August 12, 2025 • 18 mins
What happens when a young woman raised under communist atheism begins to question why authorities are so afraid of a God they claim doesn't exist?
Join us for Svetlana Khomiak's remarkable journey from Soviet indoctrination to profound faith in this powerful testimony.
Growing up in Ukraine during the height of communism, Svetlana experienced the full force of atheist teaching—"no God, beautiful life" was the constant refrain. But a summer stay with her grandmother, who secretly hosted worship services in her rural home, planted seeds of curiosity that would eventually lead to an extraordinary encounter. Following a mysterious, supernatural guidance—worship music that only she could hear—Svetlana was led directly to a secret house church hidden in an apartment building, defying all logical explanation.
Refusing to wear the red communist scarf, see the consequences of Svetlana's newfound faith and strong conviction, from persecution to a communist household transforming with God's power.
Whether you're facing opposition for your beliefs or simply curious about how faith survives under extreme pressure, Svetlana's story reminds us that God will always lead genuine seekers to ultimate truth. As she quotes from Matthew 5:10, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Helpful links:
Postwar Soviet Ukraine a brief history
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Syd Berenyi (00:02):
Welcome to 180, transforming testimonies from
next door to across the globe.
Be amazed at how God works tobring people to himself.
Share today's 180 with a friend.
It might be the best news theyhear today.
Svetlana Khomiak (00:19):
And one day I go in the main street, very big
street, and I pray and I saidtoday is Sunday, I want to be
with your people and I pray andwalk in the street and I hear
(00:44):
big choir, orchestra music in mymind.
Margaret Ereneta (00:49):
Svetlana Komiak grew up in communist
Ukraine under atheistindoctrination, but when she
searched for the truth she foundmusic to her ears, literally.
This is your host, margaretAronetta.
Welcome to Svetlana's 180.
Svetlana Khomiak (01:07):
and poor and time was hard for everyone.
My parents worked so hard forgiving to us everything for life
(01:29):
, for we enjoy life, but theydon't have enough time for teach
us.
So most time we stay in theschool and school teach us about
no God and teach us incommunist vision.
Margaret Ereneta (01:47):
You'll see in Svetlana's story that the
atheist message was that youdon't need God.
There is actually no God andthe government in the schools
was the theology and the moralauthority at that time and every
place where you go.
Svetlana Khomiak (02:05):
It's that without God, beautiful life.
We have a lot of activity in aschool, we have pioneer clubs
and we sing.
I was and I was happy.
But every time, whatever we do,they always say no God and
(02:33):
everything's perfect without God.
So why we talk about exist andthat is make me looking for God.
I start thinking why peopleafraid God and teach us no God.
(02:59):
To find God in my country is noteasy because time for
persecuted Christian mostchurches is closed, no Bible, no
preacher.
It was hard time to find Godbut when you look for God from
all heart you always find.
(03:20):
One day in the summertime myparents took me to my grandma in
a small village.
It's pretty far away from mycity.
My grandma, when we have war,german Christian people stay in
my grandma's house and mygrandma accepts Jesus and she
opens her house becauseChristian people persecute and
(03:43):
most preachers sit in a prisonso nobody wants to open house
for worship to God.
But my grandma, she was old andshe did not go to prison so she
opened house People becauseparents stay in the prison.
Kids they come in my grandma'shouse and they do worship, they
(04:07):
pray.
That was a very hard time andmy grandma.
She read the Bible and sheexplained to me who is God and
teach me about God.
Neighbors came to grandma'shouse and they do worship to God
.
Came to grandma's house andthey do worship to God, because
(04:30):
church is close but people wantto pray together, worship
together, and everyone came inmy grandma's house.
I learned how people worshipGod, how people love God.
I saw that light in the eyesand I started thinking I would
like to be like that.
But summertime is over and Icome back to my city.
(04:53):
I very would like to find in mycity same people like my
grandma, but it's not easybecause nobody say I'm Christian
, because Christian people mustbe in a prison.
So I start pray to God.
When I was in grandma's housethey give me New Testament and I
(05:18):
start to pray and in Matthew 7,7 said seek God and you will
find Knock and they open.
So when I reading that words Isay God, you said seek and I
seek.
I looking for you.
(05:39):
And one day I go in the mainstreet, very big street, and I
pray and I said today is Sunday,I want to be with your people
and I pray and walk in thestreet and I hear big choir,
orchestra music in my mind and Ijust walk and listen that music
(06:03):
.
It's Christian music, worshipmusic.
And I walk and listen and Iwalk.
I don't know how I walk, howlong I walk, but I go in one
house in the fourth floor and Iknock to the door.
People opened for me and saidwho are you?
(06:24):
I said I am from God and my Godtold me that is the place where
people worship to God.
That was a conspiracy house.
People decide they don't wantto reveal it, so they don't want
(06:47):
to invite me in the housebecause they think maybe I'm a
spy and police coming with me.
But I start to say God, tell meyour address, can I come please
?
And they opened the door.
They were very shocked and I'mshocked too.
(07:18):
And that was place where peopleworship God.
And I say God, you said, seekme and you can find.
It's amazing, I did this and Ifound your people.
It's a miracle because it's notin the orchestra, it's nobody's
sin, it's my brain, it's.
I just walk and I just go and Ijust find.
But people was very quiet andpeople quite pray.
(07:38):
Nobody's sin, because neighborswill be called to police and I
pray too, because neighbors willbe called to police.
And I pray too and I say God,thank you, I found you and I
found a place to worship to you.
That first time I haveexperience to see God.
I would like to next week comein again in that place to
(08:01):
worship to God, but they changelocation and I'm missing many,
many Sundays.
I can't find the place wherethey go and I just read in Bible
what I have and learn who isGod.
And it was amazing time tolearn God.
(08:23):
I read in Bible.
I not understand many things,but Holy Spirit teach me and now
, when I looking back everythingwhat I learn in that time it's
right.
Margaret Ereneta (08:40):
So now she goes from that secret
conscription house that changeslocation every week and can't
find it, to an officialregistered church of the state,
which is very different.
Svetlana Khomiak (08:56):
But we still have a church.
It's a registration church.
So my second step I'm lookingfor registration because I need
church.
So my second step I looking forregistration because I need
church.
And I found that registrationBaptist church and I start
worship with the people.
They have rules in it no kidsin the church, no sin, no
(09:21):
reading Bible.
They take your Bible.
So that's why people go fromthat church and start worship to
God in a house.
My parents they don't like for Ireading Bible, I reading Bible,
not at home.
I just go someplace for nobodysee I reading Bible and my
(09:42):
grandma die and I came in afuneral.
My and I repent in a funeral.
Holy Spirit touched my heartand I learned I can't live like
this anymore and I make decisionLife with God.
It's amazing and I want to bewith God.
(10:03):
That was my repent.
I accept God in my heart when Imake choice.
All pressure is gone,worriedness gone, I have peace,
I have joy, I have happiness andI start new life.
When I came from my grandma'shouse I don't want to wear a red
(10:25):
scarf because it's uniform,communist uniform, and I was
different.
I was changed.
Margaret Ereneta (10:34):
So the change in Svetlana is very apparent
right away, because this redscarf is the symbol of communism
in her country and she wants anew uniform and she is not going
to fit in and fitting in ispart of the culture in this
society.
So we'll see what happens.
Svetlana Khomiak (10:52):
And I even changed my clothes I don't want
communist clothes and they startto persecute me.
They try every day to put thiscard for me and I every day say
I'm sorry, I can't wear this.
I'm new person.
That was hard in school becauseevery student, every teacher,
(11:15):
they try talk to me.
You're not normal person.
You should do like everyone andChristian people.
It's not normal people.
You should be like our country.
You should go to college.
You should have easy life,beautiful life, happy life.
But when you go to Christian,you don't have easy life.
(11:38):
You will have hard life.
And I said my God don't say wehave easy life.
Life is not easy.
And when you follow Jesus,jesus said they persecute me,
they persecute my kids and I.
When I follow Jesus, I need tobe like Jesus in everything.
(12:00):
Teacher put low grade always.
It's not fair.
And students always make like acomic for you and a teacher
always say oh, svetlana, she isnot normal, she's supposed to be
like everyone.
Right now, something happenedwith her.
(12:22):
My parents.
They start persecute me becausethey don't like it for I follow
God.
My parents have education.
That is number one for them andwhen I start to live a godly
life, you can stay in universitybecause when they know you're
(12:43):
Christian, you need to be out.
That was why my parents startedto persecute me and they told
me Svetlana, please finish andthen you can believe.
Finish school and then you cando whatever you want.
When I was in college, myteacher told me you can't be
(13:04):
Christian.
You need to make a choicecollege or God.
Of course I accept God, notcollege.
So, teacher decide to push myparents, use my parents.
They invite my mom and havemeeting in a college with my mom
and they start to teach my momwhere's your daughter?
(13:27):
She go in a coat.
That is very dangerous.
They do sacrifice people.
Margaret Ereneta (13:35):
You'll find this type of persecution in
countries that are hostile toChristianity.
They often prevent Christiansfrom going to university or they
even revoke their degrees, andthen they can't work.
It's really sad and it happensa lot.
Svetlana Khomiak (13:51):
And my mom.
She was very worried.
Is that true?
I say no, mom.
My Jesus is love.
He don't want sacrifice, heloves and he fills me with love
and with joy and I'm very happyfor you.
(14:13):
With love and with joy, holySpirit fill me and I start
singing from my heart foreveryone in the world.
I live with Him.
I don't regret it.
How happy I am that he is withme.
My friend, when my mom see howI happy, how I sin, she believe
(14:38):
me and she start to cry and HolySpirit start touching my mom
and my mom accept Jesus.
It's amazing what God did this.
Holy Spirit touched her and sheaccepted Jesus.
When we came home, my momstarted to go to the church.
So when we came back home, wewere like two Christian persons
(15:05):
and my daddy was watching us.
He said, okay, you can go tochurch, but I'm very happy for
Svetlana to finish college, butI can't because teacher every
Sunday stay by church andwatching me.
Margaret Ereneta (15:23):
So the story thickens here.
Svetlana is not actually ableto go to church because her
professor is going to the churchwatching her.
How sad.
Svetlana Khomiak (15:35):
I told them I stop go to church, but I don't
say how long I stop to go tochurch.
When I came to church I saw myteacher and she said, Svetlana,
you said you stop go to churchand I said yes, but I don't tell
you how long I stopped.
(15:55):
I was missing one church, butthis time I came with my mom.
My mom wanted to go to church.
Do you want to go to church?
Let's go with me.
But my teacher was very upset.
That was sad.
I found church.
I go to church be singing inthe choir player orchestra.
(16:17):
I was married and have my kidsand god very blessed us.
But after that my daddy exceptgod, mom, sister except god, my
grandma accept God.
Most my family they wascommunist family Light turn
(16:38):
darkness in my family and mostpeople accept God.
That is amazing how far, howpowerful it's God and all
communist people in my family.
They go to heaven to see.
Margaret Ereneta (16:57):
God.
In closing, we asked Svetlanato give advice to others who are
being persecuted right now andof course, she went right to the
Bible.
Svetlana Khomiak (17:08):
Jesus said don't worry when they persecute
you.
Blessed are those who arepersecuted for righteousness
sake, for this is the kingdom ofheaven.
That is words from Matthew 5,10.
That's what Jesus said to us.
(17:28):
We are blessed when wepersecute for righteousness,
because our kingdom in heaven,god, thank you so much for your
beautiful God, your amazing God,and I just thank you what you
do in our life.
I thank you, god, what you didin my life, and I just ask you
(17:52):
for your blessing.
That words and for that wordswill be help for somebody, for
people not afraid, persecutedfor righteousness because our
life in heaven.
In your name, we pray, amen,amen.
Margaret Ereneta (18:10):
Thanks for listening today.
Join us as we pray for thepeople of Ukraine with
PrayerCast.
Syd Berenyi (18:18):
The link is in the show notes 180 is brought to you
by One Way Ministries.
No-transcript.
Welcome to 180, transforming testimonies from
next door to across the globe.
Be amazed at how God works tobring people to himself.
Share today's 180 with a friend.
It might be the best news theyhear today.
Svetlana Khomiak (00:19):
And one day I go in the main street, very big
street, and I pray and I saidtoday is Sunday, I want to be
with your people and I pray andwalk in the street and I hear
(00:44):
big choir, orchestra music in mymind.
Margaret Ereneta (00:49):
Svetlana Komiak grew up in communist
Ukraine under atheistindoctrination, but when she
searched for the truth she foundmusic to her ears, literally.
This is your host, margaretAronetta.
Welcome to Svetlana's 180.
Svetlana Khomiak (01:07):
and poor and time was hard for everyone.
My parents worked so hard forgiving to us everything for life
(01:29):
, for we enjoy life, but theydon't have enough time for teach
us.
So most time we stay in theschool and school teach us about
no God and teach us incommunist vision.
Margaret Ereneta (01:47):
You'll see in Svetlana's story that the
atheist message was that youdon't need God.
There is actually no God andthe government in the schools
was the theology and the moralauthority at that time and every
place where you go.
Svetlana Khomiak (02:05):
It's that without God, beautiful life.
We have a lot of activity in aschool, we have pioneer clubs
and we sing.
I was and I was happy.
But every time, whatever we do,they always say no God and
(02:33):
everything's perfect without God.
So why we talk about exist andthat is make me looking for God.
I start thinking why peopleafraid God and teach us no God.
(02:59):
To find God in my country is noteasy because time for
persecuted Christian mostchurches is closed, no Bible, no
preacher.
It was hard time to find Godbut when you look for God from
all heart you always find.
(03:20):
One day in the summertime myparents took me to my grandma in
a small village.
It's pretty far away from mycity.
My grandma, when we have war,german Christian people stay in
my grandma's house and mygrandma accepts Jesus and she
opens her house becauseChristian people persecute and
(03:43):
most preachers sit in a prisonso nobody wants to open house
for worship to God.
But my grandma, she was old andshe did not go to prison so she
opened house People becauseparents stay in the prison.
Kids they come in my grandma'shouse and they do worship, they
(04:07):
pray.
That was a very hard time andmy grandma.
She read the Bible and sheexplained to me who is God and
teach me about God.
Neighbors came to grandma'shouse and they do worship to God
.
Came to grandma's house andthey do worship to God, because
(04:30):
church is close but people wantto pray together, worship
together, and everyone came inmy grandma's house.
I learned how people worshipGod, how people love God.
I saw that light in the eyesand I started thinking I would
like to be like that.
But summertime is over and Icome back to my city.
(04:53):
I very would like to find in mycity same people like my
grandma, but it's not easybecause nobody say I'm Christian
, because Christian people mustbe in a prison.
So I start pray to God.
When I was in grandma's housethey give me New Testament and I
(05:18):
start to pray and in Matthew 7,7 said seek God and you will
find Knock and they open.
So when I reading that words Isay God, you said seek and I
seek.
I looking for you.
(05:39):
And one day I go in the mainstreet, very big street, and I
pray and I said today is Sunday,I want to be with your people
and I pray and walk in thestreet and I hear big choir,
orchestra music in my mind and Ijust walk and listen that music
(06:03):
.
It's Christian music, worshipmusic.
And I walk and listen and Iwalk.
I don't know how I walk, howlong I walk, but I go in one
house in the fourth floor and Iknock to the door.
People opened for me and saidwho are you?
(06:24):
I said I am from God and my Godtold me that is the place where
people worship to God.
That was a conspiracy house.
People decide they don't wantto reveal it, so they don't want
(06:47):
to invite me in the housebecause they think maybe I'm a
spy and police coming with me.
But I start to say God, tell meyour address, can I come please
?
And they opened the door.
They were very shocked and I'mshocked too.
(07:18):
And that was place where peopleworship God.
And I say God, you said, seekme and you can find.
It's amazing, I did this and Ifound your people.
It's a miracle because it's notin the orchestra, it's nobody's
sin, it's my brain, it's.
I just walk and I just go and Ijust find.
But people was very quiet andpeople quite pray.
(07:38):
Nobody's sin, because neighborswill be called to police and I
pray too, because neighbors willbe called to police.
And I pray too and I say God,thank you, I found you and I
found a place to worship to you.
That first time I haveexperience to see God.
I would like to next week comein again in that place to
(08:01):
worship to God, but they changelocation and I'm missing many,
many Sundays.
I can't find the place wherethey go and I just read in Bible
what I have and learn who isGod.
And it was amazing time tolearn God.
(08:23):
I read in Bible.
I not understand many things,but Holy Spirit teach me and now
, when I looking back everythingwhat I learn in that time it's
right.
Margaret Ereneta (08:40):
So now she goes from that secret
conscription house that changeslocation every week and can't
find it, to an officialregistered church of the state,
which is very different.
Svetlana Khomiak (08:56):
But we still have a church.
It's a registration church.
So my second step I'm lookingfor registration because I need
church.
So my second step I looking forregistration because I need
church.
And I found that registrationBaptist church and I start
worship with the people.
They have rules in it no kidsin the church, no sin, no
(09:21):
reading Bible.
They take your Bible.
So that's why people go fromthat church and start worship to
God in a house.
My parents they don't like for Ireading Bible, I reading Bible,
not at home.
I just go someplace for nobodysee I reading Bible and my
(09:42):
grandma die and I came in afuneral.
My and I repent in a funeral.
Holy Spirit touched my heartand I learned I can't live like
this anymore and I make decisionLife with God.
It's amazing and I want to bewith God.
(10:03):
That was my repent.
I accept God in my heart when Imake choice.
All pressure is gone,worriedness gone, I have peace,
I have joy, I have happiness andI start new life.
When I came from my grandma'shouse I don't want to wear a red
(10:25):
scarf because it's uniform,communist uniform, and I was
different.
I was changed.
Margaret Ereneta (10:34):
So the change in Svetlana is very apparent
right away, because this redscarf is the symbol of communism
in her country and she wants anew uniform and she is not going
to fit in and fitting in ispart of the culture in this
society.
So we'll see what happens.
Svetlana Khomiak (10:52):
And I even changed my clothes I don't want
communist clothes and they startto persecute me.
They try every day to put thiscard for me and I every day say
I'm sorry, I can't wear this.
I'm new person.
That was hard in school becauseevery student, every teacher,
(11:15):
they try talk to me.
You're not normal person.
You should do like everyone andChristian people.
It's not normal people.
You should be like our country.
You should go to college.
You should have easy life,beautiful life, happy life.
But when you go to Christian,you don't have easy life.
(11:38):
You will have hard life.
And I said my God don't say wehave easy life.
Life is not easy.
And when you follow Jesus,jesus said they persecute me,
they persecute my kids and I.
When I follow Jesus, I need tobe like Jesus in everything.
(12:00):
Teacher put low grade always.
It's not fair.
And students always make like acomic for you and a teacher
always say oh, svetlana, she isnot normal, she's supposed to be
like everyone.
Right now, something happenedwith her.
(12:22):
My parents.
They start persecute me becausethey don't like it for I follow
God.
My parents have education.
That is number one for them andwhen I start to live a godly
life, you can stay in universitybecause when they know you're
(12:43):
Christian, you need to be out.
That was why my parents startedto persecute me and they told
me Svetlana, please finish andthen you can believe.
Finish school and then you cando whatever you want.
When I was in college, myteacher told me you can't be
(13:04):
Christian.
You need to make a choicecollege or God.
Of course I accept God, notcollege.
So, teacher decide to push myparents, use my parents.
They invite my mom and havemeeting in a college with my mom
and they start to teach my momwhere's your daughter?
(13:27):
She go in a coat.
That is very dangerous.
They do sacrifice people.
Margaret Ereneta (13:35):
You'll find this type of persecution in
countries that are hostile toChristianity.
They often prevent Christiansfrom going to university or they
even revoke their degrees, andthen they can't work.
It's really sad and it happensa lot.
Svetlana Khomiak (13:51):
And my mom.
She was very worried.
Is that true?
I say no, mom.
My Jesus is love.
He don't want sacrifice, heloves and he fills me with love
and with joy and I'm very happyfor you.
(14:13):
With love and with joy, holySpirit fill me and I start
singing from my heart foreveryone in the world.
I live with Him.
I don't regret it.
How happy I am that he is withme.
My friend, when my mom see howI happy, how I sin, she believe
(14:38):
me and she start to cry and HolySpirit start touching my mom
and my mom accept Jesus.
It's amazing what God did this.
Holy Spirit touched her and sheaccepted Jesus.
When we came home, my momstarted to go to the church.
So when we came back home, wewere like two Christian persons
(15:05):
and my daddy was watching us.
He said, okay, you can go tochurch, but I'm very happy for
Svetlana to finish college, butI can't because teacher every
Sunday stay by church andwatching me.
Margaret Ereneta (15:23):
So the story thickens here.
Svetlana is not actually ableto go to church because her
professor is going to the churchwatching her.
How sad.
Svetlana Khomiak (15:35):
I told them I stop go to church, but I don't
say how long I stop to go tochurch.
When I came to church I saw myteacher and she said, Svetlana,
you said you stop go to churchand I said yes, but I don't tell
you how long I stopped.
(15:55):
I was missing one church, butthis time I came with my mom.
My mom wanted to go to church.
Do you want to go to church?
Let's go with me.
But my teacher was very upset.
That was sad.
I found church.
I go to church be singing inthe choir player orchestra.
(16:17):
I was married and have my kidsand god very blessed us.
But after that my daddy exceptgod, mom, sister except god, my
grandma accept God.
Most my family they wascommunist family Light turn
(16:38):
darkness in my family and mostpeople accept God.
That is amazing how far, howpowerful it's God and all
communist people in my family.
They go to heaven to see.
Margaret Ereneta (16:57):
God.
In closing, we asked Svetlanato give advice to others who are
being persecuted right now andof course, she went right to the
Bible.
Svetlana Khomiak (17:08):
Jesus said don't worry when they persecute
you.
Blessed are those who arepersecuted for righteousness
sake, for this is the kingdom ofheaven.
That is words from Matthew 5,10.
That's what Jesus said to us.
(17:28):
We are blessed when wepersecute for righteousness,
because our kingdom in heaven,god, thank you so much for your
beautiful God, your amazing God,and I just thank you what you
do in our life.
I thank you, god, what you didin my life, and I just ask you
(17:52):
for your blessing.
That words and for that wordswill be help for somebody, for
people not afraid, persecutedfor righteousness because our
life in heaven.
In your name, we pray, amen,amen.
Margaret Ereneta (18:10):
Thanks for listening today.
Join us as we pray for thepeople of Ukraine with
PrayerCast.
Syd Berenyi (18:18):
The link is in the show notes 180 is brought to you
by One Way Ministries.
No-transcript.
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Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com