My name is Vladimir, and this is my story.
For 17 years I used drugs. I grew up in a family of alcoholics, where I learned to drink and to smoke. I saw this every day and considered it normal.
I started smoking, when I was 5 years old, drinking when I was 12, and at the age of 15 I used drugs for the first time. I really liked it and enjoyed such a life.
At that time, I had a dream to have a lot of money and a lot of drugs. One day it came true, but it didn’t make me happy. I realized that I was a slave of the drugs and they possessed me. I understood that I was trapped and nobody could help me. Many times I was at the hospital to clear my body of the drugs. But the first thing I did after I left the hospital was to get a dose of drugs. Neither hospitals nor doctors could help me.
All the members of my family died because of drinking. When my mom was the last one to die, I left my home and started to live at my friend’s, who also was a drug addict. I realized the meaninglessness and hopelessness of my life and I didn’t want to live any more. Often, being drunk, I walked on the roads so that a car would hit and kill me
One day my friend, who had become a Christian told me that I should search for God, because only He could change my life. He invited me to a meeting at the church and I saw many former drug addicts and former alcoholics, who were happy and praised God. Then I got hope, that if God could change them, He was able to change me. I repented and asked God for forgiveness and to become the Lord of my life. I finished a rehabilitation program at a rehab center and became a follower of Christ. God gave me new life; He set me free from drugs and alcohol, He miraculously healed me from Hepatitis, He gave me a wonderful wife and children. I have been a Christian for 11 years.
As soon as I received freedom, I went to my former friends and shared what God did in my life. Many of them became Christians and were set free from the bonds of drugs. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36
My house used to be a drug house, where a lot of sins were committed. When my mom passed away, I left the house and it began to go to ruin. Later I restored my house, but the most amazing thing is that my former friends who came to my house to use drugs or to drink are now believers and come to my house to praise God.
You can watch the video about the transformation of my life and my house as well.
