MARIA’S STORY
“...and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…” Gal 2:20
Despite her outward smile, Maria's early years were marked by a difficult childhood with little joy and completely devoid of parental love. Being without parental support, social services enrolled Maria in a terrible government-run boarding school at a young age. To cope with her situation, she adopted a tough exterior, determined to prove her strength to others. Seeking an outlet, Maria turned to athletics where she encountered a demanding coach who recognized her potential and promised her success in sports.
Being patient and resilient, Maria often trained until her hands were bloody, but thanks to this grueling training, she was able to lift a 16-kilogram kettle ball 60 times. However, her focus on sports came at a cost to her academic performance. And during her high school years, she began smoking, seemingly headed down a troubled path. But God had other plans.
Maria's life took a transformative turn about six years ago when she began attending a church led by a HART church partner. Her involvement in church camps exposed her to an environment of love and acceptance, which gradually began to impact her troubled spirit. Maria became an active participant in Bible study groups. The church community, recognizing her spiritual awakening, sincerely and consistently prayed for her. They engaged Maria in numerous heartfelt conversations, offering support and guidance. Approximately a year after her initial involvement with the church, Maria made the profound decision to accept Christ into her life. The entire church community shared in Maria's joy, genuinely celebrating her decision to commit her life to Christ.
Maria has demonstrated natural leadership abilities and has already led many of her friends to Christ. She has a special gift for ministering to young people whose backgrounds are similar to hers. She is also dedicated to mentoring new believers. Despite the challenges Maria has faced, God had a plan for her and granted her the love she sought. Now, Maria and her husband Taras are actively engaged in camp ministry, participating as counsellors in at least four camps this year. They are a blessed family committed to serving God's kingdom. Once a camp participant who had just joined the church, Maria is now being used by God for His glory.
HART ministries is a CSC associate agency that serves the local church in Ukraine. In the summer the churches host many camps for children who have not heard about Jesus.