Nastya’s upbringing in a traditional Ukrainian Orthodox family meant God was more of a cultural concept than a personal connection. That began to shift when she encountered genuine believers.
“When I met Christians,” Nastya recalls, “I understood what the love of God truly means, not just through words, but through their actions. I wanted to experience more of that.”
This desire led Nastya to a Christian camp and then to a Tomorrow Club. She still treasures the heart-shaped invitation that brought her there. “I’ve kept it in my Bible to this day,” she shares. “It’s the most precious piece of paper I’ve ever held.”
The Tomorrow Club quickly became the highlight of her week. There, she began to grasp the personal nature of God’s love. Learning about repentance, Nastya remembers thinking, “I don’t fully understand this now, but I know I will need to repent one day.”
— Nastya
That day arrived at a Christian youth festival. “All the seeds planted through camps and club meetings had been growing,” she explained, “and on July 9, 2021, I gave my life fully to Jesus. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Her faith journey, however, wasn’t without its challenges. When war broke out in Ukraine, everything changed. “For months, I didn’t read the Bible. It was hard to even think about God,” Nastya admits. “But I realized that staying faithful isn’t easy, and life without Him is so much harder. He is everything I’ll ever need. He’s always been faithful. He will never leave me.”
It was this realization that brought her back. A year ago, she started attending church regularly, and on September 1, 2024, she was baptized, publicly declaring her faith in Christ.
Nastia’s Baptism day.
Now 16, Nastya lives her faith boldly. She serves at a local Tomorrow Club and teaches Sunday school, reaching children on the path she once walked. “My biggest dream,” she states, “is for people to be saved. I want my whole life to be dedicated to that mission.”
Nastya helping at a Tomorrow Club meeting in Ukraine.