Read Anastasia's story of the transformation from an Eastern Orthodox Church attender (similar to the Catholic Church) to a spirit filled Jesus follower!..............
Born and raised in Eastern Europe, I was initially labeled a Christian. That's how it works with the Eastern Orthodox Church – you're baptised as an infant. But as I got older, I realised that knowing you're a Christian isn't the same as living as one. Questions about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and what He has done for us were a mystery to me.
We would go to church sometimes, mainly on Easter and Christmas. The priest would sprinkle our holiday bread and ourselves with water, thinking it made us more holy. But, unfortunately, it felt more like going along with the crowd than a personal belief. Sometimes we would even buy a "special" candle and say prayers to the saints, but we were missing the bigger picture. Looking back, I see how easy it was to get lost in traditions and rituals that didn't help me understand my faith. I didn't even realise I was on a spiritual path. Everyone, including me, lived their normal lives and only ‘switched’ on their Christianity when it was needed: holidays, desperation and troubles.
Throughout my life, even when I didn't think about God, I know He has always been there with and for me.
I was two people during my school, college, and university years. By day, I was the perfect student. By night, I dove headfirst into the wild world of parties, dating, and teenage adventures. But then, life threw a curveball. A series of heart-wrenching events shattered our family. My aunt passed away too young, my parent's marriage ended in divorce, my sibling moved to another country, extended family members did not talk to each other, etc. It felt like everything around me was crumbling. I was lost, not knowing what to do or how to act. Above all, I felt alone.
One day, my mom mentioned a new church she'd been visiting. At first, I was skeptical and a bit angry. In our country, anything not Orthodox was considered strange, even cult-like. But curiosity won over, and I decided to see for myself. Going to that Baptist church with my mom was a game-changer. There, I started understanding God in a way I never had before. I realised how much I didn't know about Him, how ignorant I was! Then, during an Easter celebration, something unique happened - I gave my heart to Jesus. To seal this newfound faith, my mom and I were baptised together in a river that May. Yes, it was my second baptism, but it felt different this time. It felt right.
My spiritual journey was a challenging ride. After getting baptised, I tried to handle school, friends, old habits, and my new relationship with God. Sometimes, I was too scared to talk about God or Jesus. As a result, I led a double life - acting like the perfect Christian, being a youth team leader and having a different life outside the church. But it was hard. I often felt upset with myself for messing up, but I kept trying to improve, facing each day with its good and bad moments.
In a nutshell, I moved to New Zealand, and my bond with God took a backseat. I was in a long-term relationship with someone who didn't share my faith, and I made choices that, in hindsight, weren't the best. Then, after a few years, my conscience started urging me back towards God. Interestingly, people from different churches kept popping up in my life. I'd visit churches occasionally, and then a shift happened after a trip back home. After returning, I strongly wanted to bring meaningful change into my life.
In a bold move, I ended my relationship and openly talked about my faith. I decided if anyone, friends or family, didn't like it, that was their choice. Finally, I was ready to be accepted for who I indeed was. Back then, I didn't have a home or money, but I trusted that God would provide and that he wouldn't abandon me. I was filled with joy and the sense of the Holy Spirit guiding my choices, making me feel fearless and unstoppable.
Then, I met a wonderful man who is now my husband. He invited me to his church; we've been growing in faith together since then. After that, I found a full-time job and a decent place to live, and everything started falling into place.
In time, we moved to the Bay of Plenty and began attending the local BBC church. A couple of years in, conversations and books about sin, spiritual bondage, and deliverance started appearing in my life, almost like a message from God. One of our church pastors introduced me to a prayer ministry, where amazing stories of people finding freedom for their bodies, soul, and spirit through Jesus were shared. I realised this was a calling I couldn't ignore.
Chatting with Kate and her prayer group made me realise how many personal problems I'd been dragging around for years. I used to think these struggles were just part of being a Christian. However, the weight of fear, guilt, shame, and feelings of worthlessness kept piling up. Past mistakes, criticisms, and self-doubt started to play on repeat in my mind. I kept thinking about my childhood exposure to explicit content, my experiments with yoga, and even some spooky games that felt a lot like witchcraft and so on. I had no idea back then that these things could negatively impact my soul, spirit, and mind.
I couldn't understand why I was repenting for my sins, but nothing changed time after time. But what I didn't know was that I was in spiritual bondage. I recognised the importance of confiding in someone who would not pass judgment. I sought someone who could guide me in using the power of Jesus in prayer to liberate myself from these burdens. I gained a new understanding of what the enemy wanted me to feel and be.
After the prayer session, it was as if a towering mountain had been lifted off my shoulders - what an incredible relief! I was basking in God's joy, a feeling I hadn't encountered in quite some time. My mind felt clear, devoid of guilt, and filled with a profound sense of peace. For once, I thought I was enough, and though the chains of bondage and sin were broken, there was no condemnation! The Holy Spirit was present, and it felt that the enemy just fell apart, and nothing could stand God's power and His presence.
I understood how important it was to remember that our Heavenly Father, our Almighty God, is the ultimate source of strength and power. He's already conquered the darkness, emerged victorious from every battle, and continues to do so. Therefore, all I need to do is entrust myself to His everlasting presence, put on the protective armour of God, and declare His Truth!
I needed to accept that I, on my own, couldn't wage war against the enemy, but He Could! The spiritual journey isn't a walk in the park, but when you have The Father in Heaven walking beside you - all things will turn out for good. So then, armed with this renewed courage and certainty, I am empowered to declare confidently, under the banner of Jesus Christ's power, blood and sacrifice, that nothing could stand against me.
I am grateful to God for Kate's courage to start her ministry and continue it with her dedicated team. They are instruments in God's hands, and through His divine power, such remarkable transformations occur in people's lives, from profound healing to newfound freedom!