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Issue link: http://magazine.kcm.org/i/1050995
“Sometimes I got so excited that I was almost shouting when Brother Copeland was just talking. They told me to calm down. I was emotional because the concepts he was teaching were the same things the Lord had taught me to use to stand against that attack. “I’d been taught the British style of English in school, not the Texas kind. I had to learn to say things like, ‘I double dog dare you!’ and ‘Don’t look at me like a frog in a hailstorm!’ “I was recording 25 messages a month. I was so full of the Word that if anyone asked me a question, I preached a sermon.” That same year, Sergei and Natasha were married. In 1996, Sergei began teaching faith in the local Bible School. In 1997, he and Natasha attended KCM’s International Believers’ Convention in Birmingham, England. Brother Copeland called them backstage and said he had a word for them. “You were taught from the Word of God how to live in freedom,” Brother Copeland said. “Hold on to what you’ve been taught no matter what. Don’t let anyone or anything steal this from you.” The Power of a Name In 1998, Natasha gave birth to their daughter. Each of them sought the Lord for her name. Afterwards, they agreed to share the name they’d been given. “OK,” Sergei said, “you say your name first.” “No, you go first.” “Let’s do this,” Sergei suggested. “On the count of three, let’s each say a name.” One…two...three! “Vera!” They’d each heard the same name. In Russian, Vera meant faith. “We tried to live by faith in everything,” Sergei explains. “When I started doing voice-overs for Brother Copeland, we started applying the principles to our own life. We released our faith to own our own apartment without debt. Toward the end of 1999, we bought an apartment debt free. The following year, in 2000, real estate prices increased six or seven times. Although things had improved in Belarus, we’d always driven old, used cars. In 2010, we were blessed with a new car, debt free.” One of the messages that changed Sergei and Natasha’s life was a series of teachings Brother Copeland did with Mark Brazee on praying in tongues and speaking the mysteries of God. Although they’d taught the series earlier, it didn’t get translated into Russian until 1999. Praying Mysteries Sergei started praying in tongues for at least an hour a day. “It set me on fire,” Sergei recalls. “It was like putting a match to a dry forest. I believe I was praying out my future. I started getting new direction from God. He told me that He would send me to different churches, different cities and different places to teach the Word.” In 2001, the invitations started coming in. Over the years, Sergei has spoken in Norway, Finland, Germany, Israel and the U.S. In 2008, God connected him with Rick Renner, and the two men became friends. The Lord opened the door for Sergei to preach in Renner’s church in Moscow. When he’s not recording Brother Copeland’s messages in Russian, Sergei is ministering in the Russian-speaking world. In 2013, Sergei flew to Fort Worth to attend a minister’s conference. In 2018, he returned to attend KCM’s Southwest Believers’ Convention. “I’m so honored to be a Partner with KCM,” Sergei says. “Kenneth and Gloria are God’s generals in the Body of Christ. As we sow into this ministry, we see a worldwide impact.” These days, Sergei’s parents are still leaders of a home group in their church, sharing the gospel with all who will listen, and teaching faith. Today, Natasha, who has worked for KCM since 1994, is primarily responsible for translating the BVOV broadcasts into Russian. Sergei then uses the typed translations to do the voice-overs. Sergei and Natasha’s daughter, Vera, is 20 years old and lives up to her name, attending SWBC in Fort Worth in August. It’s been 23 years since Sergei began doing Russian voice-overs for Kenneth Copeland. Although he’s never counted, Sergei estimates he’s recorded 4,000 messages in Russian. Before each recording, he prays the same thing. “Lord, help me to join the anointing on Brother Copeland when he preached this message. Help me be in spiritual agreement with him.” The gospel is a universal language, Sergei says. It is the language of love, touching hearts and changing lives. V * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Join us in teaching believers how to use their faith. Partner with KCM KCM.ORG/PARTNERNOW 1-800-600-7395 U.S. only ********************************** BVOV : 15