SLAVIC GOSPEL ASSOCIATION

Finding New Family in Christ

A man’s enemies are the men of his own household. But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation (Micah 7:6b-7).

Vitaly Kuchinsky knows something about sacrifice and being an outcast. If you were to meet him, you’d find it hard to believe that this unassuming young student at Minsk Theological Seminary is a “black sheep” to his family. But he is, and it’s not because of his past sinful lifestyle. It’s because he repented of his sins and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. But Vitaly’s story has a happy ending, as SGA partners are helping him — along with many other young men — prepare to gather a great spiritual harvest among their people.

Vitaly’s new life as a believer began in October 2005 at an evangelistic service in Brest, a city on the border between Belarus and Poland. He, along with hundreds of others from the Brest region, had come to a local Baptist church for a festival of Christian music and Gospel preaching. Vitaly was impressed by the music, and by the concluding message of Leonid Mikhovich, president of Minsk Theological Seminary. Several people came forward to give their hearts to Christ, and Vitaly was one of them. But his newfound faith came with a price.

“Following Christ was very hard for me,” Vitaly relates, “especially at the beginning. My parents became my first enemies, then other relatives turned away from me. My former university friends insisted that I return to my old sinful lifestyle. It was difficult for me to find Christian friends. There were a lot of old friends around who were always ready to welcome me into their drinking parties.

“But it is impossible to put new wine in old bottles. My former sinful life was in the past. I realized that I had to change something, to have a new circle of friends for fellowship.”

A new Christian friend urged Vitaly to speak with Pastor Mikhovich, whom God had used to bring him to saving faith six months earlier. Vitaly was quickly invited to study at Minsk Theological Seminary, and was also given a letter of recommendation by his own pastor in Kameniuki, Ivan Semeniuk. To this day, Vitaly is still amazed because, at that time, he was not yet an official member of the church.

“Only now do I understand what a risk my pastor and the seminary leaders took. But the Lord cared for me in a special way and strengthened my child-like faith. I know for sure that my seminary classes and Bible study have led to knowing God better, and I am continuing to know Him more fully. I can hardly imagine what my life would be without training at MTS.

“Here, I receive clear and profound knowledge from my teachers. Here the Lord prepares His faithful people for the fight to win lost souls. Most of all, there are only a few believers in my home village and the church is small. I know now why the Lord saved my soul and blessed me to be His servant.”

Pray for Vitaly as he completes his seminary studies and prepares for a lifetime of ministry — a living example to his people of how a family outcast can find a new family in Christ.

Editor’s Note: Minsk Theological Seminary is one of four solid evangelical seminaries sponsored by SGA across the lands of Russia. The others are Irpen Biblical Seminary and Odessa Theological Seminary in Ukraine, and Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary in Russia.