Can’t Live Without God

Katia Poberezhna attended her first basketball camp in 2010, and she’s been coming back every year since. She came originally because wanted to learn to play basketball better to fulfill her dream of playing professional basketball. But God had other thing in mind for her. Now she’s here as a coach, and she brings most of her team with her from the Ukraine.

Here is her story, through translator Marina Ignatova:

"Before knowing God, I wasn’t a bad person. I didn’t smoke, or use alcohol or drugs. In some ways, I always believed in God and knew Him in some way. I considered myself as a believer. I was thinking that Jesus was kind of my brother. Sometimes I even prayed.

"But I really got to know God when I repented. That’s when I started to have a real relationship with Him.

"In 2010, I was working in Kiev and studying there, and I really wanted to play basketball professionally. But God another plan for me. I was invited to go to the international basketball camp in Poland; it was this camp. I agreed because it was a great chance to play more seriously and to meet other players.

"At this camp I saw people who were totally different from the people I had met before. They were friendly and open, and there was no rush here like I was used to in Ukraine.

"Before the camp, my main goal in life was to get married. I considered it very important in my life. I talked to a friend—her name is Ania Gnatenko—here at camp. Now she is my spiritual mentor. I talked with her about my goal of getting married. She said, “If you get married and then your husband gets into an accident and passes away, what do you then?” After that, I started thinking about the real purpose in life.

"Ania started inviting me to church in Ukraine. I had never been to church there. Something was always happening to keep me away. Then she invited me to a conference called “How Great Is Our God.” While I was there, I realized how sinful I was and I repented. I realized everything that Jesus did for me, and that He died for my sins.

"After that, God started changing me. When I went back to work and I heard people talking, something was wrong with how they were talking. They were saying bad things and ugly things. Before that it was just okay. But now it was strange, and I realized that it was not good. Ania told me that the Holy Spirit lived in me, and He changed my heart.

"I started going to the small groups. They were sharing and talking about their feelings, and that was hard for me. I was living in the dormitory at that time, and those friends had an influence on me. This was a very difficult time in my life. I also was scared to tell my Dad and my other relatives that I started going to church.

"I know that when people repent they go to Paradise. I love my Dad so much, and I couldn’t think about the fact that he might go to Hell if he did not repent. All those factors, work, living in a dormitory and my family all took me away from God. I got separated from God and the church.

"Living like that, day by day, I finally realized that I could not live without God anymore. I cannot do anything with Him.

"I had this strange idea. I started praying to God, asking him to let me be in an accident. I had heard that if you were in an accident and in a coma, you see this light and somehow you are changed. Fortunately, God was merciful to me. He didn’t let me be in an accident.

"In 2012, a group of men came to Kiev from Memphis (in the U.S.). They were there to participate in a week of basketball competition in a Christian league. I spent the whole week with them. One of their leaders, Derrick, started talking with me, and I told him the whole story of my life. I told them that I was scared to tell my Dad that I was a Christian. He said, “Do you not think that when Jesus went to the cross that He was not scared?” Of course He was. Derrick told me, “He did it anyway. Why can’t you do the same with your Dad for Jesus?”

"In the last day of competition, we were playing “knock out” and I had an accident and tore my Achilles. Not playing basketball gave me a second chance to become His child.

"He cares so much about me, and I’ve found that He’s so close to me, particularly at that moment. I was really scared to go through surgery; to me it felt like I was dying. I prayed, and God gave me a peace before the surgery. As I was waiting for the surgery, God told me, “Your earthly Dad may not be here, but I am here with you.”

"God was with me during the surgery and after the surgery as I had to recover. My favorite verse during that time was Job 2:10, “He (Job) replied (to his wife), ‘…Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

"I started reading the Bible and it became clear to me at that time. Before that it was harder. I got involved in church and small groups. I got baptized and I started taking the Lord’s Supper. I finally got the real purpose in my life. I want to praise the Lord in everything I do.

"My Dad told me that I was changing him, but I know that it’s not me. It’s God working through me to change him.

"I want to serve Him, and I’ve started to participate in different Christian camps. I have told my relatives and close friends that I go to church. It was hard, but God gave me strength. I am so happy about having this salvation. It is wonderful to have a purpose in life. God’s truths are open to me now.

"God can use you to change people you really love, and He is using me. Now He is my only strength and He helps me deal with every struggle in my life. He knows me better than I do.

"Now I work as a coach in my city. This year, I brought my girls (players) to this camp. Two girls couldn’t come with us, but I know that God will bring them to church as well."

Marina Ignatova and Katia Poberezhna