Сергей Иванов - Свидетельство исцеления и новой жизни

I want to share what happened to me—from a life of addiction to complete recovery and gratitude to God. My journey wasn't easy: drug use, hospitals, methadone programs, prison, a rapid slide into nothingness. It seemed like there was no escape. But I'll tell you how my story gradually changed. I was born into an ordinary family in Minsk. There was no tragedy in my childhood, but from a young age, I fell into drug use—it was fashionable, and I "joined" that life. Over the years of addiction, I experienced everything that's commonly called a "gentleman's set": hospitalizations, methadone programs, prisons. As a result, I developed hepatitis and was close to simply being unable to stand up. One day, a friend who had just returned from the center appeared in my room. He told me about Christ and how his life had changed. I listened, and something inside me resonated. I sat down on the couch in the religious corner and quietly whispered, "God, please change my life." I didn't yet understand how God works, but it was a sincere request. Some time later, I was sent to prison. At first, I was angry: "You gave me the wrong thing, God!" — but only later did I realize it was a step to clear my mind and give me a chance to start over. Something began to change in me in prison. I got out and took steps that outwardly looked like I'd "made a career": restaurants, trips, things. But the emptiness remained. Later, I found myself in church and met the living God. This was another turning point. My wife and I first attended anonymous groups, then returned to church, and it became our place of true fulfillment. Thus began the process of restoring our relationship and life. One day, I noticed something strange with my eye — it was constantly swollen. At first, I attributed it to fatigue, but then my wife insisted: go see a doctor. An MRI revealed two tumors—one behind the eye, the other behind the throat, near the spine. The second was about 10 cm and penetrated the spinal canal, displacing the spinal cord by 50%. When they took a biopsy, they diagnosed cancer, stage four. The treatment turned out to be expensive: one course cost thousands of euros, and six blocks were needed. We didn't have that kind of money. We were thinking about selling our apartment and how to raise the money. The church and friends supported us, helping pay for the first block. This was the first real sign that we weren't fighting alone. I began to rely on the Word. I made it a rule to write out Scripture passages about healing and read them every night. There was one verse that really stuck in my heart: "I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord." Before one important prayer, my church and I fasted. I couldn't completely give up food due to the strength from the chemotherapy, but I gave up some things and spent time in prayer. At a prayer meeting, the pastor prayed for me. I felt a strong physical reaction—I started shaking, I fell, and felt as if something heavy had been released—the spirit of death, as the pastor had said in prayer. After this, I had a strong feeling that I was healed. That same day, I began speaking in tongues. After another MRI, some doctors said the tumor behind my eye was "not clearly visible," and later, there was complete regression. This was the first confirmation. The remaining tumor behind my cervical spine was still compressing my spinal cord. To take a biopsy and free the spinal cord, a major surgery was necessary, risking permanent disability or even the inability to open my eyes after anesthesia. I was offered treatment abroad for large sums of money, but they were waiting for the final decision. The surgery was performed in my city, and although the doctors prepared me for the worst, an unexpected outcome occurred. The surgeons later said that the piece of tissue compressing my spinal cord had been removed and was benign. This fragment no longer threatened my life or health. The doctors said that achieving such a result would have required more than just experience, but, as they said, something more—and I believe it was the gift of healing. When I came to after the surgery, the first thing I did was move my legs and arms. When I realized this, I cried with gratitude. My recovery was faster than anyone expected. Now I'm still undergoing treatment, but I can confidently say: I am healed. Hope is stronger than fear. When all around me are numbers and prognoses, faith and the support of a community give me the strength to move forward. Community saves. Church, friends, and ministry have become a source of practical and spiritual support—from prayer to fundraising. Faith and medicine can go hand in hand. I accepted treatment, but I also prayed and fasted. It's important not to pit faith and professional medical care against each other. Sincere repentance and a plea for help matter. My cry to that religious corner was the beginning of change. Today, I stand here and can testify: I am healed. M...