She never said anything or asked questions. She simply sat and listened. Still, I was always happy she was coming. After months of this, something special happened at our Shabbat gathering on Yom Kippur. When I invited those who wanted to receive Yeshua as Messiah to pray a prayer of repentance, Vera said yes and prayed with me. Praise God! Then, just as she always did, she quietly went home. But this time, as she left, I saw a big smile on her face!

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.