On a trip to Central Asia, I met Darya at a café. She is studying theology for her diploma, which is supported by donors and intercessors from Danish European Mission. While we have a cup of coffee, I ask her to tell her story.
”When I was 12 years old, my mother was invited to church for Easter service by a friend. My mother took me, and I attended the children's meeting. I listened attentively as they told the Easter message of Jesus” death and resurrection. As I sat and listened, I experienced God touching me.
”As we walked home from church, I told my mother that I had accepted Jesus, and tears streamed down my cheeks, and I felt great joy. My mother said that she didn't feel anything special, but that we could go to church again. We went to church a couple of times, but my father and grandmother were against it, and said ”it's not our religion,” so my mother didn't want to go to church anymore, and I was forbidden to go there.
”I was very sad about that. But I didn't forget the experience, and sometimes, when I was having a hard time, I thought about it,” smiles Darya.
Teenage years with an eating disorder, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and obsessive thoughts
”When I became a teenager, I developed many complexes and suffered from an eating disorder and anxiety. My relationship with my family was strained, and I was bullied at school.
”When I turned 16, I started to seek solace in alcohol and parties, but it didn't help me.
”My eating disorder worsened, and I started suffering from nightmares, panic attacks, and sleep paralysis, so I sometimes experienced sleep paralysis 5-6 times a night, and in the morning, I had no desire to live at all!.
”I was having hallucinations, and one night a voice told me to get up and jump out the window, but on my way there, I woke up and stopped!”.
During the consultation, the psychiatrist suddenly said, “Have you tried turning to God?"
My mother took me to various psychologists and psychiatrists. But they said nothing was seriously wrong, and just prescribed antidepressant medication, which just made me feel even more down.
”One day my mother said to me, "Let's try another psychiatrist I've heard good things about.".
We went there, and during the consultation, the psychiatrist suddenly said: Have you tried contacting God?
When we got home, my mother thought it was okay for me to go to church because the psychiatrist had said those words.
Darya accepts Jesus
”The same week I attended a youth meeting at the church, and here I met young Christians whom I came to like.”
”I started going to church for youth meetings, and sometimes for services, and one day during worship I experienced God touching me!
It was overwhelming for me, and I subsequently accepted Jesus into my heart.
”Imagine God not rejecting me, but meeting me with love, grace, and acceptance. Me, who felt ashamed and unworthy! It was an enormous joy for me, and just like when I had an encounter with God at the age of 12, I went home with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart.
”The great changes that God brought about in my life also opened my mother's eyes, so she accepted Jesus, and today she is a personal Christian who loves Jesus.”
”Life with Jesus was a completely new beginning! Suddenly, life started to make sense, and God healed my broken heart.
”I read the Bible every day, and many Christians prayed for me, and within a few weeks, I received a deep peace and joy in my heart, and with that, the fear, suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, obsessive thoughts, and sleep paralysis disappeared.
”Imagine a full night's sleep! I had actually forgotten what it felt like to sleep normally!”.
”The great changes God brought about in my life also opened my mother's eyes, so she accepted Jesus, and today she is a personal Christian who loves Jesus,” says Darya happily.
”At that time, I was 19 years old, and little by little, I started serving and helping out in the church. First among teenagers, and later youth work. I am now 26 years old and am currently responsible for the youth work in the church.
”Ever since I accepted Jesus, I've experienced a lot with God. Last summer, God healed me of intestinal problems, and God also healed my little sister of a cyst, and that led her to believe in Jesus,” Darya smiles.
”Several of my old friends have also come to believe in Jesus and are now serving in our church, or in other churches in our city.
What do you think about theological diploma programs, and what do you want to use them for?
Today, Darya is studying theology with support from Danish European Mission donors. The educational program is structured in modules, where students gather twice a year for a few weeks of intensive teaching, while during the year they can serve in the church and study at home. Through theological studies, the young convert church is equipped to become self-sustainable and to take on leadership responsibilities.
”Studying theology has broadened my horizons,” she smiles. ”It also gives me a good, healthy, and solid biblical foundation. Subjects like biblical interpretation, dogmatics, and ecclesiology have given me a clearer theological understanding. It is a great blessing from God for me, and I would like to say a big thank you for your support.".
”My wish is to serve God and share with others what God gives me. The education equips me to better prepare my sermons and Bible teachings within our cultural context. My wish is also to equip others to serve God.
