In Christian circles, the name Shirinay Dosova is quite well-known. She is a Muslim converted to Christianity, a missionary, a founder of one of Moscow’s evangelical churches, a Bible teacher, an author of Christian books and TV shows.
In mid-December, sister Shirinay spent nearly two weeks in Rivne, daily visiting the office of the mission “Hope to people” and we could not lose the opportunity to ask her a few questions.
— Dear Sister, please tell me why you, Russian Tajik, are in Rivne, Western Ukraine in such a hectic time?
— I am here at the invitation of the Bible Institute, as I am a teacher of this institution. I have graduated it. I think, there is no bound for the Word of God, there is no such situation, such difficulties that could stop It. Inductive Institute of Bible Study works in Syria too, where is the war and in Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, where the dominant religion is Islam. It is important to attach the people of God to the Scriptures, to make people want to study Bible and to strengthen in the Word of God.
You say hectic time? I thought that exactly in this time it is necessary to come because I wanted to be with those who go through difficulties. I wanted to see everything with my own eyes. I’ve heard a lot of different things, and when you do not see these on your own these different views only confuse. My brothers and sisters saw me off with apprehension, but I went calm, perhaps because I’ve already been in different situations. And I think that if the Lord permit, out of the blue, you can fall down and do not get up.
When in 1991 the coup was in Moscow, our church came out to distribute Gospels to panzers. Banging on these panzers, we called out the soldiers and gave them the Gospel saying “Don’t kill us.”
I have been in Muslim countries where people can not gather openly or keep the Bible at home (even one, if they have Muslim roots). That is a past stage in some way.
When I came here, I saw a blessed city and wonderful people.
And another reason why I’m here is that my aunt lives here, in Gorodyshche village, Berezne region, she is 87 years old.
My mother is Ukrainian, and my father is Tajik. My mother’s family was deported and in cattle cars transported to Central Asia.
I have visited my relatives, they believe in God. They have listened attentively to the Gospel, but they don’t stay in the Word, and yet they have a trouble called “vodka”. But I invited everyone to church saying that we’ll meet there. Nine relatives came.
So there is nothing to be afraid of here. Wonderful city, wonderful people. I see that it is not easy here, I hear how things are going bad with the economy. But people have hope, and “hope maketh not ashamed.” I look at people’s faces and see hope, people believe that all this happened not in vain, that this will lead to something good and positive.
— What missionary organization you work with? Tell us about the role of the missionary organization in your life.
— I am an employee of the mission “Light in the East” for 27 years. On age already I can retire, but we do not retire, as we can not live for ourselves, our faith, our spiritual weapon is always sharpened. I ask God for strength and zeal. The Bible gives a great inspiration. All teachers of our Institute are volunteers. Sometimes students collect something for the road, and it is our blessing, and we do not have salary like teachers. And sometimes you go at your own expense, and it’s such a joy to serve the Lord. When you teach the Word it is such a grace, it is not comparable to anything. I would have pay them J. when you are ignited with the Word, when you serve the Lord, God finds opportunities and gives the strength to do so.
Missionary organization has played a very important role in my life. Missionary organization supports missionaries and inspires them to work.
I had an interesting introduction to the mission “Light in the East”. I just read some of their book and wrote them a letter. In response, I received a whole package of books, though I requested only one pamphlet. I was so touched, and the letter was so living, and then there was a call, a personal acquaintance and an invitation to cooperate. As for me, on the next day after repentance I went to preach. And I do not know how it would happen further, if no one picked up and did not warm up the fire in me. Must pay tribute, a Missionary organization supports missionaries, encourages, inspires. Sometimes you work, and the fruits do not come immediately, some failures can be, and those who are together with you support you. And this is very important.
For example, I went to Central Asia, and in the beginning there was sad result, but then a church was formed there. All my siblings have believed. How to create a church? I do live in Moscow. But there was a missionary from another Missionary organization, and I asked him: “Here are people ready and who will be with them?” And he began to work there. And God blessed. Without a missionary church can turn into a club.
— You are constantly on the road, and how much time do you spend at home, in Moscow?
— It’s difficult to count, but probably three quarters of my time I spend on the road. I often visit the countries of Central Asia, Tatarstan. In the US, we do the television programs for Bible Institute. I study in Romania, we are there three times a year to raise qualification. By the way, only in Russia the Institution has groups of students in 40 cities, so I travel a lot.
— How do our brothers and sisters live in Russia? What about missionary service?
— I am familiar with many missionary organizations. It is very good that there are those who work among Muslims, getting them to Christ. Through the sports ministry, working with children, helping the homeless, through works of charity, preaching the Word.
But in general I can say that concerning Protestants in Russia there is a tendency to crackdown. A few TV programs came out on NTV against Protestants, it is not good, and it is also clear that it is TV bespoke. Who is interested? Of course, Satan. That there was no spiritual work.
Basically, Protestants of the country has always had difficulties, because Orthodoxy drives a large wedge in it. Maybe they are worried about the flock, that we do sheep stealing. Nevertheless there is less than 1% of practicing Christians in Russia, during the holidays — 3 % and not more. Everyone can work enough. And instead there’s some fighting, jealousy, envy. So I think that Satan is working with all sides, including the part of “ours” (Christians).
We still do not fully understand what will happen, but everyone is waiting for something, fearing, confused, because we do not understand what is going on. We used to have friends, among them were Europeans, our culture is closely linked with them. Brides of our kings were from there. Bach, Beethoven. Martin Luther. Translation of the Scriptures … Now, it turns out that all that is bad, unnecessary, not ours, harmful.
Have fallen upon these homosexuals, they say, Europe has taught us that, since homosexuality is described from the first chapters of the Bible. And some well-known Orthodox people and cultural figures warm up this soil. Here I am from Central Asia, and there we did not know even this word. People lived in villages, no one came to them, and it was the same thing, because it’s sinful nature.
We can not, as they say, pour the child along with water. There are a lot of good things in Europe, how many living churches, sacrificial believers. So why now all is matted together and said that everything is bad.
So I would say that our country is great, grand, wonderful country Russia, but we need to reconsider the relation to one another until it is not too late.
But the good news is that there is God! We are studying the Book of Daniel, and it says about the last time, it says that every nation is worth some angel. There are good and bad angels. There is a spiritual war, and it is reflected on the ground. And we need to pray for the authorities. Satan wants to have war, and we must pray for the Lord to stop them.
— How can we pray for you?
— My biggest wish is that my relatives would accept Jesus Christ. Our nation is very large. I want them to repent, accept Christ.
A very great need to pray for the Moscow church. There are different resolutions, particularly regarding the use of premises. If you do not draw up the documents correctly, you can get under the article, that worship is an unauthorized rally.
We aren’t given any relax, but we shouldn’t be afraid.
In any case, all our hopes are in Christ. When He comes, all the earthly will be forgotten, all our sorrows, groans, tears will end. He will take us to Himself. And there will be peace. “Behold I make all things new…” Christ is our Hope.
— Do you have a favorite verse from the Scripture?
— Philippians 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Through the issue of death, I came to Christ, because I could not understand why we do live if everybody dies anyway?
That’s what I thought when I was a little girl. When I was 5, I saw death for the first time and asked, looking at the dead man, when he would come again. I was told, — “never”. I could not understand what is “never”. I sat in the room and began to count: when I die, for how long I’ll be gone? — a hundred years, two hundred, a thousand, a million, a billion, .. never … And when I uttered the word “never”, I saw the blue eternity, and… life! And I was told that it does not exist, that he will never come again. Nevertheless I wasn’t able to talk about it, I felt that no one would understand me.
I had carried this through the whole my life. And then, when I’ve heard the news about Christ, that he was raised and I will rise again, that was it — this “never.” Death is not the end, it’s the eternal life! That was Jesus and the theme of His death and resurrection for me. That’s why life is Christ, and death is gain.
Interviewed by Nadezhda Dolya
