My name is Anton Eremin, and I am a disciple in the SF Bay Fellowship in the San Francisco area. I’d like to share the longer arc of my story with you—a journey profoundly shaped by God’s enduring grace, harrowing trials, and an unmistakable call to devote my life wholly to God.
From childhood dreams to political persecution
I grew up in the Russian Far East, in the city of Khabarovsk, situated between the Chinese border and the Jewish Autonomous Region of Russia. This area was deeply affected by propaganda, corruption, and injustice, with a government that mobilized citizens against their own people and neighboring countries.
Even as a teen, I felt a passion for justice, standing up for those who could not stand up for themselves. I was a professional athlete, earning a black belt in karate, and I served as the president of my high school and a youth leader in my city, initiating social projects to uplift young people. At age 16, after graduating high school, I moved to St. Petersburg to study law at university, hoping to bring legislative changes to my region and combat propaganda, corruption, and injustice.
During my time in St. Petersburg, I also became a successful entrepreneur, supplying merchandise from China in bulk, and I grew into a social media blogger with an audience of over 200,000 followers. At first, my blog was focused on business but then transformed into exposing Russian propaganda, government corruption, and the militarization of society. Both of my great-grandparents were originally from Ukraine, so when the war in Ukraine broke out, it affected me personally. I organized peaceful protests, bringing thousands of people to the streets, and spoke out boldly against the invasion and the actions of the current Russian government.
I believe God had given me opportunities and influence for that moment, and I wanted to use it to stop the war and the bloodshed. Because of these actions, I was imprisoned, tortured, branded a traitor and a terrorist before Russian society. The authorities then opened a criminal case against me for “spreading misinformation about the Russian military.” It was only by God’s grace and a miracle that I managed to flee Russia.
God’s hand in my escape
Through prayer, courage, and God’s blessing, I first escaped Russia by going to Istanbul, Turkey. It was there that I encountered disciples from the Istanbul Church of Christ. I had just come from witnessing some of the darkest sides of humanity, yet these brothers and sisters showed me a love I had never known before. It was in Istanbul that I fully dedicated my life to God, and the disciples there baptized me into Christ. I cannot fully describe the relief of realizing I wasn’t alone—that God sees, knows, and redeems even the most broken situations.
I had little time to rest. The Turkish police, at Russia’s request, began searching for Russian political dissidents to deport them back to Russia. Officers raided the home where I and other dissidents were living, seizing everyone’s passports for investigation. By God’s grace, I had already left, making my way to the airport en route to Mexico.
Fearing further persecution, I crossed the US-Mexican border on foot and requested political asylum, but entering the United States proved challenging. I had no resources, no friends or family in the US, and knew almost no English. Upon arrival, I was detained in a detention center for two months, waiting in the dark for a court hearing that might determine my entire future. During those bleak days, I clung to God’s promises, starting a Bible talk among fellow detainees. We prayed, shared Scripture, and reminded each other that even if the world forgets us, God never will.
When the judge in my case said that an immigration officer, whom I had never met, would decide whether I could be released or deported, I began a hunger strike. Along with about 10 other detainees, we fasted for eight days, entrusting everything to God. Finally, we were released, and I walked out of detention, a free man on US soil.
Finding a home in San Francisco
I then traveled to San Francisco at age 19 with barely a dollar in my pocket, no documents (the immigration officers had kept them), and no legal permission to work. That reality left me homeless on the streets of San Francisco. Over time, I worked diligently with my lawyer to secure the legal documents I needed, obtained political asylum, and reconnected with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the disciples who stood by me during those challenging moments, and especially to Paul and Barbara Chacon, who became more than just spiritual mentors; they became my de facto spiritual parents. I love them with all my heart, as well as every brother and sister who has walked alongside me, from Turkey to Mexico, and finally here to the United States.
Having gone through these trials, I used my experience of forced displacement and homelessness to help others in need—refugees, asylum seekers, and other marginalized communities. I organized a system that consolidated various resources from NGOs and government organizations in the SF Bay Area. For over two years, I was able to help more than a thousand people start new lives and get crucial support during their darkest times. I served as a youth advisor to the Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action at the United Nations, representing the GOODdler Foundation. I co-authored a Youth Manifesto, which was presented to worldwide leaders at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, urging governments worldwide to reform immigration policies and bolster support for forcibly displaced individuals. In recognition of my work, I was honored as a finalist for the 2024 Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize, spotlighting my efforts to promote democratic values among youth globally.
Spiritually, I was used by God to help study the Bible with and baptize several young men in my newly adopted hometown. I found that studying the Bible with them has helped sharpen my sword and humble my heart.
A door opens at Pepperdine
A pivotal step in my journey was returning to formal education, something I had been forced to abandon in Russia. I had to learn English from scratch, pass the GED, SAT, and TOEFL, all while working a regular job to support myself. By God’s grace, I have now been accepted into Pepperdine University to pursue an undergraduate degree in International Studies (Global Politics). I see this acceptance as more than just an academic milestone—it’s a clear indication that God is equipping me to be an agent of peace, justice and spirituality in a world that desperately needs this.
I am overjoyed to share this blessing from the Lord. At the same time, I humbly request your prayers for me as I face a significant financial challenge to fund my schooling. Since I am not a U.S. citizen yet, I do not qualify for most government or FAFSA grants and scholarships. Right now, I’m seeking any and all ways to earn this amount—whether through work opportunities, scholarships, or sponsorships—and I ask you to pray that God would open doors for financial provision and creative solutions.
May God bless you
Thank you for reading my testimony. Through God’s power and the faith of the disciples, we can do incredible things. Please keep me in your prayers as I strive to cover my educational costs at Pepperdine, so I can continue serving his kingdom, standing up for justice, and bringing hope to those in need. Let’s also pray for the millions of forcibly displaced individuals worldwide, that God would grant us the compassion, wisdom, and resources to help them.
From the bottom of my heart, спасибо, and may God bless you.
