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Alena Yasiuk

Alena Yasiuk
Person Details
All Persons

Country

  • Belarus
Participants Details

ELF Network

  • 2023 Leaders of Christian Organisations (Emerging) Network

Ministry Focus

  • University Students

Occupation

  • Christian Ministry

Funding Status (ELF)

  • Needs ELF Funding
Participants Answers
What is your ministry?

I am the Development officer of IFES (CCX) Belarus. I manage all things finance-related in our ministry. That includes partner development, fundraising, accounting, etc. I've been a staff worker for CCX for almost three years. I am also a co-founder and co-leader of the Belarusian Christian Art Community. It is a pioneering ministry in Belarus, as we are trying to start a more significant movement of Christian artists in our country. So far, we are still a small group of people, but we are regularly invited to different national Christian events to discuss the relationship between art and faith/mission.

When did you trust Christ?

I have believed in God since my early childhood. I prayed and read my children's Bible regularly; however, I had no contact with any believers and had no idea what following Jesus actually meant. At the age of 13, I went to a Christian camp, where I learned the Gospel and accepted Jesus as my Savior. I got baptised at 16 and have been walking with God ever since.

What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?

The earliest pivotal moment for me was at age 9. I clearly remember crying my eyes out, curled in my bed at night, having realized that I was a sinner and would go to hell. I didn't know what to do about it; I just knew I deserved eternal punishment. Thankfully, a few years later, I learned the truth of God's forgiveness and received the gift of eternal life. Another defining moment came from a chain of dramatic events, including family deaths and illnesses and some of my unwise dysfunctional patterns. I found myself burned out, physically and mentally exhausted, clinically depressed, with no will to live. It was a wake-up call that helped me reevaluate my understanding of who God is and what He means by calling me to live abundantly. As a result, I've been on a healing and learning journey for a couple of years.

What do you hope to gain from participating?

My position involves a great deal of responsibility for developing and sustaining the ministry, training staff, and supporting staff in their ministry. This leaves me with a need to develop my leadership skills. I think my ministry will significantly benefit from joining this Network.

What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?

I have been a co-founder and editor of several faith-based media projects. Currently, I am also co-running a Christian arts community.

Why should someone invest in your ministry?

I have struggled with raising funds for my ministry and failed multiple times. Finally, I had to come to terms with the fact that my inability to ask for and receive financial support for my ministry stems from guilt and fear. I was recently challenged to let God be Lord over this particular area in my life.