Anastasia, From Trauma to Baptism

Anastasia represents the image we have of eastern European people. Lean, tall and blond. She is reserved, smiling and very pleasant. But unfortunately, this exterior hides suffering. She knew the Adventist church from a young age in Belorus, her home country. During a major part of her childhood she was brought up by her grandmother. But an extremely strict vision of the gospel and the Adventist message wreaked havoc. Not only in her heart but also in her mother’s heart.
Anastasia and her mother left Belorus and moved to Italy about 20 years ago. At the same time they decided to leave the Adventist church. Her mother decided to never again set foot in an Adventist community.
Time passed and in spite of all, a seed of faith still remained in Anastasia’s heart. Due to her work, Anastasia now lived in Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking region. She looked for a church in the area and found herself back in the Adventist community in Lugano. Discretely and reservedly she would come to church services but would leave again right after.
Finally, when Sister Bernadette, one of the church members, a Women’s Ministries leader, approached her a friendly relationship developed. At last she was able to express her doubts about the church. She constantly worried what the church thought about her, about her clothing, her speech and comportment. Above all she didn’t want to create a “scandal”.
Having been reassured that the church loved and accepted her as she was, she took courage. Pastor Matthias Maag recognized her need to study the Bible in order to find a new and refreshing experience with God. But he waited for the right moment. Then one day, at a baptismal service, she was deeply touched and stood up at the appeal and declared her wish to prepare for baptism herself. After this the pastor invited her to start Bible studies.
During this time they not only studied the Bible but the pastor, as a representative of the church, listened to Anastasia’s anger and bitterness about what she had experienced in the church as a child. And the pastor was able to symbolically ask for forgiveness in the name of the church. In spite of tears and many crises Anastasia found a close friend in God. Somebody who saves and does not condemn. She saw that the church members in Lugano had a completely different relationship with each other from what she had experienced in her past. And thus she found her place in the congregation and decided to be baptized.
The baptismal ceremony was a very strong moment. Not only did her grandmother come for the occasion from Russia, but also her mother came from Italy, entering an Adventist church for the first time in twenty years. A cousin also attended. All were delighted by Anastasia’s testimony and decision to follow the Lord.
As a surprise for Anastasia, her Neapolitan friend, who had attended church from time to time, expressed his desire to study the Bible when the appeal was made.
Anastasia’s life shows that God is always there. Even if the ground seems dry and hostile, if there is a small seed of faith somewhere under the soil, beautiful things can happen. This ground can become a beautiful garden, full of “spiritual flowers” that will spread out and touch their surroundings. God’s power to change hearts has no end.
According to a report in Adventiste Magazine by Rickson Nobre on the words of Matthias Maag, Pastor of the Lugano SDA church