In a world where the word “Christian” often rings louder than the Christian life itself, many people are left with painful questions. Why doesn’t faith always change actions? Where should we look for truth—in traditions, human words, or Scripture?
It was with these questions that Anastasia Shmydko's spiritual journey began - a path that led her to a deep study of the Bible and discovered the power of God's Word not only as a text, but as a living action.
“I started studying the Holy Scriptures for three reasons,” shares Anastasia.
The first was an internal protest. She saw many people calling themselves Christians, but their actions contradicted the Bible. This led to distrust not in God, but in a superficial understanding of faith.
The second reason was marriage. Her husband was already an Adventist, and for Anastasia it was fundamentally important not only to accept his choice, but also to deeply understand the faith of the person with whom she planned to spend her entire life.
The third is a personal spiritual experience. "God gave me answers to the questions that troubled me. He performed miracles - saved my family, filled the hearts of people with whom I had been in conflict for years with the Holy Spirit."
One of the most powerful moments of this journey is the reconciliation that seemed impossible. For five years, the same dispute remained unresolved. Every conversation ended in tension and pain.
But something happened that Anastasia still calls a miracle: “The Holy Spirit filled our hearts, and we were able to spend two weeks together peacefully in nature, without arguments. For me, it was so incredible that it seemed like fantasy.”
This experience was a turning point—not a theoretical proof of faith, but a living confirmation that God's Word works.
Bible lessons played an important role in this process. Anastasia frankly admits that they do not cover the full depth of Holy Scripture, but that is precisely their value.
“The lessons are a very small part of the Bible, but they allowed me to go through key themes and see the big picture,” she says.
The Bible School does not impose decisions or give quick answers about baptism. It does something else - it leads a person to a personal choice, leaving room for trust in God and independent reading of Scripture.
Today, Anastasia continues to study the Bible with enthusiasm and plans to turn to the works of Ellen White after reading it, comparing them exclusively with the Holy Scriptures.
Anastasia's story is not an isolated case. It is an example of how media ministries, and in particular the Bible School, become a bridge between a person and the Word of God. Without pressure and manipulation, but through dialogue, trust, and personal experience.
This is how effective ministry works: when the Bible ceases to be just a book and becomes an answer, a source of peace, healing, and hope.
