Pilot Changes Course

Irina Bolotnikova and Barbara Huff

Alexei Salnikov was born to fly. His father, a military pilot and air force colonel, often took him into the cockpit of military planes with him when he flew. His father wanted Alexei to follow in his military footsteps, and that suited Alexei quite well.

Alexei attended a military secondary school where he parachuted for the first time when he was 14 and flew solo at age 15. In spite of the promise of a bright future in the military, Alexei felt that something was missing from his life.

Fly With God

Alexei had lots of friends, but the emptiness in his life left him feeling hollow. He had often heard pilots tell each other, "Fly with God," and he wondered how God fit into his life. He began searching for spiritual fulfillment. He visited his parents' church, but he found no answers there. Then one day in the marketplace an old woman gave him a piece of paper. It was an invitation to attend religious lectures.

Alexei decided to attend the lectures, and from the first meeting he realized that he had found what he was searching for. His military training had taught him to be sure that he could stand by a decision before he committed himself. During the meetings Alexei made a wholehearted commitment to Christ.

Because he was in his last year of military school, he was able to arrange his work assignments to have Sabbaths off. However, it was difficult to attend evening meetings, which often ended after the military base closed. He prayed that the sentries would not see him as he sneaked onto the base after hours.

The pastor and church members supported and nurtured Alexei's growing faith and helped him meet the challenges that he faced. The pastor also helped Alexei to understand what his conversion would mean to his future military career. It would be very difficult to keep the Sabbath in the Russian military.

But leaving the military posed even greater challenges. Alexei had signed a contract with the government. The government agreed to pay his educational expenses if he would work in the military for six years after graduation. However, if Alexei broke the contract, he would have to repay the government for his schooling. And this would be impossible to do.

Visit Home

Soon after his baptism Alexei went home on leave. He had told his parents that he had become a Christian, but they were not sure how this decision would affect his life or plans for the future. His parents began questioning him about what he believed. His father even asked for Alexei's Bible. He wanted to compare it with his own Bible, to be sure the two were identical. His father also worried that Alexei would want to leave the military school, but Alexei assured his parents that he would not quit school.

The more Alexei prayed about his future, the more he realized that he could not be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian in the military. There were Sabbathkeeping conflicts, especially if the country went to war, but also he saw the potential for such a full schedule that he would have no time to nurture his young faith. He prayed that God would provide a way out of what he saw as an impossible situation.

Unexpected Announcement

Then just weeks before his graduation, military commanders came to the school and announced that because of a reduction of military forces, no jobs were available for the new graduates. The students' response to the news ranged from disappointment and frustration to open anger, but Alexei's response was one of gratitude. "Hearing this announcement was like a voice of thunder from heaven," he said. "I knew that God had provided a way out of the military. The government broke the contract; I did not. Therefore, I would not have to repay my education expenses."

The school sent students home for a short leave to give them time to resolve their unemployment problems. When Alexei arrived home and explained the situation, his father offered to use his influence and close friends in high positions to help Alexei find work as a pilot. Alexei did not want to disappoint his father, so he said nothing. But he prayed that God would intervene. And in spite of his father's efforts, he was not able to find a position for Alexei in the military.

Sabbath Problems

Alexei returned to the school to take his final exams. Nearly all students had exams on Sabbath, but somehow, through God's intervention, Alexei did not even have to ask for a Sabbath exemption.

But graduation was scheduled for Sabbath. Alexei did not feel that he could take part in the ceremony, but to refuse was equal to disobeying a superior officer's orders. Again he prayed.

A large group of students were still upset about the government canceling their contract. They decided to demonstrate during the graduation ceremony. When the commanding officers learned of their plans, they told the students that if they did not want to attend the graduation they would be excused. Alexei hurried to tell his commander that he could not participate in the graduation because of religious beliefs, not because of the government's actions. He was excused from graduation.

Someone suggested that Alexei consider attending Zaoksky Theological Seminary to prepare for the ministry. It sounded wonderful to Alexei, but he had no money, and his parents were not willing to support him. He wondered how it would be possible to study full time.

Alexei decided to visit the pastor who baptized him and ask for his counsel. When he rang the bell at the pastor's house, the pastor opened the door and greeted him with the words, "You're an answer to my prayer! How did you get here? I have been praying that God would send you here! The local conference is willing to partially sponsor you to study at Zaoksky as a ministerial student." This news was another answer to Alexei's prayers. Now he could study full time and prepare to serve God.

Alexei's father wants his younger brother to prepare for a military career, but he has refused. He supports Alexei's decision to become a minister, though he has not made a commitment to Christ yet. Alexei prays that God will protect his brother, now 14 years old, from the world's influence.

When Alexei returns home for vacations, his father peppers him with questions about what he is learning as the two work together in the family garden or make repairs on their home. Alexei's father listens to him, but he is still skeptical. His mother has begun attending church. Alexei talks with his younger brother, too, trying to encourage him to stand for what he knows is right and not fall into the habits of the world or his peers.

Alexei is excited about the next chapter in his life. He does not know exactly what his future holds, but he knows Who holds his future!

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Irina Bolotnikova is assistant to the director of the Ellen G. White Research Center at Zaoksky Adventist Seminary. At the time of writing, Barbara Huff was administrative secretary for the Euro-Asia Division in Moscow, Russia.

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