Oleg Murashev- Only God Saved Me!

Artem Panin, Director of Adaptation Center

My name is Artem, I’m 37 years old. I come from the small town of Zubtsov, in the Tver region. My parents were ordinary workers, my father worked as a machinist at a local factory and my mother as a secretary. Our family was quite well-off. In school I was heavily involved in sports. My mom gave me a bigger part of her life, her warmth and motherly love belonged only to me, and I wasn't going to share it with anyone. I grew up as a true egotist, and never accepted the word “no” from my parents. I led a lawless way of life, with endless fights, alcohol and recreational drugs. At that time it seemed to me that I was at the very peak of the iceberg and no better life was to be found.

After military service, I was easily hired to work for the bank’s security service, where we transported large amounts of money and earned good wages. I was confident in myself and was living in style. I met some people in the criminal world, and one day one of my friends asked me if I’d heard of heroin. “Yes,” I answered, and I didn't need much persuading to try it. After a while it became clear to me that I was hooked. Very soon my employer found out about my addiction and I was promptly “asked” to resign, and my friends did not want to be in touch with me any longer. My parents fought for my life and even saved me from an overdose. They tried everything, but all in vain. Everything was falling apart: my family, my goals and my health. Dozens of people were dying around me. After another dose, I too fell ill and realized that I was dying. 

On that September day, for the first time in 33 years, I turned to God and asked Him to save me, to deliver me from the bondage of drugs and to give me a new life. I was surprised when I woke up alive the next morning, but then my mind turned once again to drugs, and that was all I could think about. Out of nowhere, I got a call from some strangers and they invited me to meet with them. When I arrived, I met cheerful people who told me that they used to have the same problem as me. They told me about Christ, and I learned about the “Pirkko Home” rehab center in Dyatkovo. The very next day I went there, where I seriously was made to think for the first time in many years about common sense. 

After reading the Gospel and seeing lives changed by God, I prayed a prayer of repentance. In 2011 I was baptized, and in 2012, so was my mother, who also came to believe in our God. For three years now I have served in this ministry, helping the addicted. I am now leading the men’s adaptation center ministry at “Ruchiyok” (“The Brook”) Christian Camp & Retreat Center. Jesus gave me a priceless treasure that I could not even dream of. 

Glory to Christ!