Today I finished reading an amazing true story about the Vins', a Christian family who lived in Soviet Russia. Children of the Storm is an autobiography written by the eldest daughter, Natasha. She shares events that took place as she was growing up in a Christian home during the 50's and 60's under the Communist government of Soviet Russia. While it is rated as a book for young adults, it is a must-read for people of all ages. I appreciated the book tremendously and highly recommend it.
Natasha's father, Gerogi Vins, was a Baptist preacher and a marked man. "As Nikita Khrushchev's anti-religious persecutions began in 1959, the state imposed new regulations on the Baptist church that drastically curtailed the small measure of independence they had enjoyed. As the Baptist movement split acrimoniously, Vins became one of the leading figures in the campaign to resist state pressure. He publicly opposed the pastor of his own congregation, in Kiev, who had accepted the new measures. Vins formed his own breakaway congregation, becoming its pastor, despite a lack of formal theological qualifications. The group met in a forest outside Kiev." (Source) Despite these precautions, the KGB often discovered their places of worship and violently disrupted their services. During one invaded meeting, Natasha watched as her father was led away by the police. His crime was preaching the Word of God. Georgi Vins went into hiding so he could continue his ministry underground. After numerous arrests and brief imprisonments, Georgi Vins was sentenced to three years at a prison camp in the Ural Mountains. Natasha shares many memories of visiting her father at the prison camp during this time and other imprisonments.
Natasha's father, Gerogi Vins, was a Baptist preacher and a marked man. "As Nikita Khrushchev's anti-religious persecutions began in 1959, the state imposed new regulations on the Baptist church that drastically curtailed the small measure of independence they had enjoyed. As the Baptist movement split acrimoniously, Vins became one of the leading figures in the campaign to resist state pressure. He publicly opposed the pastor of his own congregation, in Kiev, who had accepted the new measures. Vins formed his own breakaway congregation, becoming its pastor, despite a lack of formal theological qualifications. The group met in a forest outside Kiev." (Source) Despite these precautions, the KGB often discovered their places of worship and violently disrupted their services. During one invaded meeting, Natasha watched as her father was led away by the police. His crime was preaching the Word of God. Georgi Vins went into hiding so he could continue his ministry underground. After numerous arrests and brief imprisonments, Georgi Vins was sentenced to three years at a prison camp in the Ural Mountains. Natasha shares many memories of visiting her father at the prison camp during this time and other imprisonments.
Can you imagine sending your children to school where you know they will be constantly drilled into believing that God does not exist? As a young girl, Natasha was told to stand before her class as her teacher asked her, "Do you believe in God?" When Natasha said that yes, she did believe in God, her teacher mocked her before her classmates, and then Natasha was sent to the principal's office -- a terrible shame because only bad boys were ever sent to the principal! And following that first visit to the mean-tempered, shouting principal, she was sent back regularly for "re-education."
Natasha's home was frequently raided by the KGB, inevitably always at night while they were sleeping safe in their beds. Their home was completely ransacked as the men searched for "propaganda" and other evidence against Georgi Vins -- personal letters, even treasured family pictures, were confiscated.
Natasha's grandmother, whom she called Babushka, was a Godly woman of incredible spiritual strength. Her own husband was killed while in a prison camp for being a Christian. She organized The Council of Prinsoners' Relatives and, because of her involvement in what the officials considered to be "slander against the Soviet State," she was sentenced to three years in prison. It was only by a miracle of God that she survived the severe conditions while suffering from a weak heart.
In 1975, Georgi Vins was again arrested, tried unjustly in court, and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment -- five years at a prison camp and another five in Siberian exile. As Georgi was in transit for his term in Siberia, his family was making preparations to join him, as this was permitted. His wife had traveled to see him and was returning home to pack. However, the very next day Georgi was told to get his things together and was placed on an airplane to Moscow. Once he reached Moscow, he was given a new suit of clothes and placed on another plane. He was sent to America.
Georgi Vins was "informed that because of his anti-Soviet activity the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet had stripped him of his Soviet citizenship. He was being expelled." Georgi was accused of lawless activities, but he protested, "I am a minister of the gospel. All my activities were entirely religious." It was inevitable. He joined four other expellees. "Two American embassy officials on the plane explained that their release followed an agreement between the White House and the Soviet embassy in Washington, DC. It was not until the plane landed in New York that they learned they were being exchanged for two convicted spies, and the handover took place in an isolated hangar at Kennedy airport. The five walked off the plane at one end while the spies walked on at the other." (Source)
Natasha's home was frequently raided by the KGB, inevitably always at night while they were sleeping safe in their beds. Their home was completely ransacked as the men searched for "propaganda" and other evidence against Georgi Vins -- personal letters, even treasured family pictures, were confiscated.
Natasha's grandmother, whom she called Babushka, was a Godly woman of incredible spiritual strength. Her own husband was killed while in a prison camp for being a Christian. She organized The Council of Prinsoners' Relatives and, because of her involvement in what the officials considered to be "slander against the Soviet State," she was sentenced to three years in prison. It was only by a miracle of God that she survived the severe conditions while suffering from a weak heart.
In 1975, Georgi Vins was again arrested, tried unjustly in court, and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment -- five years at a prison camp and another five in Siberian exile. As Georgi was in transit for his term in Siberia, his family was making preparations to join him, as this was permitted. His wife had traveled to see him and was returning home to pack. However, the very next day Georgi was told to get his things together and was placed on an airplane to Moscow. Once he reached Moscow, he was given a new suit of clothes and placed on another plane. He was sent to America.
Georgi Vins was "informed that because of his anti-Soviet activity the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet had stripped him of his Soviet citizenship. He was being expelled." Georgi was accused of lawless activities, but he protested, "I am a minister of the gospel. All my activities were entirely religious." It was inevitable. He joined four other expellees. "Two American embassy officials on the plane explained that their release followed an agreement between the White House and the Soviet embassy in Washington, DC. It was not until the plane landed in New York that they learned they were being exchanged for two convicted spies, and the handover took place in an isolated hangar at Kennedy airport. The five walked off the plane at one end while the spies walked on at the other." (Source)
Six weeks later, the entire Vins family was forcibly expelled from the Soviet Union and joined Georgi in America. They were a family of exiles in a foreign land. However, they soon adjusted to a new way of life and the glorious liberties that were now theirs. Tears filled my eyes as Natasha described the wonder of walking into a Christian bookstore where shelves of Bibles and other Christian literature lined the walls. They were able to meet with other believers at a Baptist church without fear of arrest. "One Sunday we attended a Baptist church where over a thousand people gathered for worship. In the crowded parking lot little Alex suddenly exclaimed in Russian, 'Look! Look at all these people! Everyone is carrying a Bible!' We all stopped and observed this powerful manifestation of freedom. Then during the service there was another moment that made a striking impression. At the beginning of his sermon, the pastor announced a passage of Scripture and asked the congregation to turn to it. As he waited, hundreds of people started to leaf through the pages of their Bibles. The quiet sound of turned pages filled the auditorium, and for me it seemed like the sweet music of freedom." (Children of the Storm, p. 131)
Georgi Vins began a ministry to help persecuted Christians in Russia and other countries. In 1990, a great event took place: the Russian government retracted the decree that stripped him of his citizenship and exiled him to America. After eleven years in exile, he was able to return to his homeland. He was able to witness all the glorious signs of freedom in Russia and Ukraine as he traveled and preached not only in churches, but also in universities, prisons and open-air street meetings.
What a remarkable book! As I turned each page, the amazing true story of the Vins family gripped me. I was so challenged by their faith and courage to obey the Word of God in the midst of persecution, just as the millions throughout the centuries suffered for their faith since Christ established His church. The Lord Jesus promised that the gates of hell would never prevail against His church. God's mighty army of believers will always triumph!
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