I was born in Russia, in Leningrad – now St. Petersburg. My parents were totally secular. No one ever talked to me about God; my only knowledge came from books or pictures I had seen in museums.  From there, I learned that in previous generations, there were people who believed there was a God, but I thought civilization had advanced beyond such foolishness. I thought that these were very narrow-minded people who had never studied evolution and had never read any books apart from the Bible.
 

I hated to be Jewish; I hated Israel. I didn't understand my identity. I was quite a sinner  and was discontent and restless inside.
For years, I rejected my creator and lived in the messes I made. I broke all ten commandments, but I thought I was a very high moral person because I didn't know God's standards. 

In 1989, looking for love and wealth, I left the Soviet Union. I wanted to come to America, the country of success, but nothing went according to my plans. My journey went through Austria, Italy, Canada and Israel
I lived in Italy as a refugee. It was a tough time in my life. During that time God spoke to me in a unique way through His true believers and a mighty prophetic dream that shook me to the core and changed my thinking, but I still wasn't convinced and didn't believe it. 
 

In Canada I met many wonderful believers in Jesus, who truly provoked me to jealousy;  I went back and forth between God and the world.
 

I wanted to be godly, yet I was still not ready to give all aspects of my life to Adonai.
 

In Israel, my Jewish friends told me that I am crazy to believe in Jesus. They said that if I believed in Jesus, I was not Jewish anymore. I didn't understand and was very confused because I finally wanted to be Jewish because I was in Israel. 

I am so thankful to Adonai, who gave me passion for truth. I was determined to find the true Messiah of Israel. I began investigating more about Yeshua (Jesus), wondering if He was really the one from the Tanach (Old Covenant) prophesied about.
 

After fighting and hesitating about Yeshua for over six years, I finally accepted Him as my Lord and my precious Savior, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life, the Only Way to the Father!  
 

God, in His sovereignty, revealed His unfailing love for me. I knew that I had received the fire of God directly into my heart, and since that moment it is still burning within me.

God brought me from being an atheist in Communist Russia and being hateful of my own Jewishness and my country, Israel, to completely surrendering to Him and His will. And this was an incredible journey with wonders and miracles.  I am a changed person, a new creation, and it is nothing about me, but it is all about Him!
 

This is an amazing testimony, and I would be delighted to share it with your Congregation. Please email to OxanaEliahu @ gmail.com