Joseph Bondarenko’s biography, The KGB’s Most Wanted: The Story of Joseph Bondarenko, Russian Evangelist, is a harrowing story of suffering for the cause of Christ. In his own words, we get to read about Bondarenko’s experience in the former Soviet Union where he was intimidated, persecuted, and ultimately imprisoned three separate times for his faith.
If you’ve kept up with my posts, you know that I recently read Eric Metaxas’s biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I couldn’t help but see the similarities to Bondarenko’s account. As Christians in a quickly shifting culture, it behooves us to read these books and prepare ourselves to stand for our faith in the face of true persecution.
Bondarenko grew up under the shadow of prejudice against his family’s faith. He was prepared to answer the questions, face the interrogations, and go underground when necessary. Every time the prison guards nearly broke him, God gave him strength whether it was through an interaction with another inmate, a communication from a loved one, or even a vision in the privacy of his solitary cell.
In the midst of his suffering, we get the privilege of witnessing a love story as Bondarenko met and married Maria. As his family grew, the danger did not diminish, and Maria was forced to raise their children alone for many years as Bondarenko evaded the authorities and was was ultimately captured for a third prison term. One of the most moving scenes in the book is when his family visited him in prison.
In the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse, Bondarenko has returned to the prison and the KGB office where he faced down the enemy. He has used his experience to encourage others to stand for their faith. I imagine one day he will hear those precious words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
0 Comments