Vladic, The Little Preacher

Three-year-old Vladic [VLAH-deek] sat very still during the meetings his grandmother took him to. He did not understand everything the pastor said, but he knew that the messages were important.

On the walk home after the meetings, Vladic often asked Grandmother questions about things he did not understand. When Grandmother did not know the answers to his questions, she would ask the pastor.

Vladic's grandmother had grown up in Russia during the time when people could not worship God in freedom. Grandmother loved Jesus and decided to be baptized.

Vladic wanted to be baptized too, but the pastor explained to him that 3 years old is a little young to be baptized, but he was just the right age to love and follow Jesus.

Vladic told his parents that he wanted to follow Jesus. But his parents were not Christians. His mother told him to forget about his interest in religion. "An old woman can believe what she wants to," Mother said. "But little boys must do what their mother tells them." Vladic was not so easily persuaded. He would follow Jesus, no matter what.

Because Vladic's parents worked, Vladic went with his grandmother to church on Sabbath. Vladic had never been to Sabbath School before. It was different from the evangelistic meetings he and Grandmother had attended. The teacher asked questions about Bible stories that Vladic did not know. Vladic asked Grandmother to help him learn the stories quickly, so he could answer the questions with the other children.

Every day Vladic and Grandmother studied the Bible lesson together. On Sabbath Vladic could answer all of the teacher's questions. His teacher was surprised that this little boy had learned so much so quickly.

Teaching Mother

Vladic liked to tell his mother what he had learned in Sabbath School and while studying with Grandmother. Sometimes his mother asked him questions, which he was happy to answer. When Vladic could not answer the questions, he asked his grandmother. When Grandmother did not know the answer, Vladic asked his Sabbath School teacher.

Vladic's mother was surprised at how much Vladic had learned about God so quickly. She decided to see Vladic's Sabbath School for herself.

The next Sabbath Mother told Vladic that she was going with him to visit his Sabbath School. Vladic was delighted. He took her to meet his Sabbath School teacher. Then he took her to the adult Sabbath School to be with Grandmother. Mother liked the Bible lesson that the Sabbath School studied, and she decided to attend Sabbath School every week.

Mother learned to love Jesus and decided to be baptized, just as Grandmother had been. She told the church members that her first teacher had been her little son, Vladic.

God's Call to a Child

When Vladic heard this, he decided that God was calling him to preach. After church he asked the pastor to teach him how to preach. The pastor knelt down and looked into Vladic's eyes. "Do you really think God wants you to be a preacher?"

"Yes, Pastor, I do," Vladic said.

"Then I will help you learn." And he did.

Since Vladic could not yet read, the pastor taught him how to remember the points of his sermon. Soon Vladic was preaching short sermons. When the pastor held evangelistic series, he took Vladic along to preach too. By the time Vladic was 6 years old, even before he started first grade, he could preach for 15 minutes on nearly any topic the pastor assigned. He carried his Bible just as the pastor did, and opened it as he quoted the Bible verses he had memorized. Word of the little boy preacher spread, and many people came to hear him. They stayed to hear the pastor's message.

After one such program a woman came to the pastor and told him, "Before today I was ashamed to talk about Jesus to my friend. But this child is not afraid. I have decided that I must never miss an opportunity to talk about Jesus."

Vladic is 11 years old now, and he still loves to preach, for preaching is his favorite way to worship God.

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