University Libraries

By Irene Robinson

Amidst the daily activities in the media center, there is an underlying excitement about doing God’s work. Valery Zhakevich, media center coordinator and our in-house Russian ambassador, has a love for the Lord and widespread connections that call him to perform tasks for Azusa Pacific University in the Russian community and elsewhere. We are blessed that the Lord has provided APU with Zhakevich, who has come to be known as “the Russian Connection.” He has already influenced many lives by seizing opportunities to speak to people about God and APU.

Shasha is a 17-year-old girl searching for Truth who found Zhakevich’s name on someone’s blog. She contacted him because she read that he had experienced persecution in Russia for being a Christian. Shasha is Jewish, and her parents are not supportive of her interest in Christianity. Although they do not attend synagogue regularly, they advised Shasha to go there for guidance. Shasha is open to the Gospel, but does not yet fully understand the connection between Christianity and Judaism. She is currently reading through the Old and New Testaments. Zhakevich hopes to play a meaningful role in Shasha’s life as she explores the shared heritage of the Jewish and Christian faiths.

Lilly is a freshman who works in the media center. She and her parents were born in Russia but moved to America when she was a child. She could be considered your typical American teenager except that she speaks Russian with Zhakevich. Living in America, she had been forgetting her primary language because she was not exposed to it very often. Her parents agreed to enroll her at Azusa Pacific University after they talked to Zhakevich. He spent time on the phone with them and even gave them a tour when they visited. Lilly is a social work major and now, because of Zhakevich’s help and encouragement, she may be able to utilize her Russian language skills to help others in the future.

Timothy is an engineer who works for NASA in Pasadena, California, and is serious about getting a degree in theology. He does not want to give up his job at NASA, but his ultimate desire is to be the best lay minister he can be. Timothy has a Russian background and has been in touch with Zhakevich about APU’s Master of Divinity Program. To be sure that he gives Timothy the correct information, Zhakevich spoke with administrators in the Haggard School of Theology about the programs and the application process. Timothy is now considering APU as an option for studying theology.

As an interpreter, Zhakevich has the chance to impact many other lives through language and communication. In April 2007, Zhakevich served as an interpreter for Bruce Baloian, Ph.D., when he spoke to a Russian congregation in Northern California. In May, Zhakevich accompanied Lane Scott, Ph.D., who was teaching a class at the L.A. Regional Center. Scott wanted Zhakevich to talk to the class about church planting in Russia. The students were so appreciative for his insights that he was invited to return next year.

At a conference Zhakevich attended in May 2007, he had the opportunity to speak to an old friend, retired Air Force General Charles Duke. Duke walked on the moon in 1972 as part of the Apollo 16 mission. Of the 11 men who have walked on the moon, only eight of them are still alive. Duke is also a follower of Jesus Christ. When he traveled to the Soviet Union in 1989, Zhakevich and other pastors helped to organize his outreach efforts in Russia, Ukraine, and Latvia. General Duke tells his audiences that it is more exciting to walk daily with Jesus than it was to walk on the moon. When Zhakevich asked him if he would consider speaking at an APU chapel, he said yes. We hope that through this connection, arrangements can be made for this 71-year-old astronaut to visit APU next year.

In March of this year, Zhakevich spoke at a pastor’s conference in Seattle and emphasized the importance of a biblical education. In May, he traveled to Finland to preach on a television program. Also in May, Zhakevich visited four churches in Germany to talk to youth about living according to biblical standards in the 21st century.

No doubt God has much more in store for Zhakevich down the road as he uses his heritage, language, and experience to make valuable connections around the world. We look forward to the multiple ways that Zhakevich will continue to be blessing to the APU community.