By Izabella McMillion, Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Recipient
Finding Faith in the Darkness of Communist Romania
I was just a child and I did not fully understand the dangers lurking around us.
Our black and white world in Communist Romania was marked by the government’s control over every aspect of our lives: the food we could have, the clothes we could wear, where we could live and work, what we could say or believe.
Amid darkness, God prepared faithful heroes who would influence me, who would be like grandparents to me, and who dared to live with a heart for eternity despite opposition: Pastor István and Pastor Miklós.
God was not welcome within the walls of communism. We were robbed of the freedom to hear His name or believe in Him. But I saw God punch holes in spiritual darkness with the power of the Gospel. No government could hold Him back. No man-made laws could ever bind Him. The light was shining in the darkness, and darkness could do nothing about it! John 1:5 was alive within the deadly walls of oppression.
A Hidden Bible and the First Ray of Light
The first ray of light in my life was a hidden Bible found under the floorboards of our small apartment the government assigned us to. I was only seven years old and had never heard God’s name spoken before, nor was I aware of His existence and love for me. God opened unexpected doors for me to learn about Him. In fifth grade, a brave classmate invited me to the underground church he had been attending. It was at that tiny home hidden in a dark alley where a fearless pastor took me under his wing and started discipling me. He radiated with the light of the Gospel.
Pastor István and the Power of Discipling Children
At this little underground church with twelve kids in a circle and Pastor István reading us stories, I learned much about who God was. My pastor focused on teaching us to know God’s Word. Despite the fear communism instilled in many, children were soaking up Scriptures. Pastor István knew that children had the faith Jesus praises in Mark 10:14.
With heart and eyes focused on eternity, he lived out what he knew to be true: Jesus values children.
In Mark Chapter 10 as the disciples try to turn children away from seeing Jesus, verse 14 says that “when Jesus saw this, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the Kingdom of God.”
I learned much later in life that my pastor would spend 4 hours on his knees praying every Saturday before we arrived for ‘story time’. He prayed that God would use His Word to take root in our hearts. He prayed we too would carry the torch of the Gospel in the darkness. He understood from Jesus that children have faith that is simple, trusting, and dependent. And that is exactly how we all are called to come to Him.
I learned from my brave pastor who took risks every Saturday evening that I was valuable to Jesus. I learned from him how to be fearless and proclaim the Gospel even when it seems impossible. I learned from him to fight for children to know the Word of God, so now I too can live out Mark 10:14 with boldness. And today, I challenge you to do the same: provide a way for the children around you, your grandchildren, to come to Jesus. Let’s not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to them!
Pastor István also taught me how to pray and boldly declared that God always answers prayers.
Winters were extra hard. Food was more scarce than usual, electricity rarely available, and the only way we could have fun outside was if it snowed. So, my heart was set on one main prayer as I waited for God to prove to me that He indeed answers prayers. I was just a 13-year-old girl with a simple request: ‘God, I do not like the cold outside. Will you prove to me you hear me and give me snow?’ I expected Him to answer with fluffy white snow the next day. But He did not. For two months with no snow in sight, I was so disappointed and wondered what was wrong with my prayers. Then I gave God a deadline. I told Him He had three weeks, until Christmas day to prove He was real by answering my prayer. When Christmas Day came without snow, I was ready to give up on Him.
But God is never ready to give up on us, and my faithful pastor made sure I knew that. He truly was like a loving grandparent on my journey, guiding me every step of the way to discover for myself who the God of the Bible was.
How God Used a Child to Open a Door
It was the day after Christmas. Word on the street was that something was at the grocery store. Running on the streets, out of breath, hoping to get there on time, we saw three small trucks filled with colorful shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child. No ration coupons or money needed – they were given to the kids with no strings attached, unconditionally with a clear message: God loves you. I could not believe it. I stared at my colorful shoebox gift. It was like a splash of color in my black and white world. Inside came the answer to my prayers. A silver and blue snow globe lit up my faith in God in ways I never expected. Not what I imagined, but I knew in that moment without a shadow of a doubt that God heard my prayer and He answered in His timing and in His way. I recognized Him that day because of the faithful guidance of Pastor István on my journey. That was the day I gave my life fully to Jesus Christ and trusted Him to guide me for the rest of the journey.
Learning to Trust God in the Waiting
You too might be sitting in God’s waiting room today. I pray you recognize His answer when it comes. He carefully crafts our waiting to shape our view of Him, so we can recognize that there is nothing He cannot overcome!
I am grateful for that hidden Bible and my first hero of the faith, Pastor István.
The Grandparent Figure Who Guided My Faith
Then another hero of the faith and grandparent figure came along when I was 19 years old to further shape my faith walk: Pastor Miklós.
Circumstances taught us to be strong. When life was hard, the appropriate response was to swallow my tears, stand up straight, and keep moving forward. The problem with this kind of strength was that we were all crumbling on the inside without admitting it. Sweeping things under the rug did not solve our problems nor answer our questions.
Pastor Miklós and the Courage to Stand Firm
Years after communism had fallen, I learned in my first year of seminary from my Church History professor, Pastor Miklós, what true strength was. He showed me the true meaning behind 1 Corinthians 16:13, and what it meant to ‘be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.’ He spent sixteen years of his life in a harsh Romanian prison for his faith. He was offered the opportunity once daily to be free and go home to his family, if only he would turn his back on Jesus. And for sixteen years, every day, he decided to stand firm in his faith and be strong for Christ. That is real strength.
What True Strength Looks Like
I confess I have no desire to suffer like those who have become my heroes. But I also pray that when testing comes, I will stand for Christ and not give in to fear and cowardice. Jesus has promised to give us the strength to go through any trial, but it is up to us to choose to stand for Him.
Being a Christ follower might be interpreted by many around us as unloving or unkind. We might be ridiculed and disregarded. We might be labeled as closed-minded and unreasonable, called names and treated unkindly. We might have to fight for what we believe in. Whatever it takes, we cannot allow the voice of hate and ungodliness to tempt us into passivity. Among God’s children, there is no place for cowards.
So, grandparents, ‘be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.’ 1 Corinthians 16:13
Live With a Heart for Eternity
I am grateful for grandparent figures in my life who showed me the value of living with a heart for eternity. May you do the same with your grandchildren, teaching them to be disciples and make disciples with hearts for eternity. Teach them to trust that God would be true to His promises, that they can stand firmly on them knowing He will keep His Word.
A Legacy That Shines in the Darkness
One simple and fun way to teach them could be packing Operations Christmas Child shoeboxes with your grandchildren. Each shoebox gift is the opportunity to shape millions of lives all around the world with the Gospel message. The link to use is samaritanspurse.org/occ. You can help someone else come to know the God who keeps promises and brings light to the darkness. Together, we can all be a part of someone’s discipleship journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christian Grandparents and Passing On Faith
How can grandparents help their grandchildren grow in faith?
Grandparents can help their grandchildren grow in faith by praying for them, teaching them God’s Word, sharing personal stories of God’s faithfulness, and modeling a life that follows Jesus. Small, consistent acts of intentional discipleship can have an eternal impact.
Why is spiritual influence important for grandparents?
Grandparents have a unique opportunity to influence the spiritual lives of their grandchildren. By living out their faith and intentionally pointing their grandchildren toward Jesus, grandparents can help the next generation know God’s truth and develop a lasting faith.
How can grandparents teach grandchildren to trust God?
Grandparents can teach grandchildren to trust God by sharing how God has answered prayers, remained faithful through difficult circumstances, and kept His promises. They can also encourage grandchildren to pray and help them recognize God’s answers, even when those answers look different than expected.
How can grandparents help grandchildren stand firm in their faith?
Grandparents can help grandchildren stand firm by teaching them Scripture, encouraging them to know what they believe, praying with them, and modeling courage and faithfulness. When grandparents demonstrate what it means to stand firm for Christ, they give grandchildren a powerful example to follow.
What does it mean to live with a heart for eternity?
Living with a heart for eternity means viewing everyday opportunities through the lens of God’s eternal purposes. For grandparents, this means recognizing that their influence matters and intentionally investing in their grandchildren so they and future generations can know and follow Christ.
