Convincing or conversing?: Russian Federation

Country Profile

Convincing or conversing?

Russian Federation | OM International

Originally from Australia, Eve Batchelder has been working with OM Russia for the past six months. She has been living in OM Russia’s Discipleship Centre with 20 Russian students, taking part in their outreaches.

“I serve an amazing God!” exclaimed Anna, my teammate.

We were walking the streets in the town of Kuybyshev, Russia, asking people what Easter meant to them and offering them a Bible. We were part of a team of students on their final outreach.

During the day, Anya shared with me about the journey God has led her on through the OM discipleship course. She explained how God has changed her heart about sharing the gospel with others, and since then, visible things in her life have changed, as well. Friends and workmates are asking her about God, and our interactions with people in the town of Kuybyshev are also different.

Anya told me she used to feel she needed to convince people of her beliefs. This made her anxious, and it made outreaches stressful. However, following a significant lecture at the OM discipleship course, Anya says she has come to see in a new way just how big God is. He is not someone we need to defend or protect. “I don’t need to protect Him. He can protect me!” Anya said. This truth has freed her to relax and enjoy talking with the people she meets, no defensiveness or convincing necessary.

As the discipleship course ends, it is encouraging to hear Anya’s story. She leaves the course with a changed heart, and along with the others students, it will be exciting to see how the last six months will propel her into the future.