Igor Zazymkin
Editor’s note: Dr. Gennadi Sergienko, senior pastor of the Second Evangelical Christian-Baptist Church, Moscow, interviewed Igor Zazymkin for this article.
I was born 29 November 1964 in Donetsk, Ukraine. I later moved to Lugansk and worked there as head of the law department of Lugansk cable TV. I also had a private law practice, as well. My wife, Larissa Zazymkina, was born 22 July 1965. We were married in Lugansk 11 October 1987. Larissa had a wholesale business selling stationery. We have two children.
Our first daughter was born in 1989 and now works in Israel. Our second daughter was born in 1992 and worked as a secretary in one of the district courts in Lugansk. We have relatives in Ukraine: My mother and older brother live in Donetsk; my sister lives in Dagestan; and my wife’s parents live in Lugansk. We don’t have any relatives in Russia. I became a believer in 1998. There was a tent ministry in our region, and during one of the meetings, 28 August 1998, I accepted Christ. Later I became involved in the tent ministry myself. I worked organizing Christian movie showings. Then I worked in youth ministry, and later I became a preacher, and I continue to preach up to the present.
My wife was killed when she was standing on the balcony of our apartment in Lugansk. A bomb exploded near us, and my wife’s arms were torn off, and her chest was pierced. After that we almost immediately moved to Moscow. We don’t have any relatives in Moscow. I haven’t found a job here yet. There are difficulties with citizenship. Right now I’m preparing documents to receive a work permit. By God’s mercy there will be a job for me.