Sharing Jesus on a Train

Being a Christian is about living so that people who look at you see that something about you is different.

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, Dec. 9. Click here for photos to share while telling the mission story.

Ask a man to present this first-person report by Nikolai Zhukalyuk, 84, a former president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ukraine.

Being a Christian is not about talking the talk. Being a Christian is about living so that people who look at you see that something about you is different. Then they ask questions, and you can reply with enthusiasm because you know the Answer. But if no one asks you anything, then you have no reason to talk.

Active Recruiter

I look for ways to get people to ask questions. I don’t think it is right to start a conversation by discussing the Sabbath or another doctrine. Instead, I want strangers to see that I have something that they need.

The other day, I boarded a train in Lviv [pronounced: Le-VIV] for an overnight trip to Kiev [pronounced: kee-YEHV], the capital of Ukraine. I reserved a bed in a two-person sleeping compartment, and the other passenger turned out to be a woman.

When we first met, I told the woman, “Let’s get acquainted. We are going to be traveling together for quite a few hours. Are you from Lviv, or were you in Lviv on business?”

The woman said, “I am not from Lviv. I am from Kiev, and I am going home.”

I smiled and answered, “I am from Lviv and am traveling to Kiev.”

“Why are you going to Kiev?” she asked, politely curious.

I told her that I am a former church leader and have many friends around the world. When my friends come to Ukraine, they sometimes invite me to meet them in Kiev. I told her that it’s more convenient for them to meet in Kiev, and I’m happy to travel to see them. With these words, I provided a short biography of my life.

Inciting Interest

My words interested the woman. She said, “My name is Nadya. Which church did you help to lead?”

I didn’t answer her immediately. Instead I smiled at her and asked, “Which church do you attend?”

“I don’t go to any church,” she answered. “But I consider myself Orthodox.” Nadya explained that she works as a psychologist and specializes in treating people who have been traumatized by the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. Then she said, “I understand that you aren’t an Orthodox believer. What is the difference between your church and the Orthodox Church?”

“Orthodox believers worship on Sunday, and we worship on Saturday,”
I said.

“What do you mean, you worship
on Saturday?”

“Have you read the Bible?” I asked.

“Yes, of course, I have.”

“Have you heard of the Ten Commandments?”

“Yes,” she said thoughtfully. “Don’t steal. Don’t kill.”

“Well, the Fourth Commandment talks about Saturday,” I said.

The conversation continued for a long time. I realized that we could talk all night, so I finally suggested that we get some sleep. The woman wanted to know more, and she asked whether she could find any of my books in Kiev bookstores. I had mentioned during our conversation that I am the author of 15 books.

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Stay in Touch

The woman expressed disappointment when I said the books were out of print, but I promised to mail her a book if she gave me her contact information. She wrote down her address and phone number.

When we arrived in Kiev the next morning, the woman introduced me to her husband, who was waiting at the train station. She and her husband helped carry my luggage into the train station’s waiting room and told me to call if nobody arrived to pick me up. “We’ll take care of you,” the woman said.

This is mission outreach! Now I have a new friend who is interested in learning more about God and His truths. I will continue to converse with her.

Your mission offerings help provide literature and books to those around the world who hunger to know the truth. Thank you for remembering the church’s mission in your prayers and with your Sabbath School mission offerings.

Nikolai Zhukalyuk is 84 years old and a former president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ukraine. He was jailed for two years in Soviet times for his faith. Read more about him here.

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