Talking about new birth, whilst giving birth!

Many Christians are familiar with Peter’s exhortation, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” The following testimony emphasises the ‘always’ in this command.

Monty, an OM team member from the USA, and Tanya, from Siberia, were married in 2009. They live in the Siberian town of Rubsovsk where they make up the OM Rubsovsk team with Tanya’s 11 year old daughter, Zhenya.

Around 6pm on 7 January 2010, Tanya felt as if it might be her big day – a day for which she had been waiting and preparing for the previous nine months. Her baby was due. Becoming a little scared as her contractions become more regular, Tanya called another lady from her church, who promptly took action and called an ambulance. As the ambulance arrived, Zhenya, Tanya’s daughter, and the pastor of the church, arrived from an orphanage where they had been doing outreach. The pastor prayed on the street for Tanya and the unborn child, as the nurse from the ambulance assessed Tanya and confirmed that it was indeed time to go to the hospital.

In most Russian hospitals it is forbidden for the husband to be present with his wife as she gives birth, and so, despite his protests, Monty was sent home. Before going into labour, Tanya had already thought about how she might share her faith with others after the birth, when everything would be calm and there would be a chance to talk with the other new mums as they lay there, feeding their babies. However, things turned out a little differently from her expectations.

In this particular hospital, the delivery room was shared by three women, all giving birth at the same time. As each of their labours intensified they started to chat and share a little about their families to pass the time. Tanya duly talked about Monty’s work as a pastor and Christian worker, and how their family believed in Jesus Christ.

In this particular hospital, the delivery room was shared by three women

As the other women began to experience more and more pain, they started to call out a typical Russian exclamation, “Oh Lord! Oh Lord!” Troubled to hear the Lord’s name being taken in vain like this, Tanya asked the other women if they ever prayed. The first replied that she didn’t know how. The other recounted how her mother had given her a copy of the Lord’s Prayer on a little card – but she couldn’t recall it. Tanya then encouraged them to pray to God with their own simple words and to learn the Lord’s Prayer. She then led by example and prayed for the two women, who joined in with the ‘Amen!’

Tanya then continued to share the Gospel, explaining that Christians believe that Jesus is God, that He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. She went on to say to these ladies that the most important thing we need to do it to repent of all of our sins, encouraging them to ask God to forgive them and receive Jesus Christ into their lives.

When these ladies were in great pain, Tanya prayed for them. When Tanya was in great pain she prayed for herself.

When these ladies were in great pain, Tanya prayed for them. When Tanya was in great pain she prayed for herself. When the first lady gave birth, Tanya prayed that God would bless her and her new born child. She asked God to give this new born child good health and that all will go well with the mother. 

A short time later, Tanya gave birth. After holding her tiny, perfectly formed new daughter, Tanya kept on repeating loudly, for all to hear, “Praise the Lord, Praise You, Praise the Lord, Bless You, Bless You!”

Next time we are tempted to keep quiet about our faith because we feel that the timing is inconvenient to share, let’s remember Tanya’s story.

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