Sergei Kourdakov -- 3

Sergei could not get out of his mind the memory of the young girl who had risked her life by joining with the Believers. His position gave him access to files the police kept on the Believers and he decided to see who this young girl was. He learned that her name was Natasha. Surprisingly, she had at one time been a member of the Communist Youth League, just as he had been! What had happened to cause her to fall into the clutches of the Believers and become one herself?

Sergei had to find out more from this girl. He sent a message ordering her to report to the police station. He knew that his summons alone would frighten her.

When she arrived, he could see that she was indeed frightened but bravely answered his questions. Despite her fear, she even went on to tell Sergei why she believed in God. He dismissed her hastily. Surely the beatings, followed by his intimidating interview would settle everything. Now that she was exposed as a "Believer," her job at the newspaper office became a place of persecution as well. "Surely, we have seen the last of Natasha." Sergei thought.

About a week later Sergei's police squad was summoned for a raid on yet another secret church. As they broke into the home, wildly swinging their clubs, the frightened Believers began to scatter. Amidst the shouts and screams, Sergei caught a glimpse of a familiar face. He couldn't believe it! There she was again ­ Natasha!

Several of his men had seen her as well and angrily moved toward her with clubs raised. Then something happened that shocked Sergei. Victor jumped between Natasha and the approaching men. They angrily shouted for Victor to get out of the way. Victor's feet didn't move. He raised his club and said menacingly, "I'm telling you, don't touch her. No one touches her!"

Sergei watched in amazement. Incredibly, Victor, one of his most brutal men, the one who had first thrown Natasha across the room just two weeks before, was now protecting her ­ a Believer!
As Victor continued to shield Natasha, the men grew more impatient to give her another beating. But Victor stood firm, shouting back, "No one touches her! She has something we don't have! Nobody touches her!"

Victor stood with his arms out, protecting Natasha, daring anyone to take a step toward her. Natasha cowered behind him, not understanding what was happening. Sergei distracted the men by pointing to other believers who were quickly escaping. Then, Sergei motioned for Natasha to get out through a side door.

Sergei wrote, "For one of the few times in my life, I was deeply moved. Natasha did have something! She had been beaten horribly. She had been warned and threatened. She had gone through unbelievable suffering, but here she was again. Even tough Victor had been moved and recognized it. She had something we didn't have. I wanted to run after her and ask, 'What is it?' I wanted to talk to her, but she was gone. This heroic Christian girl who had suffered so much at our hands somehow both touched and troubled me very much."

We, in America, will probably never have to endure the kind of persecution that these Russian Believers did, although fellow Believers in many countries around the world still face this kind of brutal persecution. But this account reminds us of how important our witness is to an unbelieving world. Whether we have an opportunity to speak of our faith or simply show Christ's love by our actions, we are always being observed. As Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 3:3: "You are our letter from Christ. . written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." We never know how a simple act of kindness or taking a stand for what we believe can be used by the Lord to draw someone to Him.

Sergei writes this in the closing lines of his book:

"And, finally, to Natasha, whom I beat terribly and who was willing to be beaten a third time for her faith, I want to say, Natasha, largely because of you, my life is now changed and I am a fellow Believer in Christ with you. I have a new life before me. God has forgiven me; I hope you can also.

"Thank you, Natasha, wherever you are.

"I will never, never forget you!"

Information taken from The Persecutor by Sergei Kourdakov. The book is no longer in print, but it should be.

Sergei part 4

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