Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage.
Valerie, a young Russian girl, had been trained in all the beliefs of communism. She was an ardent leader among the young communists and so bold and outspoken against God that she earned for herself the nickname, “The Godless.”
Yet it was for sinners such as she that Christ died, and the wonderful message of the gospel was being preached in a careful way by some faithful Christians. Valerie heard the sweet story of redeeming love and bowed to its claims. One day she put her trust in the Saviour.
She was miserable when she remembered all she had said and done against God; in fact she had sought to impress on the young minds of her hearers oftentimes that “There is no God.” Now she wanted to attend the godless group meeting and tell them that there was a God and that she had put her trust in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as her Saviour.
Her friends advised her not to attend, but something compelled her to go.
After the singing of one of their communist songs, Valerie asked permission to speak. Stepping onto the platform where she had often stood, she told her new story of the love of the Lord Jesus in coming from heaven to die for sinners, and she begged her audience to leave their sinful ways and follow Christ.
Silence reigned; no one interrupted her. Then her voice broke the silence as she sang, “I am not ashamed to proclaim the Christ who died for me”—then she was arrested!
Valerie was only nineteen, and prison life was hard. She grew pale and frail behind the bars, but never regretted what she had done, for the Lord sustained her.
“If I were freed today,” she said, “I would tell my people still of the love of Christ. I am happy that the Lord loves me so much that He allows me to suffer for His sake.”
Then the news came—she was sent to Siberia. She helped a weaker woman to do her work as well as her own. Twelve and thirteen hours a day she slaved, but she could not be silenced. As long as life lasted she wanted to tell others of the love of Jesus who had saved her and still sought the lost and perishing.
In the Russian prison barracks half the inmates were Christians and it was a great comfort to Valerie to meet with other believers to sing of the Saviour and to have quiet times of prayer. From them she learned what baptism meant and now she wished to be baptized. One night they managed to reach the river where they broke the ice, and she and seven other believers were baptized.
From prison she wrote: “With Christ we are free everywhere. Oh how happy I am.” Prison could not bind her spirit; she was supremely happy, for she felt the presence of her Saviour with her night and day. She was like one of old who also was a prisoner of Jesus Christ and wrote saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.... for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil. 4:4,114Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11).)
ML-07/30/1978