My Parents both escaped out of Russia separately with their families into Iran in the ’30s and later met and were married in Tehran. They immigrated to the U.S.A. in the late 40′s at the end of WWII. My mother was a believer but my father was not and we were members of the Russian Molokan church. God had his hand on my father. My father was always earnest in wanting to seek and serve God. We were very involved in the Russian Community in the Los Angeles area. This was a close community of Russians from the Russian Molokan, Baptist, Orthodox and Pentecostal churches.

My maternal grandmother and mother were praying for my fathers salvation. In 1963 when I was in the eigth grade Billy Graham came to the Los Angeles Colliseum for a crusade. I went every night with my father. One of the nights my dad got out of his seat and made the long walk down to the field to acknowledge God’s call on his life. What a glorious day that was. That same year I was called by God at camp. This decision my father made set off a series of events that changed our families lives forever. The biggest deal was that my father decided to be baptized and this decision made his family ostracize him and we were kicked out of the Molokan Church. Praise God!! Today at 84 my father is still actively serving the Lord.

In their 70′s my parents returned to Russia and started a Bible Study and then a church in the village where some of their relatives still live. My father baptised many and God used him to bring God’s hope and salvation to this little village. Billy Graham and his crusades hold a special place in my families heart. We thank God for Billy’s faithfulness and the way he always brings Christ into any conversation he has with news people. Thank you Billy for your love for God and the good news of the gospel of Christ!