For a young woman in the Republic of Georgia, Marika Safarova, the unthinkable happened in 1991. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics collapsed, leaving all aspects of Russian society — the economy, military, politics — in chaos. Even its long-standing intolerance of religion became relaxed.

But the communist government’s dissolution was not the only thing to collapse. Young Marika’s future seemed to be finished before it had even begun.

“For me, my world collapsed,” she explains. “I was completely sold on communism; I thought that our country was the greatest in the world; and my life-plans were to serve the Party, probably even in politics!”

Like many others in her generation, Marika was searching for something to believe in. With everything she had previously believed to be true disproven, there came a void in Marika’s life she felt would never again be filled.

Eventually that void was finally plugged from the most unlikely source.

“Religion was not a part of anyone’s lifestyle, with the exception of my grandmother,” Marika recalls. “Then one day my mother bought and brought home a Bible, of all things! I got interested in it and read the whole thing, from Genesis to Revelation. That’s where I got my salvation. I don’t know where my mother found the money [for that Bible]. We barely had enough for food, yet as soon as Bibles became available, she traveled across the city just to buy one. Somehow, she knew that what our family needed most was not just bread for the body, but hope for the soul!”

“I needed answers, so I turned to the Church, which had only just emerged from decades of operating underground,” she says. “The primary church in Georgia was the Georgian Orthodox Church, and I became an active member.

“Yet after several years, I still found myself searching. I knew deep in my heart that God had a purpose for my life, but I had not yet discovered what that purpose was, nor had I found a church that truly felt like home.”

In the Spring of 1996. a neighbor suggested The Salvation Army (Армия Спасения in the Russian language). She found the Tbilisi Central Corps in Georgia’s capital city. Many things intrigued her — the uniform, the music, and especially the mission of service to others.

“That invitation changed the course of my life,” she exclaims. “There I encountered a living faith, a sense of belonging, and a mission that gave purpose to my life. Looking back, I can clearly see God’s hand guiding me through the uncertainty and leading me to the place where I found both my spiritual home and my calling.

“But most of all, I think it was the joy!”

Incredibly, like the old song in our songbook proclaims: “There is joy in The Salvation Army!”

Suddenly, there was something new, exciting and motivating in her life. Even before she was enrolled as a soldier in the Tbilisi Central Corps, she told the captain that she felt called to become a Salvation Army officer!

Meanwhile, she entered Tbilisi State University, achieving a Master of Arts in Education, as well as a minor in Russian Literature & Language. In addition to her native Georgian and Russian languages, she is now fluent in English. She has also earned  a Masters in Leadership from Asbury University.

Admission into the Training College in the Eastern Europe Territory (EET) was on a quota basis, and the next session was already filled with accepted candidates. She was, however, able to enter the Army’s school in Finland, under the auspices of the EET, as a member of the Ambassadors of Grace session of cadets. She was commissioned in 2001.

Then-Captain David Payton, an officer from the United States (Eastern Territory), happened to be serving on the Training College staff. They began dating and were married in 2006. Coming to America, Marika obtained a visa and, along with David, began serving in the USA Eastern Territory.

“Actually, it was easier for me to get a visa to work in America than it would have been for David to get a visa to remain in Europe,” she says.

In 2012, Captain Marika Payton became a naturalized American citizen.

“My testimony is that God has given me the opportunity to serve and worship Him in multiple countries across Europe, and now in the United States, where I serve alongside my husband. I have witnessed the beauty of His church expressed through different languages, cultures, and traditions; yet united by the same faith and mission.

“No matter where I have been, I have seen that we serve the same God, proclaim the same gospel, and are empowered by the same Holy Spirit.”

Major Marika adds that she sees God’s Kingdom as far greater than any one culture or nation.

“The world is changing, and while our message and mission remain the same, our willingness to innovate, create and think beyond familiar boundaries must grow. As we pray, listen and follow His leading, I believe He will open new opportunities for ministry and impact that are greater than we can imagine!”

Without a doubt, Major Marika Payton can point back to the unexpected purchase of a Bible by her mother as a turning point toward a lifetime of worship, service and devotion to Christ.

Photo by Major Frank Duracher