Posted on Jan 2, 2008 | by Michael Logan

MOSCOW, Russia (BP)--Kathy Walton* knows the joy of sharing the Good News in Moscow. During her two years there, she has been drawn to immigrants from former Soviet republics.

"I've built up such good friendships with people from all walks of life," she said. "I didn't pick them out; they are just like magnets that God puts in my life. They're all hungry for the same thing."

One such person is Azniv Donoyan,* an Armenian immigrant who has become one of Walton's closest friends.

Walton began talking to Azniv about Jesus in the first conversation the two shared. Yet after more than a year of friendship and long talks about Christ, Azniv remained convinced her sins were too great for her salvation.

That changed about a year ago when Azniv came to Walton's apartment, weeping after an exhausting day.

"She told me several times she did not want to go on living," Walton said. "I told her that her life would never get any better without God. He promised in His Word that when we accept Him, He will never leave us alone."

Azniv listened but could not break out of her old patterns. She repeated that she did not want to go on living and reminded Walton she had committed too many sins for God to forgive her.

But Walton could tell something was changing. Azniv pointed to a poster of a prison cell on Walton's wall. The poster asked, "What is the toughest situation you have ever faced?"

"She had asked about the picture before, but this time she told me, 'I want to be free.' I said to her 'Let's pray and ask God to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart.'"

Azniv did exactly that and then looked up at Walton and prayed aloud, "I thank You for saving me and for sending Kathy to me."

Walton asked, "If you were to die right now where would you go?"

Azniv said with a grin, 'Well, of course I would go to heaven, because you said the Bible said I would."

Walton wants other Southern Baptists to experience that same smile.
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*Names changed for security reasons. Michael Logan is a writer for the International Mission Board.