Vanya: The Story of the Russion Baptist Martyr by Myrna Grant and published by Classics.
Ivan Vasilyevich Moiseyev was born in 1952 in the city of Volontirovka, Suvorov District, Moldavian SSR. His father, Vasily Timofeyevich and his mother, Ionna Konstantinova, had eight children (seven sons and a daughter, all of whom were brought up according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and most of whom eventually consecrated their lives to the Lord's service). After finishing school in 1968, Ivan came to Christ in the Evangelical Christian Baptist (ECB) Church in Slabodeyska and a year-and-a-half later, in 1970, made a covenant with the Lord by being baptised and becoming a member of the Church.
After having been born again he experienced a tremendous desire to witness for Christ. During the few months before he was drafted, he preached the Gospel with great enthusiasm and joy both in the Church and to the young people of Volontirovka, where he worked as a delivery driver. In November 1970 he was drafted into the Soviet Army. Almost from the beginning, he experienced hardships and trials because of his faith. Eventually, because of his steadfast refusal to disavow his beliefs and the all-too-obvious workings of God in his life, he was subjected to severe persecutions and torture. Finally, on July 16, 1972, at the age of twenty, he died a martyr’s death. This book covers the last two years in the life of this courageous believer.
