Seaman Becomes Soldier for Christ

Barbara Huff

Even as a child living in the Ukraine, Felix loved the sea. He read books about sailing and dreamed of the day he could become a sea captain. He loved listening to stories that his seafaring relatives brought back from their tours of duty.

When Felix was 16 years old and in the eleventh grade, he read a book that changed his life. The book described how early Christians suffered and died for their faith. Felix was impressed with their dedication and felt that he owed God his worship. But he wondered, How do I worship a God I don't even know? He wished that God would show him how to serve Him.

Encounter With God

A few months later Felix saw a poster advertising evangelistic meetings. He attended the first meeting and liked what he heard, so he invited his mother to go with him to the rest of the meetings. Mother and son attended the meetings together, and when the invitation was given to join a Bible study class, they both joined. He and his mother were baptized a year later. Felix was amazed at how God answered his simple question "How can I worship a God I don't know?"

After Felix graduated from high school, he had to choose a career to follow. He chose to follow his lifelong dream of becoming a merchant marine and enrolled in a local marine academy.

Although Felix did not face Sabbath problems during his first semester at college, he soon realized that he would face situations in which he would have to choose between his religious beliefs and his career. His friends understood that Felix held a deep faith in God. They respected his faith, but when he shared his concern about keeping the Sabbath in the merchant marines, they told him that on merchant vessels everyone works seven days a week. He would not be able to find a post on a ship if he refused to work on Sabbaths.

Felix was determined to not compromise his faith, but every passing week brought doubts that he would be able to follow his dreams into the merchant marines. But not knowing what else to do, he continued his studies in order to complete his college education.

Part of his required studies included terms of sea duty as well as academic studies. Some of these tours of duty lasted between one to three months at sea. One of the teachers who accompanied the students on these tours of duty had sympathy for Felix and his desire to keep the Sabbath. He helped Felix schedule his work assignments to have the Sabbath off. On other tours he was able to trade work assignments with other students, and thus have Sabbaths free to worship God. However, before he graduated from the naval academy, Felix realized that if he was going to be a faithful follower of God, he would have to give up his dream to become a sea captain.

A New Work

During summer breaks from school, Felix returned home to help his pastor work in the local church. The church members saw his dedication to God and asked him to become a deacon. His home pastor learned that the conference was looking for a pastor for a small church of 35 members. He urged the conference leadership to consider letting Felix lead the church during his summer break. The conference saw Felix's active participation in his home church and invited him to pastor the little church in a nearby village.

At first Felix was not sure that he was ready to accept the call. He had so much to learn before he could lead others. He was tempted to tell the leaders no, but his pastor urged him to try. "Perhaps this is God's will for your life," his pastor said. So Felix accepted the challenge.

Although the church was small, its members were active evangelists, going from door to door, selling books and sharing their faith with anyone who was interested. Felix enthusiastically joined them in this work, and the little group met nearly everyone who lived in 50 nearby villages!

Felix stayed on to work with this church group for a year after his graduation from naval academy. One day the conference leaders invited Felix to come to their office to talk about his work. When Felix arrived, the conference president welcomed him. "I am impressed with your work, Felix," he smiled, "and I want to know what plans you have for the future."

A Chance to Study

Felix hesitated. He had recently been asked to take over the literature evangelism leadership in the conference, but the offer had come as a surprise, and Felix did not feel prepared to give an answer at the time. The conference president again offered Felix the literature ministry leadership position, but then he added, "Or would you rather go to Zaoksky Theological Seminary and study for the ministry?"

Felix felt his heart beating faster. He had dreamed and prayed about going to the seminary to study, but his finances would never be adequate to pay his tuition and expenses. The president knew what Felix was thinking and told him, "I was at Zaoksky last week, and I have learned that the school has some scholarships available for young people such as you. If you are interested in studying there, I will recommend you for one of the scholarships."

Without hesitation Felix answered that he would like to study. Felix traveled to Zaoksky and took his entrance exams. Then he returned home to the Ukraine, for he had some important business to attend to.

The pastor of his home church has a daughter, Lilia, whom Felix met when she came home for school vacations. Lilia is a talented musician, with interest in teaching music and directing choirs. Felix asked Lilia to marry him, and the couple returned to Zaoksky immediately. On their honeymoon Lilia took her entrance exams to study English and religion while Felix studies theology.

Lilia immediately became involved in directing one of the school's musical groups, which specializes in traditional Russian musical instruments, including the balalaika [bah-lah-LIE-kah]. In addition to their studies, both Felix and Lilia work part time to pay their expenses.

Felix and Lilia are an example of the outstanding students who are enrolled at Zaoksky Theological Seminary. In the economy of the Euro-Asian Division, it is impossible for a student to attend the seminary without a scholarship, many of which are provided by sacrificial gifts from donors around the world who may never travel to Russia, and may never meet the students they are helping to prepare to fill a place in God's service.

Appeal

The entire special projects portion of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will go to pay for a multipurpose auditorium and gymnasium that Zaoksky Theological Seminary desperately needs, not only to provide a place where the students and staff can meet together, but to meet the government's requirements to retain their educational licenses with the government. Ask God what sacrificial gift you should give to help meet this pressing need.

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Felix Ponyatovski and his wife, Lilia, continue to study at Zaoksky. Barbara Huff was administrative assistant of the Euro-Asia Division when she wrote this story.

This story originally appeared in the adult edition of Mission, 3rd quarter 2001, edited by Charlotte Ishkanian. Used by permission.