Work with orphanage graduates
The Power of Prayer
Agape Ministries has an Adaptation Center for Orphanage Graduates in the city of Berdyansk. There are 6 young men living there, 6 orphans. They came to live at the Center out of a desire for change in their lives. They’ve accepted Christ as their personal Savior, been baptized and are now actively serving the Lord and ministering to others. They take part in music ministry at their church; they do street witnessing in surrounding villages, and share their testimonies in churches.
Recently, Andrei Kulinich, one of the guys living at the Adaptation Center spoke at a church in Berdyansk. He shared of God’s working in his life...
“This is something that took place quite recently: I was in the city of Energodar. My mother had lived there. She lived a very rough life and as a result, was deprived of her parental rights. She ended up drinking herself to death. She had owned an apartment, and I had to go to Energodar to complete the documentation needed to transfer ownership of the apartment to my younger brother and myself.
Over that weekend, I visited a local church. I shared my testimony there of how I had come to faith in Christ, and about the work of Agape Ministries, who serve people like me. My story touched many hearts, and I saw quite a few people crying before I was done.
The service came to a close and there were lots of people who came up and talked with me. There were many words of encouragement, approval, kindness and love. As the crowd cleared out and the sanctuary was almost empty, one older lady approached me; she had lots of detailed questions about my childhood. She was curious about where I’d lived in Energodar, who my mother had been, etc. I told her as much as I remembered.
She said, “Child, I’ve been praying for you for years and years! I ran into this woman one day, carrying a toddler and pulling his older brother along by the hand. I could see that she was drunk and in quite bad shape, so I stopped and did what I could to help her. I also invited her to church and gave her the address... but she never came. It was your mother I met that day, with you and your little brother. You in particular were just so precious that I couldn’t get you out of my mind and heart for the longest time. The Lord used that to prompt me to pray for you. For years now, I’ve been praying constantly, crying out to the Lord for your salvation.
Can you imagine my joy when you got up and shared your testimony?!
...Oh Lord, how good You are to us! What a blessing, what a joy - You’ve shown me once again that You do hear my prayers! You’ve answered my prayers for this boy, and I praise You for it!...
Dearest Andrei, my child! Always cling to the Lord, be grateful to Him - He’s made you His child and heir to His kingdom! Serve Him for all of your life! May you be blessed by Him!”
We parted after exchanging phone numbers. For the longest time it was like I was in shock - I just couldn’t pull myself together.
Lord, if not for this woman... who knows where I might be today? You truly are sovereign. You guide our thoughts, actions, and desires. Thank You, Lord. Bless this dear woman’s life... and help me remain faithful to you until the end of my life. Amen”.
(Elena Vazhnichenko of Agape Ministries recorded Andrei’s story)
