Ruslan's Mission

One of the countries in the Euro-Asia Division is Ukraine. Ukraine has many Adventist believers, but there are cities with only a few Adventists and many people who have never heard the message of God's love. In one of these cities in southern Ukraine an evangelist held a series of meetings. While the adults attended their meetings some Pathfinders held meetings for children.

The children loved the special programs planned just for them. Every night the Pathfinders taught the children to sing songs about Jesus and helped the teachers tell Bible stories. The children enjoyed the meetings, and it seemed all of them wanted to be a part of the Pathfinder Club.

Ruslan, the Muslim Boy

One of the children who came to the meetings was Ruslan [ROOS-lahn]. Ruslan's parents lived outside the city, so Ruslan and his brother stayed with their grandparents in the city, where they could attend school. Ruslan's family were Muslims. They had moved to Ukraine from another country in the former Soviet Union.

Ruslan came to the children's meetings every evening. He made new friends and really enjoyed what the Pathfinders taught. He especially enjoyed the stories about Jesus. Ruslan was so excited about the children's programs that he had invited his school friends to come. Nine of his friends attended the meetings because of Ruslan's invitation.

But Ruslan's grandfather learned that his Muslim grandson was attending Christian meetings, and he was not happy. He shouted at Ruslan and spanked him with his belt. He threatened to give Ruslan another beating if the boy returned to the Christian meetings.

Ruslan cried from the pain of the spanking. He was sorry that his grandparents were upset with him, because he knew they loved him. But he did not understand why it was wrong to go to the meetings. He told his grandparents, "I have learned to love Jesus at these meetings, and I want to continue going."

Ruslan's Plan

Grandfather was worried when he heard Ruslan's words. He called Ruslan's parents and told them about the boy's determination to attend Christian meetings. His parents were very concerned and suggested that the grandparents lock Ruslan in the house when he came home from school. But Ruslan overheard what his grandfather told his grandmother, and he decided on a plan. He would not return home after school, but would go straight to the church and wait for the meeting to start. His plan meant that he would miss dinner, and surely he would have a spanking awaiting him when he returned home after the meeting, but he decided that going hungry and receiving a spanking were worth learning about Jesus.

The next day Ruslan went to the church after school and waited for the meeting to begin. By the time the meeting started, Ruslan was very hungry. But his desire to attend the meeting was stronger than the hungry growling in his stomach.

When Ruslan came home that night, his grandparents asked him where he had been. He told them he had been to the children's meeting. They asked what he had learned at the meeting. Ruslan repeated the Bible stories the Pathfinders had shared and told them what activities they had enjoyed. Ruslan was glad that his grandparents were interested in what was happening during the meetings. And to his surprise, Ruslan received dinner and no spanking.

Surprising Turn

Ruslan's grandmother decided she should go with him to the meeting to see what the people did that was so attractive to her grandson. Then she could decide whether the meetings were good or bad. Ruslan agreed to return home after school and take his grandmother with him to the meeting. When they arrived, he introduced her to the Pathfinders who were leading out.

Ruslan's grandmother enjoyed the meeting as much as Ruslan. She thought, Ruslan is such a good boy! He could be playing in the streets or getting into trouble with some of the other children, but he comes to this program with such well-behaved children.

The next day Ruslan's grandmother and grandfather both went with him to the meeting. Ruslan's face shone with happiness when the pastor announced that there would be a baptism for those who wanted to join the church. Ruslan's grandmother had been to only one meeting, but she told the pastor that she wanted to learn more about the Christians' God. Grandfather and Ruslan asked to be baptized too.

Ruslan and some of his friends from school joined the Pathfinder Club, and some of the boys began to attend church. Ruslan and his friends hope that their parents will want to come to the church and learn about God, just as Ruslan's grandparents did.

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