Shalom! My name is Margo. I thank God for the honor of being able to share my story with you. I was born in Moscow. As a girl, I studied at a prestigious English-focused school. But my family was broken: my dad abandoned us, and my mum led a dissolute life.

When I finished school, my dad helped me to apply for university. I got in, but didn’t finish. I made friends who lived freely, did whatever they wanted, and took drugs. Eventually I did drugs too. I enjoyed it and I thought I could control it. I was a drug addict for about 20 years.

When I first started, in the 1980s, in the Soviet Union, drug use was uncommon. But in the 1990s, there was a massive flow of drugs in our country and no chance to get away from it. But good news–Jesus came to the country as well! He rescued many of those being led away to death, including me.

I first heard about Jesus in 1997, while I was in jail. At that point, I was still doing drugs, and my blurry mind couldn’t understand anything. But God had a plan for my salvation. In prison I saw a copy of the New Testament and started reading it, but nothing changed. Then I read a book in which the author told how he became a believer. I didn’t even have such a word “believer” in my vocabulary. In the Soviet Union we were taught that God didn’t exist, and people were imprisoned for religious beliefs. When I asked the women in my cell, “Who are these ‘believers’?” they answered that believers were very funny people talking about God and singing songs to a guitar. Immediately I wanted to be with them.

At one point, during the 11.5 years that I was in prison, I saw a woman with a book in her hands. I knew right away what kind of book it was, and simply asked her, “Where?” She led me to an assembly hall where a man was reading something from this Book. I walked to the end of the hall and sat down. When I heard the Word, tears ran down my face non-stop. I suddenly understood the purpose of my being in that horrible place was to hear this Word. I was completely undone. I realized with gratitude that my Heavenly Father had not abandoned me, He had a plan to rescue me and give me freedom.

After my release, I was invited to a training class hosted by Chosen to Speak. Since I was a leader of a home Bible study group, I thought it might help me be a better leader. It was hard at first, because it was online and there was an 8-hour time difference between my coach and me. But I felt this was something I had to do. As we began to study the book of Exodus and the life of Moses, I began to see this story in a different way. We talked about Moses’ character and his fears. Week after week, I felt like I was on a journey with him, and that I was being called to participate in his mission to lead people to freedom.

I found lots of helpful ways to improve my ministry too. I was learning how important it is to listen to people’s problems and be ready to help. I now listen to God better too. I learned that when God calls you, He will show you his plan. God called me to be an evangelist, and He continually shows me people who need to hear about Him.

This book and the training is not for someone who wants to see a formula for how to become a great leader through studying. It’s for those who want to find themselves in God, to find His calling, and to walk in His grace. This book will help strengthen your faith, stay hopeful and learn to love. I’m really grateful for this training, brother Dave, and my mentor Kathleen.