1 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: Why do you know who was speaking? I don't know. 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: It was not any doubt clear. That's Jesus. My whole life. 3 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: I had the wrong thinking it's not true. God exists 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: and I don't know why, but He is interested in 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: me and he wants that I well, I live okay. 6 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 2: Without God's perfect love, we cannot be free from condemnation 7 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 2: and the bondage that we all face here on earth. 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 2: But with God we can live life and live it abundantly. 9 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: John ten Ten says, the thief does not come except 10 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they 11 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: may have life, and they may have it more abundantly. 12 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 2: Before knowing the Lord, Marina whose voice you just heard, 13 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: she was living in bondage. She was not living abundant life. 14 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 2: And I was so moved by her testimony that I 15 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: can't wait for you to hear it. Today. I'm your host, 16 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 2: Chrissy Graham, and I want to welcome you back to 17 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 2: another episode of On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse, where 18 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 2: we take you to the front lines and behind the 19 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: scenes of our work around the world. I've known Marina 20 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 2: for a while now, but until recently I hadn't heard 21 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 2: her entire testimony and it really changed my perspective of 22 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: what and why she does what she does. Marina works 23 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 2: in our Samaritan's Purse Germany office and I had her 24 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: on the show about a year and a half ago 25 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 2: to talk about the Alabaster Jar Project. It's a project 26 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 2: that helps women that are caught in prostitution and we 27 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: will dive more into that next week, but first I 28 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: want you to hear her testimony. While visiting our international headquarters, 29 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 2: Marina sat down with me in our studio. 30 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: I started with Summerton's post in January twenty eighteen and 31 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: I was part of the don A Ministry team and 32 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: I loved this job really that after time, I had 33 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: the opportunity toeles and to become direct of our national 34 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: programs and our project all Ustada is part of it, 35 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: and the disaster relief for German speaking countries is a 36 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: part of it, and sharing hope in christis training and chaplaincy. 37 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 2: And for people who don't know, you serve in our 38 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: German affiliate office, so we have country offices that are 39 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: set up after you know, a disaster response where we 40 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 2: know we need to be there long term, and then 41 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: we have our affiliate offices, So maybe you just even 42 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 2: explain in a nutshell you know what the affiliate office does. 43 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: And I love you even we're talking before we hit record, 44 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 2: just how things keep changing, you know and doors closed, 45 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 2: which we can be upset about, but the Lord is 46 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: using that for different kind of growth and ministry. So 47 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: what does the affiliate office do? And maybe can you 48 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: introduce us to your office? Maybe how many work there? 49 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: And so our office is in Berlin is the capital, 50 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 1: and we have around about thirty five to forty people 51 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: when occ season US we have around fifty and that's 52 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: one area Operation Christmas Child. We have domestic projects and 53 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 1: we have the international projects, often in cooperation with with 54 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: you here in the US or in Canada. Yeah, we 55 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: love to serve not only in these projects and programs, 56 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: we want to serve the churches in Germany. 57 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 2: I love that the German Office is intentional about working 58 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: with churches in Germany to challenge them to live out 59 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 2: the gospel. Marina explained that so many churches in Germany 60 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: are more about socializing with friends than about life saving 61 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 2: power of Jesus Christ. And I think we're starting to 62 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: see the similarities here in the US that cultural Christianity. 63 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 2: We cannot lose sight of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 64 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 2: I want you to hear what Marina shared about how 65 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: Samaritans Purse is working to encourage churches to go back 66 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: to scripture, back to Christ by giving them ways to 67 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: connect and serve. 68 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: Because there are so many changes in Germany. Well, often 69 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: there is needed more Jesus inside. They're mostly looking for 70 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: their own congregation and don't get outside anymore, and often 71 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: they lose their view on Jesus. So it's like a 72 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: little bit I don't know to explain it to an 73 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: our word social club where you meet and you feel 74 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: good and everything, but it's not the gospel, not anymore. 75 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: And that clarity and we want to serve these churches 76 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: and said, okay, every church has a calling. Go back 77 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 1: to this calling and and we show you several ways 78 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: to serve the people around you and to get more 79 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: dedicated to the Gospel into Jesus. And so that's one 80 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: of our biggest goals. And it's not that easy in 81 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:21,239 Speaker 1: Germany anymore, because being a Christian is not something that's valued. 82 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: It's much more than it's oh, you're one of the 83 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: kind of people. You're extremely old fashioned. You're against women rights, 84 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: or you are against abortion, you're against almost everything that's fun. 85 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: We don't like that, and God doesn't exist. So that's 86 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: the surrounding. And of course it invades church too, these 87 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 1: kind of thinking, and it's really a problem. And we 88 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 1: want to change that. And we said, okay, we want 89 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: to stand for the Gospel. We want to stand for 90 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: Jesus and said here not only life changing and life saving, 91 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: and you have to get to know him. And we 92 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: want to show in our programs a project what it's 93 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: like to be with him, to be living with Jesus, 94 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 1: and what does it mean to help other people with 95 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: his love. And one of the best examples is a 96 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: labaster dove, so where you go and says, okay, we 97 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: serve the women no matter what, and it doesn't make 98 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: a difference when they make mistakes or they're angry or 99 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: aggressive and violent or whatever. We stay with you because 100 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: Jesus would est the same. And so that's an example, 101 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: and we invite other people from churches to go with 102 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: us this way. 103 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: Thank you for even giving us just how we can 104 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 2: be praying for you. Culture, like we know that the 105 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: churches and the culture and the context, it's a little different, 106 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: so you have to know what is needed there, so 107 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 2: you help the forefront, you know, on the front lines 108 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: to communicate with us. But I love that we are 109 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 2: situated all around the world so that you know, when 110 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: a disaster strikes, we have our Philly offices and we 111 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: have our Operation Christmas Child. You know you can help. 112 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: So it's definitely the body of Christ. You know, it's 113 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: a team and we need each other. But I think 114 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 2: it is culturally different. But as you're talking, I mean 115 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 2: that sounds so much like what the United States is 116 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 2: turning towards, you know. And again our pastor just said, 117 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: you know, we are to comfort the afflicted, but we 118 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:33,239 Speaker 2: need to afflict the comfortable in the church. Before Marina 119 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: met Christ, she had told me that she wasn't just 120 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: neutral towards God, she was an enemy. Her life reminds 121 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: me of Paul, one of the men that wrote most 122 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 2: of the New Testament. I love his testimony and in 123 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 2: next nine it talks about where Paul was persecuting and 124 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: threatening Christians and the Lord intervened in his life, and 125 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 2: first he talked to a man named Annonius. Says Anna answered, 126 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: I have heard many reports about this man and all 127 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 2: the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 128 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: And he has come here with authority from the Chief 129 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: Priest to arrest all who call in your name. But 130 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: the Lord said to Annonius, go, this man is my 131 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 2: chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and 132 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: their kings and to the people of Israel. I will 133 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: show him how much he must suffer for my name. 134 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 2: And again her testimony reminds me of Paul going from 135 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: an enemy of the Lord now on fire for the Lord. 136 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 2: She is daily on the front lines of heavy spiritual 137 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 2: battle with women caught in prostitution, and this story is 138 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,199 Speaker 2: a powerful one of how she came to Christ. And 139 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 2: again it made me realize that this is why she 140 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 2: has such a heart for these women in bondage, because 141 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 2: she was once in bondage herself. Their circumstances are different, 142 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 2: but the bondage is the same. And as you listen, 143 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 2: I want you to reflect on your own story ways 144 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: that you have seen the Lord set you free. Marina 145 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 2: shared her testimony with me and talked about what our 146 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 2: heart posture should be towards those who are enemies of God. 147 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:20,319 Speaker 1: Never give up hope and pray, pray hard. I believe 148 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: that I became a Christian. The reason is my great 149 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: grandmam and she was the only Christian in the family. Wow, 150 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 1: she was ridiculed, was really hard, but she was a 151 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: praying woman. And in the end me and my three 152 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 1: cousins were all believers. Now, so nothing is impossible for 153 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: the Lord. Yeah, And the story is, every time I 154 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,959 Speaker 1: heard something about the Gospel, I said, Okay, that's an 155 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 1: old superstition, and as to fight against it. Now we 156 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: live in the century of science and we can know 157 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: many things and we doesn't we will in the future. 158 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: We don't need God. There is not existing. And so 159 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: I was fighting against that. But in a crisis, and 160 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: a long, long, long crisis, things changed. Since I was preschooler, 161 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 1: I had problems with my weight and I developed eating 162 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: disorder and it was really terrible. I didn't want to 163 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: eat anything. So that was for a long part. Yeah. 164 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 1: After that it changed to the other wing. And in 165 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: the end I got bullymic and it was my own 166 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: hell I made by myself. So that's very true. And 167 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: one night I thought I was not able to live 168 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: another day because in the fight against this disorder, at 169 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: panic attacks I was not able to leave the house, 170 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: or we'll get a telephone something. I had really health 171 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:08,079 Speaker 1: issues with the whole body. It was terrible. And one 172 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 1: day I really thought, okay, or one night, I'm not 173 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: able to face another day and I will end my life. 174 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: I will commit suicide. And I had all the means 175 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: I need to do that, and I had a plan 176 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: in my head and said, okay, I tried everything, nothing works, 177 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: so I will end it because I want everything to end. 178 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: I want this fight to end. And thinking about my plan, 179 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: there was a sentence in my head and it was 180 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: so so ridiculous at the time. You haven't prayed yet. 181 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: What I don't believe in anything? And what means praying 182 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: in so I don't know. But this thought came and 183 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: came and came again and again and again, and at 184 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: some point I said, okay, Lord, if you are God, 185 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: if you exist, do something, because I'm at the end 186 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 1: of my rope. I don't know. And as in any night, 187 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: I fell asleep at some point and next morning I 188 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: always woke up when my husband shut the door, and 189 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: she was a little bit tight, so it was loud, 190 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: some boom and okay, awake and no, my husband is gone, 191 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: and I felt it was every bit of my pot. 192 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: There's somebody in the room. I didn't see anybody, but 193 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 1: I felt it like somebody is standing behind you and 194 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: you can't see that. And I got up and sit 195 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: on my bed, on this bedside, and it's it's unbelievable 196 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: because it is like a warm blanket in the arms 197 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: wrapped around me. And I felt such a piece I 198 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: never felt for a long, long long time. And I 199 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: had a voice in my head. I want you to live, 200 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: and you can't do it with my help. Funny thing 201 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: is somebody much much later ask me, why do you 202 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: know who was speaking? I said, I don't know. It 203 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 1: was beyond any dob clear, that's Jesus. My whole life. 204 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 1: I had the wrong thinking it's not true. God exists 205 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: and I don't know why, but he is interested in 206 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: me and he wants that I but I live, okay. 207 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,079 Speaker 2: I love how the Lord met Marina when she needed 208 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 2: it most. He showed his love to her, and from 209 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 2: that moment on, she desired to live only for him. 210 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 2: Marina had an entirely new outlook. Her life was changed, 211 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 2: and she wanted to learn about God. 212 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: I didn't know anything I know there's a holiday named Christmas, 213 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: that's holiday named Eastern. I don't know anything about that. 214 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: And I said, okay, what to do now? The next 215 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: thought was, I can't tell anybody because they will bring 216 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: me in a mental home. That Sai's so unbelievable. And 217 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: we had a friend of ours who was a Christian 218 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: and she tried to tell me something about Christ and 219 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: she tried once twice and then never again because it 220 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: was really terrible to talk about me with me about that. 221 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: And my first thing was, okay, I have to learn 222 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: to take up telephone again and speak with somebody. And 223 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: I asked her, and after a time, I said, why 224 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: do you ask me all this? And I tried to 225 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: explain and yeah. After that it was clear for me, Okay, 226 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: God exists. Whatever will happen now, he exists. So I 227 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: knocked at the door at the nearest church and said, okay, 228 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: I want to be baptized, not exactly knowing what that means. 229 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: And the pastor asked me, okay, tell me the date 230 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: for your wedding. Is why I'm married. I thought baptism 231 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: is something else, because the pastor is in Germany, there 232 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: is used to baptize people only for the wedding in 233 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: an old church building because it's a nicer surrounding that 234 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: had nothing to do was believe in the mainline church. 235 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: And he was so confused and said, okay, well then 236 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: I have to teach you a few things. I said, yes, 237 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: I want to. He was really not only astonished, he 238 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: was moved because in a long, long time, nobody wants 239 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: to be baptized out of faith. So it was really 240 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: challenge him, sallenge them. And yeah, it was really really great. 241 00:15:56,120 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: And after that I said, okay, now, well prayers, the 242 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: ground sabass and everything else will know. 243 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 2: So wow, no, wonder you have such compassion. I mean, 244 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 2: you understand what it's like to be in bondage and 245 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 2: feel like a prisoner. And again I just kept thinking 246 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 2: the crutch, the dependence. It's different in each of these 247 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 2: different situations and in yours, but it's the same. We're 248 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 2: turning to something, some kind of control, some kind of 249 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 2: fixed dependence, and only Christ can fill that. And I 250 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 2: love that you came to the end of yourself, and 251 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 2: I love again, this is just encouraging to me. We 252 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: can only do so much. It's the Holy Spirit, it's 253 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 2: the power and He is the one that convicts, hearts, 254 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 2: He is the one that intervenes. I mean we, yes, 255 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 2: we are to be obedient, we are to go to 256 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 2: the streets, we are to go to the broken. But 257 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 2: look how he spoke to you. I mean he his 258 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 2: presence was near. And I love that you heard the 259 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 2: voice of the Lord without knowing who he was. And 260 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 2: so that's encouraging for us to pray for these captives, 261 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 2: these people that are in bondage, because their eyes can 262 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 2: be opened again. 263 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: That's the whole new world. 264 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 2: And that's why you know God is using you. And 265 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 2: I just think this is encouraging for so many people. 266 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 2: You're never too far broke gone to be used by 267 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 2: God in fast You look at Paul, look at even James, 268 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 2: who doubted his brother walked with him for so long, 269 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 2: didn't see it. Once he changes your heart and turns 270 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 2: your life around, he can use you in mighty ways. 271 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: Maybe speak to the person listening that says, that's me again. 272 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 2: The crutch is different, the dependence is different. 273 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: What would you say, But if you have a relative 274 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: who doesn't believe and won't hear anything, pray, pray, pray. 275 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: My own father died without Christ he denied till the end, 276 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 1: as I know, and it was a fight, but I sing, okay, 277 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: it's his decision. And I would have loved if he 278 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 1: listened and tried get odd because he too had his 279 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: problems and a share of suffering, but he didn't want 280 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: anything to do with this, and even if he saw 281 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: the changes in my life. So, but the only thing 282 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: we can do is pray. And the Lord is loving 283 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: each one of them much more than we can. 284 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:25,120 Speaker 2: What a powerful testimony. And he definitely saved you out 285 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 2: of such darkness and such desperation. And I think we've 286 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 2: been talking about this lately, as you know. We yes, 287 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 2: Jesus can heal absolutely, but sometimes we're still stuck. We're 288 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 2: here in this world, this broken. So do you still struggle? 289 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 2: I think we just have to die daily. I mean 290 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 2: we're never done. We are healed, you're saved, and you're his. 291 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 2: But talk about the struggle that you still face. When 292 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 2: you face that, what do you do? 293 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: Well? Of course, a struggle eating is something till today. 294 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 1: Who is sometimes difficult when I'm stressed out or something 295 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 1: like that, or I have anxious feelings sometimes really bad, 296 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 1: and I know, yeah, okay, I don't see the way. 297 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 1: And even I think, okay, distract yourself or whatever. No, 298 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: go to the scriptures. Go to the scriptures and read that. 299 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: And so I have my first aid kid with psalms 300 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: and scriptures who really speak to me in such situations. 301 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: And I have I often hear lies in my head 302 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,879 Speaker 1: and now I have a booklet and all the common 303 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: lies that will come up every time I've written them 304 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,959 Speaker 1: on and counted them was Bible truth. And said, okay, 305 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: now you're hearing that. Look at that, because that's wrong. 306 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 1: But it's a fight. And of course sometimes I stumble 307 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: and I fell and then stand up again. I said, okay, 308 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: God is a god of the second third four for 309 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: ranches and so yeah, and you need kind of discipline 310 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: to say, okay, I have to rule my thoughts and 311 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: that's really not easy, but's the only way. And when 312 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: I really have a fighting, anxious thoughts or something like that, 313 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: then I reach out to people I know who are 314 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: praying for me, and I have a prayer team for 315 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: me for myself and said, okay, I share everything with 316 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 1: them and they know what's happening in my life, and 317 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 1: so I can say, okay, I need my praier warriors 318 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,919 Speaker 1: now because I'm fighting. So thank you. 319 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 2: Thank you for your honesty, because I think people hearing say, well, 320 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 2: she's she's got it all figured out and she's you know, 321 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 2: and I just want people to know and I'm not, 322 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 2: But you're right. God's word needs to be our anchor, 323 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 2: our prayer life, and we need community. I think we 324 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 2: tend to isolate when we or if we backslide, we're like, oh, 325 00:20:57,320 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 2: I don't want to share anything with themybody. They'll think 326 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 2: I'm a hypocrite. No, they'll know that you're real. I 327 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 2: love that first aid kit and I love that like 328 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 2: we need to. 329 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: Go back to that all the time. 330 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 2: So you are there any scriptures you can share with us? 331 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 2: They encourage you. 332 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: My one verse I got got for my baptism most 333 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: Jsiah forty three to one. I call you my name. 334 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: You are a mine. And this is something that helps 335 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 1: me every time because I belong to the Lord. He 336 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: told me that you are mine and so I'm not 337 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 1: the one who directs my life. And this verse reminds 338 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: me I have redeemed you, so he did everything and 339 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 1: all the time when I think I have to do anything, 340 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,640 Speaker 1: and then I go back to this verse if I 341 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: have anxious thoughts as oh, no, he told me you 342 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: were a mine. He is the one who's responsible for 343 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 1: you now, and so that's the verse for me, and 344 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: I love that so much. 345 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,919 Speaker 2: I love introducing you to our staff around the world 346 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 2: and allowing you to see their hearts. It's so clear 347 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 2: why the Lord placed Marina in this position for such 348 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,680 Speaker 2: a time as this, and I love it when God 349 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 2: uses our experiences, our struggles, and even our weaknesses for 350 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 2: his glory. And that is what we see all throughout scripture. 351 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 2: God appoints the exact right people at the right time 352 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 2: to accomplish his plans for our good and his glory. 353 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 2: I think of Moses, who said to God, who am I, 354 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 2: that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites 355 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:46,119 Speaker 2: out of Egypt, and the Lord used him despite his 356 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 2: doubt or the lack and his own abilities. Or David, 357 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:54,440 Speaker 2: a shepherd boy who later became a powerful king who 358 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 2: was a man after God's own heart. There are countless 359 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 2: stories and examples God equips us. But it doesn't mean 360 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,360 Speaker 2: that life is going to be easy. We will face hardships, 361 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 2: we will face trials, and as Marina said, she still 362 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 2: experiences hardships and spiritual warfare. But God goes with us. 363 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 2: Hebrews thirteen twenty through twenty one says, Now, may the 364 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 2: God of Peace, who through the blood of the Eternal Covenant, 365 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 2: brought back from the dead our Lord, Jesus Christ, the 366 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,440 Speaker 2: great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good 367 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 2: for doing his will. And may he work in us 368 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 2: what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom 369 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 2: be glory forever and ever. Amen. I just love this 370 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 2: reminder that the Lord will equip us with everything good 371 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 2: to do his will. And when we go back to 372 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 2: verse five and six in the same chapter, the author 373 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 2: reminds us that God will never leave us or forsake us. 374 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 2: Verse six says, so we have this confidence. The Lord 375 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 2: is my helper. I will not be afraid what can 376 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 2: mere mortals do to me? And we don't have to 377 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:09,439 Speaker 2: fear because nothing in this world can touch us. We 378 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 2: have eternity to look forward to, where Jesus will wipe 379 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 2: every tear from her eyes. There will be no more 380 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 2: death or mourning, crying or pain. And again in our 381 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 2: lives here on earth and the here and now, the 382 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 2: Lord will use us to reach others. And I just 383 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 2: love the way that Marina's great grandmother was an example 384 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 2: to her even though she had animosity towards Christianity. And 385 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 2: also love that Marina had a friend who was consistently 386 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 2: sharing the Gospel with her and then one day picked 387 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 2: up the phone and was able to hear that her 388 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 2: friend had encountered Christ. What a miracle. I love Romans 389 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 2: ten thirteen through fourteen that speaks to this. It says, 390 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 2: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will 391 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 2: be saved. How then will they call on him whom 392 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 2: they have not believed, And how are they to believe 393 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 2: in Him of whom they have not heard? And how 394 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 2: are they to hear without someone preaching? And so I 395 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 2: hope this episode encourages you to share the gospel again 396 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 2: and again. Some people need to hear it many times, 397 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:17,400 Speaker 2: and God will use it in his time. Who can 398 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 2: you share the gospel with for the first time? Who 399 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 2: can you remind the gospel again? I think so many 400 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:26,400 Speaker 2: need to hear it multiple times. And next week you're 401 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 2: going to hear more from Marina. You're going to learn 402 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 2: about the projects of our Germany Office like Alabaster Jar. 403 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 2: I know you'll be encouraged by how God used her 404 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 2: and prepared her for the work that she does now. 405 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 2: It's truly a beautiful testimony of how God redeems us 406 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 2: and he uses our weaknesses for his glory. We look 407 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 2: forward to having you back next week. If you know 408 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 2: someone who is struggling today, maybe someone who has surrendered 409 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 2: their life to Jesus, but they're still battling and having 410 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 2: a hard time walking in their new freedom, will you 411 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 2: share this with them. We all need a spiritual first 412 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 2: aid kit, and we need to be reminded to turn 413 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 2: back to Christ over and over again. And even if 414 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 2: someone is walking with the Lord, we all need to 415 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 2: be reminded of this today. So I encourage you to 416 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 2: share this with a friend. If you loved this episode, 417 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 2: search on the ground with Samaritan's Purse wherever you're listening. 418 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 2: We release episodes every week and they encourage you in 419 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:28,159 Speaker 2: your walk with the Lord. They take you to the 420 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 2: front lines and behind the scenes of our work around 421 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 2: the world. Make sure you subscribe. You'll be challenged and 422 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,199 Speaker 2: encouraged in your faith as you hear how God is 423 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 2: actively changing lives. And I'm so excited about an episode 424 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 2: that we're working on right now. It highlights our staff 425 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 2: who have faithfully served and share the Gospel in hard 426 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 2: places like conflict zones. I've learned so much from their 427 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 2: perspective and their perseverance and endurance to run the race 428 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 2: even when it's hard again to find the show. Search 429 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,239 Speaker 2: on the ground with Smaritan's Purse wherever you're listening by 430 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 2: going to samaritanspirst dot org slash explore thank you so 431 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:05,879 Speaker 2: much for tuning in. God bless you.