12. God takes care of His children in their needs
God takes care of His children in their needs The preacher from the Pentecostal church in Burgas, Bulgaria, Georg Černev, longed to visit me in Bratislava. So he sent me a telegram. But the telegram came at the same time when his train arrived to the railway station in Bratislava. It was a difficult situation for him to find me. In spite of this I went to the railway station by bus. During the way God inspired me to get off the bus at the bus stop close to the Danube River. I continued going on foot over the bridge. In the middle of the bridge I noticed a person stretching out his hands. It was the brother Černev from Bulgaria. We embraced each other and praised God: “Hallelujah.” On another occasion I got a telegram from Germany that about ten believers wanted to visit me in Bratislava. It was also too late when the telegram arrived. Therefore I could not prepare for my visitors. I was thinking about what I should do. But the Holy Spirit led me to pray. After praying God gave me peace in my heart and I was not worried. Through inspiration I stood up and went to the window. As I looked out I saw a woman carrying a big package. She came into my house, brought me the package and put it on the table. When we opened it I was surprised - it was full of slices of roast beef, there were salads and a lot of cakes too. Hallelujah! I was moved by how God had provided for my visitors. He cares for his people in a wonderful way. There was enough for all the visitors and still some remained!
Once we had big expenses and no money in our purse. What shall I do, I was thinking. After a few hours, God led me by inspiration to go to the post box. There was a letter inside. I opened it and inside were 500 Slovak crowns. At that time it was enough for two weeks’ livelihood. Of course, the Holy Spirit often led me to take some food, clothing or money to other families. Once I went to the town of Jindřichův Hradec in the Czech Republic. When I arrived in the town I went shopping and bought some food. Then I entered the pastor’s house and put all these things on the table. The pastor’s wife said aloud: “You brought me all the things which I had to keep off the shopping trolley because I had not enough money to buy them.”
Once I was inspired by the Holy Spirit to go to a widow and bring her some money. She said: “All year I had enough money, but now I lack money, because I had large expenses.”
Another time I brought a suit to a poor family. A few weeks later I received a package from the USA and inside there was a beautiful new suit. We had a lot of similar experiences in our daily lives proving how God cares for common people.
All these experiences we had during the time of persecution of Christians. The persecution was taking place from 1948 to 1989. At that time we did not have official permission for gatherings. All our ministry had to be done illegally. Meetings, baptismal services, burials, holy communions etc. It was not easy. But we lived in the first love and therefore we were closer to God. He helped us in this hard situation. In the first love we can bear and do more for Him.
Therefore Jesus asked Peter three times: “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?” We must have great love for Jesus if we want to follow Him sincerely.
We were persecuted and sometimes also arrested. I was in prison three times. But God was with me there and blessed me through many wonderful experiences. We know that the first disciples had no easy situation. They were also persecuted. Therefore the apostle Paul said: “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Jesus also said: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).