From Flat water to
living water

by Deborah St. Lawrence, publications
editor, International Missions Department

For more information about the international
ministry of FWBs, visit www.fwbgo.com.

The September sun sparkled on the water, urging rowers to paddle faster. Muscles stretched tight as each competitor strained to send his canoe ahead of the others. Ripples from the oars extended ahead of the canoes, stretching for the finish line. Athletes focused on that line, endeavoring to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

Vladimir Pani rowed for Moldova, a land-locked nation sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, in the 2003 International Canoe Flatwater Racing World Championships. Vladimir and his five teammates from the small Communist nation were among more than 1,000 athletes representing 78 countries on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia.

Introduced to flatwater canoeing as a 13-year-old in his hometown of Chisinau, Moldova, Vladimir loved the sport. This was his fourth world championship event, but his first outside of Europe—the first ever held in America.

After the competition ended, Vlad and his teammates remained in Gainesville for a few days. Volunteer drivers continued to provide transportation for the international athletes who remained. On their last night in town, the six-man team needed a ride to the athletes dining hall. Susan Cone was their chauffeur for the evening. Vlad knew enough English to carry on a conversation with the driver and a friendship was born. Following dinner, Susan took the athletes to complete some shopping and then returned them to their hotel. Susan and Vlad exchanged email addresses and phone numbers, promised to keep the new friendship alive, and said goodbye.

Throughout the next year, Vlad and Susan kept in contact via the internet. Susan introduced spiritual issues in some of her messages. She could sense Vlad’s heart was open to hearing the Truth. Vlad expressed a strong desire to return to the U.S. someday. He was determined to find a way.

In August of 2004, Vlad began sending more urgent messages about his desire to return to America and how difficult it was for him to obtain a visa. Finally, after multiple attempts, his persistence paid off and his visa was granted.

Vlad wrote to Susan on September 7, 2004, saying he had received his visa, would arrive in Atlanta in three days, and would greatly appreciate it if she could arrange a host family. She invited Vlad to stay with her, her husband Jim, and her children, TJ and Elana Jo.

Vlad was both grateful and excited when the Cones picked him up at the airport that Tuesday. He talked enthusiastically the whole way home! Living with the Cones, Vlad was immediately immersed in American culture and the English language. No one spoke his native Russian or Romanian.

The day after his arrival, Susan invited Vlad to attend church with the family. He said, "Of course, I will go." Susan quickly purchased a Bible for Vlad, and he began carrying it to church every Sunday. Over the next three months, Vlad attended services with the family regularly. Though 22, he seemed to feel most comfortable with the church youth group and joined them for activities, Bible studies, and worship.

On a Wednesday evening in December, Pastor Bill McKinney debuted Bloodstain on the Silk Road for his Liberty Bible FWB Church congregation. The young people were involved in their own service downstairs and did not see the video, so Pastor Bill sent the video home with Susan so Vlad could watch it.

Later that week Vlad watched the story of a martyred Central Asian church-planter unfold. He exclaimed, “These are my people!” when he heard them speaking Russian. He listened intently and was moved by the story. God used the film to clarify the gospel message, and Vlad responded to the gospel. The next day he called Pastor McKinney, ecstatically proclaimed his new faith in Christ, and requested baptism.
The sun barely showed its face as Vlad and Pastor Bill waded into the chilly waters of Lake Lanier on Sunday, December 19. However, Vlad didn’t notice the cold. With his Liberty Bible FWB Church family gathered on the shore, Vlad gladly sank into the cold water, thrilled to demonstrate his faith in Christ.

Vladimir continues to study the Word with the aid of a Russian-language Bible Pastor McKinney bought for him. Each week he greets his pastor with new verses of Scripture he has memorized. He prays God will send someone to his family in Moldova to share the gospel with them.

Deborah St. Lawrence is the print media coordinator for Free Will Baptist International Missions. Contact her at deborah@fwbgo.com.