Galina Trunova

How did you learn about Moscow Evangelical Christian Seminary?

I learned about the Seminary from a graduate, S. Shestavin during our team-ministry of church planting.

Why did you choose this Seminary?

I know many graduates (V. Kim, V. Puhov, Yuriy Mikityuk) of the Seminary and see what the Lord has done in their life especially during their study at the Seminary.

What ministry are you going to have during your studies at the Seminary?

Alcoholics Anonymous “12 Steps” ministry with alcoholics, their relatives and people with other chemical dependence

How did you become a Christian?

I was born in a usual Orthodox family. But my parents weren’t Christians as they didn’t know Jesus Christ. They taught me from my childhood to pray to the icons and believed in the various superstitions that provided the icons with miracle-working qualities. It was really a serious problem for me to meet a black cat or empty buckets or to tidy up in the evening.

I was also told about sins; that it was bad to sin and to lie to one’s parents, but I shouldn’t tell other people the truth on any account. We didn’t read the Bible. We believed in God but didn’t know him and His attitude to us. We went to the church, lit candles, kissed  the crosses and expected God’s blessings but didn’t have them. The family of my parents was and is still dysfunctional because my father is a drunkard. Fortunately, he has never beaten anybody but was very kind with me, asked me about my work and was respected by his colleagues. But there was no peace in our family, only constant quarrels.

My life was as it is written in the Bible: “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light ” (Matthew 4:16). The Lord saw all my problems. I didn’t like my life at all. When I was 18 and later I thought more often about committing suicide. But God is never late. At the age of 19 I met a Christian girl, who told me about salvation and the Bible as the main authority in the life.

Now, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is my hope. He heals my soul with the help of the “12 Steps” program. It still hurts me when I think about my parents and especially when I communicate with them because their life hasn’t changed and they suffer like many other families. That’s why I try everywhere it’s possible to show people the way out which I have found in Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. 

What are your plans after graduation from the Seminary?

I’m going to open a rehabilitation center for codependent people because life with drunkards is so difficult for their relatives that the medical therapy can hardly help. There are already such centers in the Ukraine and other cities. I believe that if God really wants it He will organize everything that is necessary. And for my part I am praying and looking for helpmates. I also dream of doing practical work in such a center and hope that the attitude of people to this problem will change and the mass media will popularize the healthy way of life and help relatives of such chemical dependent people to get free. This information is given now only to a few people in anonymous groups. But I think we would be able to change much if this information were spread through mass media.