Fimiam Baptist Church

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Dmytro Shevchuk

I remember the warm summer evening. One young guy was squatting in a garden. Only a green tree and young guys were witnesses of all that happened that evening.

When I looked at the eyes of the other guy who had taken an injection of dark liquid, his eyes were full of astonishment mixed with fear.

Feeling nervous, I rolled up my sleeve and gave my hand. The shiny tip of a needle went through my skin and into the vein… in a minute my sight was blurred and it was hard to breathe. I felt unfathomable freedom and self-confidence.

I was 17 years old. A thought came to me: “I need this feeling with me always.” In spite of everything said about drug addiction, after the first year of drug use I did not feel any changes. I had just a little bit of discomfort when I could not find a drug.

On the other hand, my romantic nature began to be nourished with drugs. Opium gave me inspiration to live, think and be happy…I often called myself a happy person.

When “experienced” drug users told me that I was “caught,” I did not believed them. I replied: “Contrary to you, I control my drug use.” That is the phrase that young drug users say to the older ones.

I entered the university after the army. Life continued.

I first thought about the consequences of drug usage while watching the results of this practice in my friends’ lives. The “fruits” of drug usage were awful: one had his leg amputated, another had his body rot, another disappeared, and another went prison. …sometimes I was scared, but the pull of drugs was stronger. I would not confess that I was a drug addict and this future waited for me. This would happen to somebody else, but not to me. But the process of decay began. It destroyed Shevchuk Dmytro Victorovuch, who was born in 1980.

It is awful to watch yourself in a situation when the things which previously brought you joy now bring you disgust. A multi-colored life began to be grey and monotonous. My mother could not recognize her son in me. She said that I was different.

Shake is much more awful than you can imagine. Body parts tire from pain and the soul cannot find a place. Only one thought reigns in the brain, “I need a drug.” It is like a deep depression multiplied 100 times. The mind cannot find an answer to the question: “As such a young guy, why can I not stop this decay and degradation?”

The end was approaching…

One time when I was in a drug haunt, the mother of one drug addict gave me a brochure “The Truth about Drugs.” On the back side of it I found the address of Fimiam Church. I saw pictures of some former drug addicts who used to be my friends. A ray of hope appeared in my life. These young people received freedom from drugs. They told how Jesus had saved them.

On March 10, 2001 I came to the rehabilitation center “Transformation.” I was covered with warmth and love. I did not realize that at that point in my life God was already working in my heart. I was drastically changed. I repented. I woke up a new person one morning. It is hard to explain verbally. It seems like your eyes were closed and suddenly you begin to see the way of your life that you have been looking for so long.

I was born again.

I felt forgiveness, freedom from all bondages, joy and the love of God. Jesus saved me and gave a new life. I read the Bible and understand it. I know the goal and the calling of my life.

All of my perverted values became righteous. Christ lives in my heart. All that was lost was found again.

Out of despair I received hope - hatred was changed to love.

I am 28. I am living with God for 2.5 years. I devote my life to serving the Lord.

“I was lost. The Lord came and gave me a new life.”