Hello, I'm Karen Pearson and I'm here again 00:00:23.22\00:00:26.02 with my co-host Pierre Quinn. Hi, Pierre. 00:00:26.05\00:00:27.86 Hi, Karen. 00:00:27.89\00:00:29.32 To bring you another episode of Stones of Remembrance, 00:00:29.36\00:00:32.83 the program where we visit with one of your favorite authors 00:00:32.86\00:00:35.63 and look at some of their life experiences 00:00:35.66\00:00:37.97 that helped shape them and the message found in their books. 00:00:38.00\00:00:42.07 So often as we pass through life's deep waters 00:00:42.10\00:00:44.94 just as Joshua did, we can meet some 00:00:44.97\00:00:47.58 unexpected blessings along the way that will determine 00:00:47.61\00:00:51.18 our future direction of our lives. 00:00:51.21\00:00:54.02 But before I introduce you to today's guest, 00:00:54.05\00:00:56.58 I'd like to share something from the word with you. 00:00:56.62\00:01:00.29 It's found in Hebrews 11:36-39. 00:01:00.32\00:01:05.76 "Some faced jeers and floggings, 00:01:05.79\00:01:08.40 while still others were chained and put in prison. 00:01:08.43\00:01:13.03 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, 00:01:13.07\00:01:16.04 and put to death by the sword. 00:01:16.07\00:01:18.81 They went about in sheepskins and in goatskins, 00:01:18.84\00:01:22.81 destitute and persecuted and mistreated. 00:01:22.84\00:01:27.15 The world was not worthy of them. 00:01:27.18\00:01:30.55 They wandered in deserts and in mountains, 00:01:30.59\00:01:33.99 and in caves and in holes in the ground. 00:01:34.02\00:01:37.63 These were commended for their faith." 00:01:37.66\00:01:42.16 These verses are hard to read. 00:01:42.20\00:01:44.20 Aren't they, Pierre? Those are challenge. 00:01:44.23\00:01:45.70 So hard to read but they're even harder to love I think. 00:01:45.73\00:01:49.84 But they're powerful reminder that if we're faithful, 00:01:49.87\00:01:53.81 we will know that it will have been worth it all 00:01:53.84\00:01:56.78 when we see Jesus. 00:01:56.81\00:01:59.11 I'd like to welcome you to our program today, 00:01:59.15\00:02:01.92 Dr. Michael Kulakov. 00:02:01.95\00:02:04.05 We're so pleased that you were able to join us. 00:02:04.09\00:02:06.45 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 00:02:06.49\00:02:08.92 I'm very glad to be here with you. 00:02:08.96\00:02:11.06 Thank you. 00:02:11.09\00:02:12.66 Michael, you are a professor 00:02:12.69\00:02:14.76 at Adventist Washington University 00:02:14.80\00:02:17.37 in Maryland, Takoma Park. 00:02:17.40\00:02:18.73 Yes. 00:02:18.77\00:02:20.10 Is there anything else you could tell us 00:02:20.14\00:02:21.47 briefly about yourself? 00:02:21.50\00:02:24.04 I am blessed to be a part 00:02:24.07\00:02:27.31 of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist church family. 00:02:27.34\00:02:31.98 I'm a fourth generation Adventist. 00:02:32.01\00:02:35.48 My great grandfather was one of the first Adventist in Russia, 00:02:35.52\00:02:40.92 in Czarist Russia, pre-revolutionary. 00:02:40.96\00:02:44.16 Oh, my. 00:02:44.19\00:02:45.53 Russia and I have a privilege to work with young people 00:02:45.56\00:02:51.30 every year at the university and this last five years, 00:02:51.33\00:02:57.61 I had a very, very special privilege to work 00:02:57.64\00:03:01.04 on the project of the translation of the Bible 00:03:01.08\00:03:05.28 into modern Russian language. 00:03:05.31\00:03:07.78 Yes, and we're going to talk about 00:03:07.82\00:03:10.82 that a little bit later. 00:03:10.85\00:03:12.19 Thank you, Mikhail. 00:03:12.22\00:03:13.62 Mikhail, you're the only one in this whole series 00:03:13.66\00:03:16.76 that we're having whose book we're not looking at, 00:03:16.79\00:03:20.30 we're actually looking at a book that your father co-wrote, 00:03:20.33\00:03:24.27 Though the Heavens Fall. 00:03:24.30\00:03:26.53 And I just, I want to just say to our audience 00:03:26.57\00:03:30.11 that this book is one of my very favorite books. 00:03:30.14\00:03:33.04 It is an incredible story of one family's faithfulness 00:03:33.07\00:03:37.11 to God in the most awful circumstances, 00:03:37.15\00:03:40.82 the most trying circumstances, but ultimately it's a story 00:03:40.85\00:03:46.09 about God's faithfulness and protection 00:03:46.12\00:03:49.26 to the children that He loves so much. 00:03:49.29\00:03:52.49 Mikhail, your father was born in Soviet Russia. 00:03:52.53\00:03:55.26 Yes. 00:03:55.30\00:03:56.63 Tell us what was the world like 00:03:56.67\00:03:58.57 that the world he was born into? 00:03:58.60\00:04:01.20 He was born in 1927 in Leningrad at the time 00:04:01.24\00:04:08.41 when Russia was under atheistic regimes, 00:04:08.44\00:04:14.38 Stalinist regime and that Christians, 00:04:14.42\00:04:19.52 not just Protestants, all, people of all faiths 00:04:19.55\00:04:24.13 have been persecuted and regarded as 00:04:24.16\00:04:28.43 the enemies of the Soviet State. 00:04:28.46\00:04:32.47 Religion was considered to be the opium of the masses 00:04:32.50\00:04:38.14 as Karl Marx taught and crutch for the weak, 00:04:38.17\00:04:44.68 and therefore Christian communities existed 00:04:44.71\00:04:49.85 in so called underground, and it cost you to be 00:04:49.88\00:04:57.83 a Christian and I was raised in a family 00:04:57.86\00:05:04.73 where persecution was central part of life. 00:05:04.77\00:05:12.04 My grandfather was sentenced to 10 years 00:05:12.07\00:05:15.61 of Stalin's labor camps for being a pastor 00:05:15.64\00:05:19.11 of a little church in the Moscow area. 00:05:19.15\00:05:24.49 My great uncle was sentenced to 25 years 00:05:24.52\00:05:29.62 in Stalin's labor camps for being the editor 00:05:29.66\00:05:33.13 of a Christian magazine that he published secretly, 00:05:33.16\00:05:40.27 illegally to at his own risk. 00:05:40.30\00:05:44.11 And my own father as he grew up, 00:05:44.14\00:05:50.05 he witnessed the life of his parents 00:05:50.08\00:05:56.65 that was very different from the lives of those 00:05:59.45\00:06:02.96 who embraced the communist system. 00:06:02.99\00:06:06.06 Yes. 00:06:06.09\00:06:08.76 His mom, my grandmother had to take my dad 00:06:08.80\00:06:12.50 when he was little to Siberia to live near 00:06:12.53\00:06:16.14 where the labor camp was where my grandpa was kept. 00:06:16.17\00:06:21.08 And she told us when we grew up that she would 00:06:21.11\00:06:26.85 feed the children with the leftovers 00:06:26.88\00:06:29.65 of what was left in the homes that she cleaned. 00:06:29.68\00:06:34.42 And she would late at night boil for herself potato peels 00:06:34.46\00:06:40.50 and eat the potato peels. 00:06:40.53\00:06:43.10 And she was a very peaceful person, 00:06:43.13\00:06:48.14 very serene person. 00:06:48.17\00:06:50.81 There was kind of strength 00:06:50.84\00:06:54.61 and steel in that serenity. 00:06:54.64\00:06:59.31 But she taught us that if you rely on God 00:06:59.35\00:07:06.09 and my grandpa and my dad and my mom, 00:07:06.12\00:07:10.53 you have nothing to fear. 00:07:10.56\00:07:13.56 Amen. Amen. You have nothing to fear. 00:07:13.60\00:07:16.56 At this time, I know that millions of Soviet people 00:07:16.60\00:07:21.37 died of hunger, of persecution. 00:07:21.40\00:07:26.47 There were very hard days in Russia and yet the home 00:07:26.51\00:07:30.31 that you grew up in was a happy home. 00:07:30.35\00:07:32.31 Yes. Yes. It was a happy home. 00:07:32.35\00:07:35.22 My parents managed in those circumstances 00:07:35.25\00:07:41.62 to create an atmosphere of security. 00:07:41.66\00:07:47.63 We had very, very little as kids. 00:07:47.66\00:07:52.10 And I remember on the greatest holidays, 00:07:52.13\00:07:56.37 if we could put a little bit of butter on the bread 00:07:56.40\00:08:00.21 and some sugar or honey and some nuts, 00:08:00.24\00:08:05.11 that was very, very special. 00:08:05.15\00:08:07.15 Yes. Very, very special. 00:08:07.18\00:08:08.65 So you got to live out where Paul declares, 00:08:08.68\00:08:11.69 he says in all thing I've learned to be content 00:08:11.72\00:08:15.49 in whatever condition of life. 00:08:15.52\00:08:16.86 Yes. 00:08:16.89\00:08:18.23 But our life was not different from the lives 00:08:18.26\00:08:20.30 of millions and millions of Christians 00:08:20.33\00:08:24.87 and just good citizens in Russia. 00:08:24.90\00:08:29.27 And it was in many ways better than the life 00:08:29.30\00:08:32.37 of those who rejected Christianity 00:08:32.41\00:08:36.01 or who out of fear of persecution gave up their 00:08:36.04\00:08:40.98 belief so they never experienced the love of God. 00:08:41.02\00:08:44.42 They had nothing to rely on in times of difficulty. 00:08:44.45\00:08:48.59 Something that struck me when I was reading the book. 00:08:48.62\00:08:53.33 Your grandfather in talking with your father said to him, 00:08:53.36\00:09:00.60 "You need to realize that you're probably 00:09:00.64\00:09:02.60 going to be arrested." 00:09:02.64\00:09:05.07 That is probably going to happen. 00:09:05.11\00:09:07.01 And it just, it struck me so much the way 00:09:07.04\00:09:09.88 that he prepared him. 00:09:09.91\00:09:13.11 And, you know, how do we do that as parents today 00:09:13.15\00:09:16.25 to make sometimes difficult aspects of what it means 00:09:16.28\00:09:20.79 to be a Christian, a reality to our children, 00:09:20.82\00:09:23.99 so that it helps him to be 00:09:24.03\00:09:25.63 better prepared to face those times. 00:09:25.66\00:09:30.33 Yeah. You know, what was most precious to us 00:09:30.37\00:09:34.04 and to me personally in our parents, 00:09:34.07\00:09:36.71 particularly when I was forced to go to two years 00:09:36.74\00:09:40.31 of military construction, hard labor camp. 00:09:40.34\00:09:47.82 At the age of 18 is the example 00:09:47.85\00:09:52.52 of our parents not faking it, 00:09:52.55\00:09:56.52 not being Christians out of fear 00:09:56.56\00:10:01.83 or out of a desire to get some rewards 00:10:01.86\00:10:06.17 but being Christians because they were Christians. 00:10:06.20\00:10:11.17 Because they loved people, they loved God. 00:10:11.21\00:10:15.88 You know, my mom in the middle of the night, 00:10:15.91\00:10:18.65 our home because our father was a leader 00:10:18.68\00:10:20.98 of the underground church. 00:10:21.02\00:10:22.45 Our home was the union headquarters. 00:10:22.48\00:10:25.29 It was the union cafeteria. It was the union guesthouse. 00:10:25.32\00:10:30.19 It was the union office. 00:10:30.23\00:10:33.26 It was everything, so in the middle of the night 00:10:33.29\00:10:35.53 when brothers would come for a secret night meeting 00:10:35.56\00:10:39.37 to avoid observation from the government officials. 00:10:39.40\00:10:44.77 My mom would come into the rooms and would wake us up, 00:10:44.81\00:10:47.24 quick, quick, quick, get into our bedroom. 00:10:47.28\00:10:50.15 Quick, I need to prepare the beds for the brethren. 00:10:50.18\00:10:53.65 You know, the brethren have come. 00:10:53.68\00:10:55.68 And in the morning she would wake us up quick, 00:10:55.72\00:10:58.62 help me to cook and help us to serve everyone 00:10:58.65\00:11:01.76 and then help to clean the rooms 00:11:01.79\00:11:03.56 and we saw that her heart was in it 00:11:03.59\00:11:06.59 or if we would open the study where my dad was working 00:11:06.63\00:11:11.57 and would find him on his knees praying. 00:11:11.60\00:11:15.70 That was a shock, you know, that it was serious for him. 00:11:15.74\00:11:21.04 It was his whole life and his dream. 00:11:21.08\00:11:24.31 When he in the middle of the night, you know, 00:11:24.35\00:11:27.75 use 12 copies of onion skin papers with carbon, 00:11:27.78\00:11:33.56 laid with carbon copies and was editing his journal 00:11:33.59\00:11:40.10 for ministries that was called 00:11:40.13\00:11:45.67 in Russian, "stremleniye," 00:11:45.70\00:11:48.44 you know, a dream, a desire, a hope. 00:11:48.47\00:11:53.34 And he would put the light on the floor 00:11:53.38\00:11:58.05 and would do it very, very quietly 00:11:58.08\00:12:02.25 and he would see us and he would say 00:12:02.28\00:12:04.39 quick, quick, go to sleep. 00:12:04.42\00:12:05.92 And we'd say, Dad, what are you doing? 00:12:05.95\00:12:07.86 What are you doing? 00:12:07.89\00:12:09.26 And he would say, I'll explain to you afterwards. 00:12:09.29\00:12:14.26 So that helped tremendously in our own challenges, 00:12:14.30\00:12:20.30 in difficulties to know that we have seen 00:12:20.34\00:12:24.87 the example of people who clearly stood 00:12:24.91\00:12:29.44 for what they believed. 00:12:29.48\00:12:31.51 They were not, you know, wishy and washy and they... 00:12:31.55\00:12:35.68 Though the heavens fall. Yes. They knew it. 00:12:35.72\00:12:39.12 We're going to take a break right now 00:12:39.15\00:12:40.96 and so it will give you a chance to find out 00:12:40.99\00:12:43.26 how you can get a copy of this incredible book, 00:12:43.29\00:12:46.59 Though the Heavens Fall. 00:12:46.63\00:12:47.96 Don't go away, we'll be right back. 00:12:48.00\00:12:49.50 Thank you. 00:12:49.53\00:12:52.03 It was a dangerous thing 00:12:52.07\00:12:53.40 to be a Christian in Soviet Russia. 00:12:53.44\00:12:55.50 It was even more dangerous to be a pastor. 00:12:55.54\00:12:58.24 As a third generation 00:12:58.27\00:12:59.81 Seventh-day Adventist Christian and pastor, 00:12:59.84\00:13:02.11 Mikhail Kulakov knew that it was only a matter of time 00:13:02.14\00:13:05.28 before he would be caught and exiled 00:13:05.31\00:13:07.35 to a Siberian labor camp in communist Russia 00:13:07.38\00:13:11.25 where millions of people died from hunger and persecution, 00:13:11.29\00:13:14.66 this gripping story of faithfulness 00:13:14.69\00:13:17.33 through persecution shows how God's love 00:13:17.36\00:13:20.20 and watch care covers and protects His children. 00:13:20.23\00:13:23.26 And now miraculously, the work of translating 00:13:23.30\00:13:26.63 the Bible into modern Russia that began in secret 00:13:26.67\00:13:29.67 has recently been completed by Mikhail's son, Michael. 00:13:29.70\00:13:33.91 To get your copy of Though the Heavens Fall, 00:13:33.94\00:13:36.88 call 1800-765-6955, 00:13:36.91\00:13:41.18 stop by your local Adventist book center 00:13:41.22\00:13:43.72 or order online at www.adventistbookcenter.com. 00:13:43.75\00:13:49.72 We're back speaking with Michael Kulakov. 00:13:52.66\00:13:55.76 And, Michael, one of the things that I love about your story 00:13:55.80\00:14:00.27 is really demonstrated in the whole story of Joshua, 00:14:00.30\00:14:04.41 taking the children of Israel across the Jordan. 00:14:04.44\00:14:07.14 He said that when you build the altar, 00:14:07.18\00:14:10.21 when your children come and ask you, what is that? 00:14:10.25\00:14:13.58 You can tell them, it will be as a remembrance, 00:14:13.62\00:14:17.22 as a memorial for them. 00:14:17.25\00:14:19.89 And as I look at your story and the lives of your 00:14:19.92\00:14:23.56 that they build that were a memorial 00:14:28.33\00:14:31.63 to the goodness of God and His leading, 00:14:31.67\00:14:34.87 and what an incredible testimony that is. 00:14:34.90\00:14:37.87 Yes. 00:14:37.91\00:14:39.24 One of the things that struck me as well 00:14:39.27\00:14:41.31 in your father's marvelous book is something your mother said. 00:14:41.34\00:14:47.85 Shortly after they were married, 00:14:47.88\00:14:49.45 she said, she told your father that 00:14:49.48\00:14:51.52 she felt that it was her calling and her mission in life 00:14:51.55\00:14:56.16 to be a good mother 00:14:56.19\00:14:57.89 and to raise her children in the fear of the Lord. 00:14:57.93\00:15:01.76 Absolutely. Yeah. 00:15:01.80\00:15:03.16 She would wake up very early in the morning 00:15:03.20\00:15:07.44 and she would cook breakfast for us 00:15:07.47\00:15:12.07 and she knew that we would face persecution, 00:15:12.11\00:15:16.91 ridicule at school and she would have her prayer with us 00:15:16.95\00:15:23.18 and would read a scripture to us. 00:15:23.22\00:15:27.79 And I remember one scripture that she loved very much 00:15:27.82\00:15:31.43 and that she read with a lot of strength and faith is 00:15:31.46\00:15:38.80 "Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked." 00:15:38.83\00:15:45.51 And she used to say that whatever they do to you, 00:15:45.54\00:15:50.78 God is standing next to you. 00:15:50.81\00:15:54.45 And He will not be mocked. 00:15:54.48\00:15:57.59 You will be mocked but He will not be mocked. 00:15:57.62\00:16:00.79 How amazing. How amazing. 00:16:00.82\00:16:03.32 What can sometimes happen in Christian families 00:16:03.36\00:16:06.93 or more specifically in pastoral families 00:16:06.96\00:16:09.70 is that sons and daughters will see the challenge 00:16:09.73\00:16:12.87 of being the pastoral family and say, you know, what, 00:16:12.90\00:16:16.07 I don't have anything to do with the ministry. 00:16:16.10\00:16:20.41 Seeing your father and your grandfather, 00:16:20.44\00:16:23.75 the men in your family go through 00:16:23.78\00:16:25.85 their trials for their faith. 00:16:25.88\00:16:28.08 Was there ever a time in the back of your head 00:16:28.12\00:16:29.62 where you thought, maybe I don't want to do this. 00:16:29.65\00:16:32.35 How were you able to develop the resolve 00:16:32.39\00:16:34.69 that you have in your faith now? 00:16:34.72\00:16:37.36 I remember when real persecution started in my life 00:16:37.39\00:16:42.66 when I was seven time zones away from my family in 1977 00:16:42.70\00:16:50.21 when I was drafted to two years of military service 00:16:50.24\00:16:54.38 and despite of my good grades, 00:16:54.41\00:16:56.95 I was sent not to the functioning unit 00:16:56.98\00:17:01.18 but to the unit for the scum of the earth 00:17:01.22\00:17:04.62 as they said with low intelligence, 00:17:04.65\00:17:09.06 mental issues, criminal records 00:17:09.09\00:17:12.03 and they all spoke the Russian language. 00:17:12.06\00:17:15.80 I did not recognized, dirty verbs, 00:17:15.83\00:17:19.70 dirty nouns, dirty adjectives. 00:17:19.73\00:17:22.97 And I remember in the barrack, I was trying to pray 00:17:23.00\00:17:27.81 to formulate a prayer, 00:17:27.84\00:17:30.31 I was in such a state of shock because I was hoping that, 00:17:30.35\00:17:34.58 that year I would get a permission to travel 00:17:34.62\00:17:37.09 to England and to embark 00:17:37.12\00:17:38.92 in the study of theology at new built college. 00:17:38.95\00:17:42.92 And I've learned English and I prayed to God and I said, 00:17:42.96\00:17:46.23 God, I've done my part. 00:17:46.26\00:17:48.33 Now You do Your part. 00:17:48.36\00:17:50.03 And you know, instead I received 00:17:50.07\00:17:52.27 that little card that said you're drafted 00:17:52.30\00:17:54.44 to years of military service. 00:17:54.47\00:17:57.01 And when I was on the bus, 00:17:57.04\00:17:58.57 transported to the military airport, 00:17:58.61\00:18:01.18 I felt like earth gave away and I was in a free fall 00:18:01.21\00:18:07.45 and I had a massive lump in my throat. 00:18:07.48\00:18:11.12 I felt that I was abandoned by God 00:18:11.15\00:18:14.82 and that everything is gone and all my support knocked off. 00:18:14.86\00:18:22.53 And those were the trials when as you said, 00:18:22.56\00:18:27.70 I rethought everything in my life. 00:18:27.74\00:18:31.54 And, you know, the bullies in the barrack would 00:18:31.57\00:18:35.04 come to me and would say, 00:18:35.08\00:18:36.51 "Why do you need to stick to your stupid religion." 00:18:36.54\00:18:39.61 You know, not working on Saturdays, 00:18:39.65\00:18:42.05 not eating pork and not-- 00:18:42.08\00:18:44.52 because everything was with pork and rotten cabbage there, 00:18:44.55\00:18:48.12 so there was nothing else to eat. 00:18:48.16\00:18:50.73 You know, why are you going hungry and, you know, 00:18:50.76\00:18:53.76 when you can lead a good life, you're such a tough guy, 00:18:53.80\00:18:57.43 you're not afraid of these dogs, 00:18:57.47\00:18:59.53 the officers they said to me 00:18:59.57\00:19:01.74 because those criminal young bullies, 00:19:01.77\00:19:04.37 they had, you know, despised for, 00:19:04.41\00:19:07.91 they were despising the officers, you know. 00:19:07.94\00:19:11.28 And they immediately respected me 00:19:11.31\00:19:14.92 for challenging the officials, you know, and they-- 00:19:14.95\00:19:18.65 you will be under our protection they said. 00:19:18.69\00:19:21.12 And I said, I don't need your protection, 00:19:21.16\00:19:23.93 I want God's protection. 00:19:23.96\00:19:26.29 And I thought and thought and as I was trying to 00:19:26.33\00:19:30.63 formulate prayers, you know, 00:19:30.67\00:19:32.23 dirty words were coming to my mouth instead of prayers 00:19:32.27\00:19:37.54 because I was so shocked from that language. 00:19:37.57\00:19:40.98 So profoundly exposed to that alterative reality 00:19:41.01\00:19:48.18 that was so alien to me in my home and in my childhood 00:19:48.22\00:19:53.52 where I was so secluded and sheltered and protected. 00:19:53.56\00:19:58.09 And I realized that I started asking myself, 00:19:58.13\00:20:03.13 do I really know some people 00:20:03.16\00:20:05.63 who stuck through everything, you know, win it. 00:20:05.67\00:20:10.57 Yeah. He said it's worth it. 00:20:10.61\00:20:13.61 And, you know, the first thing that came to my mind 00:20:13.64\00:20:16.14 was my grandpa, you know, 00:20:16.18\00:20:19.01 whose ears I love to touch when I was a little kid, you know, 00:20:19.05\00:20:24.02 whose hands I would feel and look. 00:20:24.05\00:20:27.89 You know, he went through the labor camps 00:20:27.92\00:20:30.26 and through almost being shot. 00:20:30.29\00:20:34.66 And he was such a serene and courageous person. 00:20:34.70\00:20:40.87 You know, he listened to Voice of America 00:20:40.90\00:20:43.77 in the morning and read the Bible 00:20:43.81\00:20:45.77 when he could be taken away again. 00:20:45.81\00:20:49.28 You know, he didn't care and he had 00:20:49.31\00:20:51.25 the Pravda and his Vesti on his table, 00:20:51.28\00:20:55.32 and he would read what the Soviet authorities said, 00:20:55.35\00:20:59.12 what the American authority said, 00:20:59.15\00:21:01.56 then he would open God's word and then he would say to me 00:21:01.59\00:21:04.19 and then I read what God says, you know. 00:21:04.23\00:21:07.80 And I don't care what they say, you know. 00:21:07.83\00:21:10.80 And I immediately thought of my mom, my dad and I thought, 00:21:10.83\00:21:15.97 they stuck with it. 00:21:16.00\00:21:18.27 And, you know, I thought my dad 00:21:18.31\00:21:21.04 is such an educated person. 00:21:21.08\00:21:23.31 He loves the Bible. 00:21:23.35\00:21:25.41 He loves the greatest world literature. 00:21:25.45\00:21:28.42 He loves the arts. He loves history. 00:21:28.45\00:21:32.65 He loves the intellectual heritage of humanity 00:21:32.69\00:21:37.76 and he is not afraid. 00:21:37.79\00:21:39.59 Yes. 00:21:39.63\00:21:40.96 There you go, you know, that voice said to me. 00:21:41.00\00:21:44.70 And that's where I had to really stand on my own faith, 00:21:44.73\00:21:50.51 on my own feet and no longer believe 00:21:50.54\00:21:53.41 with the faiths of my mom and my dad 00:21:53.44\00:21:56.28 and no longer kind of be a Christian because 00:21:56.31\00:21:59.68 they were Christians, that was the time 00:21:59.71\00:22:04.05 when the umbilical cord was cut 00:22:04.09\00:22:07.16 and God gave me a new lifeline, you know. 00:22:07.19\00:22:11.49 And He said, I'm here with you. 00:22:11.53\00:22:14.40 It kind of reminds you a little bit 00:22:14.43\00:22:15.76 of a story of Joseph. 00:22:15.80\00:22:17.83 Where on that travel to Egypt, he has to make 00:22:17.87\00:22:21.00 the determination, I'm gonna serve God 00:22:21.04\00:22:23.71 for myself and not for what my father wanted. 00:22:23.74\00:22:27.18 Right. 00:22:27.21\00:22:28.54 Your father, getting back to your father 00:22:28.58\00:22:30.18 was an intellectual, a brilliant man, a godly man. 00:22:30.21\00:22:34.45 He is an artist too, right? Yes. And an artist. 00:22:34.48\00:22:37.22 He also had a dream, a vision to give a gift 00:22:37.25\00:22:42.02 to the Russian people. 00:22:42.06\00:22:43.39 What was that, Michael? 00:22:43.43\00:22:45.09 To give them God's word 00:22:45.13\00:22:49.20 in the great Russian language 00:22:49.23\00:22:53.34 because in his youth when he was a teenager, 00:22:53.37\00:22:56.20 he learned German and then later in labor camps, 00:22:56.24\00:23:00.94 some intellectuals taught him English. 00:23:00.98\00:23:04.68 And some rabbis taught him biblical Hebrew 00:23:04.71\00:23:09.62 and he learned biblical Greek. 00:23:09.65\00:23:12.05 And he compared it to the Synodal translation 00:23:12.09\00:23:15.26 which he loved and revered 00:23:15.29\00:23:17.63 because that was the only Russian translation 00:23:17.66\00:23:19.79 but he could see comparing it with 00:23:19.83\00:23:22.23 Martin Luther's translation and with King James in English 00:23:22.26\00:23:27.80 that that was not an accurate, always accurate rendition. 00:23:27.84\00:23:31.97 For instance the place where the Bible says 00:23:32.01\00:23:34.68 and Enoch walked with God. 00:23:34.71\00:23:37.38 You know, the Russian Synodal translation 00:23:37.41\00:23:39.58 said and Enoch walked before God because 00:23:39.61\00:23:42.38 the Russian translators were scared to say walked with God. 00:23:42.42\00:23:47.52 They felt it was irreverent to say that 00:23:47.56\00:23:51.63 or and he had a dream that because he read 00:23:51.66\00:23:56.77 the greatest Russian literature which was permeated 00:23:56.80\00:24:00.97 with Christian ideals and was helping Russian people 00:24:01.00\00:24:06.51 during the atheistic time to have access 00:24:06.54\00:24:10.81 to Christian values 00:24:10.85\00:24:14.55 when they were deprived of the scriptures. 00:24:14.58\00:24:17.62 And his dream was to give the Russian people 00:24:17.65\00:24:21.52 the Bible as it is in the language of Pushkin 00:24:21.56\00:24:27.50 and Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. 00:24:27.53\00:24:29.53 Right. 00:24:29.56\00:24:30.90 And he didn't live to see 00:24:30.93\00:24:32.27 the completion of that work, did he? 00:24:32.30\00:24:33.84 No. 00:24:33.87\00:24:35.20 But this and this is where your story 00:24:35.24\00:24:36.57 is so compelling, Michael. 00:24:36.60\00:24:38.41 In many ways his mantle fell on your shoulders. 00:24:38.44\00:24:42.28 Yes, it was and it is a fearsome responsibility. 00:24:42.31\00:24:47.25 And you picked up the work 00:24:47.28\00:24:48.72 and have you completed the translation? 00:24:48.75\00:24:51.29 By God's grace with the help of myriads of God's children 00:24:51.32\00:24:56.76 within our denomination 00:24:56.79\00:24:59.13 outside of the boundaries... 00:24:59.16\00:25:02.16 You know, God showed to me during this time 00:25:02.20\00:25:04.47 that he has his faithful agents 00:25:04.50\00:25:09.10 in absolutely unexpected places who came 00:25:09.14\00:25:12.87 with reverence and said, we want to be of help, 00:25:12.91\00:25:16.01 we want to give our expertise, 00:25:16.04\00:25:19.08 our education to this God's cause. 00:25:19.11\00:25:23.72 Where can people learn more about that project, Michael? 00:25:23.75\00:25:27.06 You can go to www.russianbible.org 00:25:27.09\00:25:32.06 to become friends and supporters 00:25:32.09\00:25:34.73 because even though the Bible is completing, 00:25:34.76\00:25:37.33 we now have a new challenge. 00:25:37.37\00:25:39.83 While the layout is finished, 00:25:39.87\00:25:42.77 we need to share it with every Russian home. 00:25:42.80\00:25:47.08 Unfortunately we're out of time. 00:25:47.11\00:25:49.28 Michael, could you just give us in 30 seconds, 00:25:49.31\00:25:51.55 just look into the camera to the viewers 00:25:51.58\00:25:53.38 and in 30 seconds tell them how we can develop 00:25:53.42\00:25:56.72 the courage to stand up for our faith. 00:25:56.75\00:26:00.82 You are God's daughter, you are His son. 00:26:00.86\00:26:07.50 He loves you, He knows where you lay 00:26:07.53\00:26:10.57 your head on the pillow 00:26:10.60\00:26:12.00 and He knows when your pillow is wet of your tears. 00:26:12.03\00:26:17.34 He knows of your triumphs. 00:26:17.37\00:26:19.11 He believes in you. 00:26:19.14\00:26:21.61 He knows you with all of your weaknesses. 00:26:21.64\00:26:25.41 And he has a great dream for you. 00:26:25.45\00:26:29.52 You are His precious, precious child. 00:26:29.55\00:26:33.36 Michael, we thank you so much for sharing your story, 00:26:33.39\00:26:35.96 the story of your father, 00:26:35.99\00:26:37.33 the story of your family with us. 00:26:37.36\00:26:39.53 We've been here another episode of Stones of Remembrance. 00:26:39.56\00:26:43.16 And I don't know if you felt the passion of Michael 00:26:43.20\00:26:45.40 but we felt it here in the studio. 00:26:45.43\00:26:47.40 As a reminder that when you have those 00:26:47.44\00:26:49.60 challenging moments, mark them, God will restore 00:26:49.64\00:26:53.54 and He will let you know that He is there. 00:26:53.58\00:26:55.91 For Karen Pearson and myself Pierre Quinn, 00:26:55.94\00:26:58.01 we'll see you next time. 00:26:58.05\00:26:59.38 Take care. 00:26:59.41\00:27:00.75 As you read this book, be prepared for some 00:27:29.78\00:27:32.21 shocking surprises and straightforward answers 00:27:32.25\00:27:35.18 from beloved author and evangelist, Mark Finley. 00:27:35.22\00:27:38.19 This little books asks and answers questions 00:27:38.22\00:27:40.56 about the Bible Sabbath, its origins, its history, 00:27:40.59\00:27:43.79 and its relevance today. 00:27:43.83\00:27:45.93 In his easy-to-read conversational style 00:27:45.96\00:27:48.50 of writing, Elder Finley draws from his years of experience 00:27:48.53\00:27:51.97 in pastoral work to reach people from all walks of life. 00:27:52.00\00:27:56.17 When God said, Remember is the perfect book 00:27:56.20\00:27:59.57 to share with friends, family, colleagues, 00:27:59.61\00:28:02.54 and even strangers who want to know more about the Sabbath. 00:28:02.58\00:28:06.61 Quantity pricing is available. 00:28:06.65\00:28:09.38 To get your copy of When God Said Remember, 00:28:09.42\00:28:12.62 call 1-800-765-6955. 00:28:12.65\00:28:17.73 Stop by your local Adventist Book Center 00:28:17.76\00:28:20.66 or order online today at AdventistBookCenter.com. 00:28:20.70\00:28:26.23