“I was never an atheist. I believed that God was there, but I thought it was definitely not Jesus. I’ve had a busy life - alcohol, lust, betrayal, depression. I had a lot of good things too, but I wasn’t happy. I remember sitting on the air conditioner on the 11th floor, looking down at the street. 

Nothing stopped me from following or searching for God before, I just didn’t want to. I thought that what Christians believed was funny. 

Then last July, after a performance in one of the Kyiv cafes, I met a guy named Kolya, from the Steiger team. He didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, didn’t use drugs like I did. He became a very good friend of mine, but in the beginning all I knew was that Kolya was a designer and that he lived at the house where I had just performed for a party.

After meeting him and the team, I felt all warm inside and knew I wanted to spend more time with them. Kolya invited me to visit, and I felt accepted as if I was a friend they’d always known. So I began to come more often. I knew they believed in Jesus, but they weren’t what I imagined Christians to be like - hating unbelievers and saying that God would put me in a fiery cauldron.

Even though I was comfortable with them, I still didn’t go to their Bible Study for the Non-Religious or their Sunday Services because I was scared. Then one day, I just decided to go. And I liked it! When the intense power outages started in Kyiv due to shelling, I asked if I could stay in the house for a while because I had a lot of school work to do and I didn’t have any light at home. While I stayed there, I attended the Bible Study and the Sunday service and dug into the question, ‘Is God really there?’ If He is, who is He?’

Zhenya poses with his new Bible - a gift from the Steiger Team.

I started helping set up events and spending even more time with the team. In that season of my life, this community became a life jacket for me that helped me not to drown. I prayed and asked God for more signs and answers. And I heard from Him. God would speak to me in different ways and at one point I just felt like I truly believed in Him. I had to repent. It was an event that brought so much joy to me and everyone - as if a baby had been born. I felt like the happiest person on Earth and asked God to walk with me by the hand.

I’m on the Steiger Team now, serving God and learning how to live a new way. I am so thankful to God for this rescue and for the people He has sent me. I have found true friends and a support system. And now I want to give people the light that God gave to me.” - Zhenya

This is why we will continue to go where the Global Youth Culture is. It’s why we will step through fear, love relentlessly, boldly share the Gospel, and walk the long road of discipleship. Praise God for Zhenya and the freedom and joy he’s found in Christ!