Looking for a Miracle
Our Easter greeting goes like this, “Christ is Risen”, to which we respond, “He is Risen indeed!” The present day offers many heroes, preachers and interesting people, but Christ has always been and remains the One and Only. All His acts, words and deeds indicated that He was not like us and this unlikeness attracted people and continues attracting many!
Easter is a special time when people are more open to hear about Jesus Christ. Moreover, going through illnesses and ordeals and experiencing difficult time, urge people turn to God and pray. Many people are looking for a miracle today, just like it was 2000 years ago. Miracles of healing from cancer, preserving the lives of soldiers (sons and fathers), giving people peace and serenity. And when that doesn’t happen, people lose heart.
Today, only the blind cannot see the overwhelming suffering and grief, only the deaf cannot hear the cry of people and their souls, and only the indifferent cannot feel people’s sorrows. Jesus came to show us God, to show us His love and His will. He also came to show the state of our hearts and despite our filth and sinfulness, He still loved us!!! Christ is Risen indeed, and this changes EVERYTHING.
Being driven by these thoughts, I thought that we should go to downtown on Easter and preach the Christ, telling His Gospel, talking about His miracles, about His love, mercy and character. Before going there, I had been thinking, how I would look in front of people, what if no one listened, what if I let Jesus down, etc. But despite my worries and doubts, I understood that I would go and that it was on Easter that people should hear who Jesus is, how wonderful He is, and most importantly, why He went to the cross and rose again on the third day. Quite surprising for myself, I have seen great support from my friends, my family and the graduates of the orphanages.
Finally, the Easter morning has arrived. We went to church as usual. We planned to go to the city center after the worship service, giving out the people balloons with “Christ is Risen” written on them, along with candies and Easter cards. Timur, a graduate of an orphanage, who has already been baptized, and his wife Yulia are a part of our church. Yulia took an active part in the Easter evangelism, and it is a delight to see how God makes her heart open and kind.
It was very windy that day and crowdy, as many people went out onto the streets, walking along the sidewalks. I understood that should I start preaching there, I would have to do it extremely loud. I prayed and began with the Gospel of Luke and Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. I spoke for forty minutes non-stop, while our team would greet passers-by. Some people stopped to listen, some walked by, and others even listened while standing across the road.
As I communicated with the listeners, I would offer to look into a black box that I had in my hands. It was as black and unremarkable as sometimes our lives can look like, but inside there was something amazing and beautiful. Inside the box was the answer to why Jesus Christ died on the cross and why He has risen. At first people were confused, some wanted to look, but were embarrassed to approach. But then became interested and even stood in line. Inside the box, people saw something they did not expect to see. There was a beautiful mirror on the bottom of the box with lettering “God loves you”. There was not a single person who looked into the box and did not smile! I think they would remember this for a long time.
Then we walked along the streets, greeting people and inviting them to explore what was in the back box. When we turned off the main street, we saw two boys. I approached them and started telling them about Easter, and one of then interrupted me and said confidently, “I know what is in the box. It is a mirror.” Then he continued, “When I was in the orphanage, you came to us with an Easter performance and told the story of Jesus’ resurrection”. He also said that he lives in another orphanage, which our team plans to visit, starting with morning jogging with the children. I am hopeful that we will succeed.
In the end of our Easter street evangelism, we came across a group of young men who were drinking alcohol by the hostel. I rushed to them, not even noticing among them some of my friends from the past life. At first, they received us coldly and with a little tension, but in five minutes, after looking into the “miracle” box, their hearts softened, and they started sharing their experiences. They hugged us, and one of my old friends shared about his life in tears. One man also came up to me, looking straight into my eyes, as if trying to see something important there. I asked him, “If Jesus would be passing by you today, would He come up to you?” The man replied that he was sure that Jesus would have passed by him, because he was a bad and evil person. And then I told him that Jesus did come up him today through ordinary people. Then a very strong and self-confident woman got out of the car nearby. She immediately made it clear to everyone that she did not believe in anyone, but herself. Then one of our sisters asked her why she had so much pain in her eyes and the woman began to cry bitterly. We are praying for this woman, remembering her grief and tears. Jesus said: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest!”
There is more to share with you, friends, about the works of God and about the ministry that we carry out together, but I wanted to highlight some special moments experienced this Easter, and those blessings bestowed by Jesus Christ, as we were serving Him and witnessed to the lost. We cannot know how people actually get converted or what they think about God while hearing our preaching of the Gospel, but I do know that the Gospel greatly influences us and our children.
Report by Mikhail V
