Vitali grew up in a small village in the heart of Central Asia, near the place where three countries meet. His childhood was simple and happy—filled with love, laughter, and the warmth of close-knit family life. To him, his village felt like the best place in the world.
Years went by, and Vitali married and became a father. Life seemed good—until the collapse of the Soviet Union. When the USSR fell apart, old ethnic and cultural divisions resurfaced, leading to violent conflicts across the region. It was a time of bloodshed and fear. The war left behind devastation, poverty, and hunger. Vitali felt lost and empty. Life seemed meaningless.
One day, his mother told him that some Christians had come to their village and started a small Bible study group. They were reading the Bible and singing songs about God. Vitali wasn’t interested. With so many problems in life, how could anyone waste time on such things? But his mother kept urging him to go, so eventually, just to please her, he agreed to attend one meeting.
There, Vitali met people who spoke about Isa—Jesus—with peace and hope in their eyes. They even helped him find a job as an electrician’s assistant on a construction site. Slowly, life began to improve. Through friendship and conversations with these believers, Vitali came to know Jesus personally. One day, he prayed and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. Outwardly, little changed—but inside, everything was new. He experienced peace, joy, and a sense of purpose he had never known before.
Vitali soon felt called to serve God full-time. But following Jesus in a Muslim-majority community was dangerous. Radical groups were active, and Christians were often targeted.
One Sunday, tragedy struck. A bomb exploded in the church during worship. Many were killed, and even more were wounded. Vitali survived without a scratch—but he was shaken to his core. Terrified and overwhelmed, he decided he would never go back. As he walked toward the exit, determined to leave church and ministry behind, he saw a young girl covered in blood—blood from the injured she had been carrying out of the collapsed building.
She looked at him and said, “They want to scare us, but I will keep coming to church and serving my Lord and Savior—even if it costs me my life. I am not ashamed of Jesus.”
Her courage pierced Vitali’s heart. He realized he had been ready to run while this young girl stood firm in faith. Her words reminded him that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
That moment changed him forever. Vitali renewed his commitment to serve the Lord, no matter the cost. He began ministering boldly in his community, helping others stand strong in their faith. Realizing he needed deeper training to be more effective, he enrolled at Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI).Today, Vitali leads a thriving congregation in one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. Despite constant risks, he continues to serve faithfully, trusting God to guide and protect him.
