Zoya Bardina with the Heavenly Father

Our UECB brotherhood and denomination has suffered a truly irreparable earthly loss. Journalist Zoya Bardina has gone to be with her Heavenly Father. For many years, she was a special correspondent for the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, the magazine "Christian Word" and the newspaper "Missionary News".

She was a member of the Russian Journalist Association and the International Federation of Journalists. Zoya had served the Lord selflessly all her life, participating in Christian and secular events, she reverently carried the Word of God both through the media and verbally, boldly preaching the gospel to famous politicians, theater and film stars. Masterfully wielding a pen, Zoya glorified Jesus Christ in both prose and poetry, for which she was a multiple winner of various journalistic competitions.

We mourn our dear sister and remember her honest, uncompromising faith, and way of serving Jesus Christ, which she chose once and for all. Having lost her mother early, Zoya became friends with someone else's grandmother. Then, while studying at the Polytechnic Institute, she worked part-time as a night security guard, where she met a religious woman. It was then, while on duty, that she first opened the Bible, and her lonely soul began to find peace.

Zoya repented and was baptized in 1991, among the first brothers and sisters of the new church "Good News" in Vladivostok. The Lord revealed to her the gift of writing. Thus, through Zoya's ministry, Christian newspapers appeared in Primorye for the first time - "The Well of Jacob" and "Christianity of Primorye". She participated in Christian all-Russian expeditions, and was often on business trips abroad. The result of such trips was always notes and articles about those who believed in Christ for salvation and eternal Life.

The memory of Zoya Alekseyevna Bardina will always live in our hearts. Everyone who knew and was friends with Zoya noted her exceptional diligence, loyalty to her chosen service, sparkling speech, and lively, direct reaction to everything that surrounded her. She used every minute to preach the gospel to everyone who had not yet found peace and joy in their hearts. Possessing special zeal and a kind heart, she worked in her field until her last day, until a serious illness interrupted her earthly life.

The staff of the Russian UECB mourns the loss of an experienced and talented employee, a devoted and kind friend, and sincere, ardent Christian.

Zoya, see you in our Heavenly Father’s house!