Christian mayor excited about
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| n “I love the large-print Bible!”says Mayor Tamara Kryukova |
“When the missionaries and the Bible Society came in 1999 it resulted in many changes to the lives of our people. We can see the difference in people’s attitudes and I can also tell the difference in myself,” explains Mrs Kryukova.
Mrs Kryukova first became interested in Christianity in 1995 following a brief visit to the village by missionaries. She was baptised and received a Bible – “but that was it,” she says. “It did not help me – there were no changes in my life. I started to read the Bible but I could not understand it.”
And because the missionaries left so soon after her conversion, she had nobody to turn to so she gave up. But four years later, when missionary Valerei Mekheev arrived, she knew something was different.
Different
“When Valerei and his assistant came, we could see that they were different from us,” she says. “When they met people, they spent time with them, finding out what their problems were. The most important thing was that they were bringing God’s Word and something started to change in my heart.”
After talking with the missionaries, and the Bible Society team which brought Scriptures for the villagers, she began studying the Bible in earnest, and in October 2000 became a Christian.
“I still might not understand everything in the Bible but I read it and each time I find something new and important that speaks to my heart,” she says.
Her greatest desire is that the people of her village all come to know Jesus Christ, but she knows that this will take time.
“Originally these people worshipped idols,” she says. “Their fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers all worshipped these idols. So they don’t feel comfortable when they talk to Christians.
“There are still followers of the old ways who give us difficulties – some even try to keep children from going to Bible Study.”
Proud
Even so, the church in Sulomai is growing, and it is this aspect of her village of which she is most proud.
“More people are coming to the church, so we need more Bibles,” she told Alexei Bulatov, Director of the Siberian Branch of the Bible Society, who brought another consignment of Scriptures to the village in August. “When a lady accepted Christ two days ago, there was no Bible to give her. But now that you have come, she can receive a Bible!”
She expressed her thanks to the Bible Society for providing Scriptures through O-21, especially the large-print editions and the Children’s Bible.
“Many people use the Children’s Bible before they start reading the Bible,” she points out. “It helps them get closer to the Bible because it is in very clear language. And I love the large-print Bible! You just open it – and there it is!” (SR 28/8 - 2.02) [PHOTOS]