V.S Kushnir was born in 1926 in the Ukrainian city of Stalino, presently – Donetsk. She was third child in the family.
Her father, Sergey Abramovich, was from a distinguished noble family. He was born in Ekaterinoslavl (Dnepropetrovsk). After graduating high school, he received a dual higher education. At first, he finished at the Odessa University Faculty of Law. But since he was denied a diploma, he was not allowed to work in his profession. For this reason, while already in Donetsk, he acquired a more practical profession that of a mining engineer, distant from any ideology.
While in the university, Vera Kushnir’s father met his future wife, Eugene Lvovna. She studied in the historical-philological faculty and was already a believer. They both attended a Christian club for young people organized by V. Martsinkovsky. Her father was Lazarevic Leon Rosenberg, a pastor, missionary, and a Jewish-Christian. He finished seminary in Hamburg, and while in London, he defended his doctorate in theology. From 1900 to 1922, he worked on behalf of a British mission among Odessa Jewish Christians. He was "expelled for the preaching of the Gospel" in Russia – but more precisely, he was exchanged for someone from the Soviets, and then continued his ministry in Germany, Poland, and in America since 1939.
Certainly, children do not choose parents. The way they are given to each other is one of the marvelous mysteries of God. The granddaughter of a missionary rabbi, who in her childhood didn’t know she was a Jew, as any noble person, realized her blood relation with her people, loving and being compassionate to them, though in many cases clueless about their lot.
"The days of unpleasant impressions
I believe that all obscure
Will become a clear revelation
When we arrive to Heavenly abode
To prostrate before the Holy One of Israel».
«Will become a clear revelation…» in the future. Yet in the present, the girl attended Soviet school, grew as an atheist, and together with the rest of her contemporaries didn’t think about the meaning of being. At home she heard mom’s prayers and petitions. Her mom, to the best of her knowledge, testified about God despite the circumstances, since even the walls grew ears. Yet all that was sowed in the hearts of children became clear only years later. For this reason, Vera Sergeevna advised parents to keep talking to their children about God: those seeds will one day yield fruits.
In 1944, Vera Sergeevna’s family ended in Europe. The changes came. Externally – persecution, famine, camps, adaptation to the post-war Germany, job hunt, marriage, the death of two daughters in the early age (first one – five hours after birth, second – at the age of one year), tears, resettlement to America, another adaptation. But internally…?
While still in her war devastated homeland and later in Germany, also bombing wracked, her sensitive soul was anguished by questions: «What for…? », «Why…? », and «Is it worth …? ». Yet she could find no clue. Through the soul’s quest, God led twenty year old Vera to repentance. The Holy Spirit prompted her to kneel down not in the church but under the starry sky of the Munich night, where He «uncovered the meaning of eternal life». Later the poetess would write:
«What for did I live on earth? –
To find God, and thru fellowship with Him
To build a life on the mighty rock,
Having received His full forgiveness.
The gift that He gave me,
To return back to Him in the fervor of spirit,
With poems ensuing soul’s tears,
To deliver the Word of Life to hearing».
Having met the Savior, Vera Kushnir radically changed, "She had fallen in love with the Word of God and loved reading and studying God's Word: He is the source of everything. Life deprived of prayer and without the Word "- she believed to be-" life in vain”. "You are as close to me, as a seashore to the sea", - wrote the poetess about her relationship with her Savior. Being grafted into Christ forever, she became His blessed vessel, which is yearly filled and refreshed with the reading of the entire Bible. Her poems, there are more than a 1000, are being poured out from the heart and contain such familiar thoughts and feelings, that they are understandable to all. They are being read and re-read, sung, arranged into music, learned by heart, and when there are no words to express those thoughts and feelings, used as poetic lines.
The Savior gave Vera Kushnir an amazing working capacity all the way to the old age. Besides her five books of poetry, she wrote books, articles, worked as a translator, translated numerous books, 15 scientific movies from Moody Institute, consulted the movie "Jesus", worked in a Christian radio and in the Protestant mission "Bethel" which was created way back by her grandfather. She never refused to help, met with her readers and read a lot, so that after 65 years of absence from Russia, she maintained a very good Russian language, rich vocabulary, correct pronunciation and accent. Her notion "God is searching the faithful, finds them and gives them the ability and power" can be sensed in her words: "Not me, no, not me, not me. God alone. All is through Him and for Him. Without Him I do not know what I would be and where I would be. Without Him, I’m an absolute zero. "
January 14th of 2010, Vera Sergeevna Kushnir went to eternity. Vera Sergeevna died at the age of 85, in California. Our hearts keep her memories, and her poems will yet console many hearts.
After Vera Kushnir’s death memorial evenings took place in California, where brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances commemorated the poetess’s life and work.
An interview
– How long have you lived in USA?
– It’s been 60 years.
– How long have you been following the Lord?
–For 60 years as well.
– How long have you lived with your husband?
– It's been 61st year. My husband solely knew family, church and work. I esteem his faithfulness to God, and family as well as his understanding of my ministry.
– How many children do you have?
– Four living, we brought all of them to Christ. It was uneasy at the background of hippy movement and 60s drastic morals decline in USA. Until present, society can’t recover from this disease. Two children died in Germany. We had six altogether.
– How many languages do you speak?
– I’m fluent in four: Russian, Ukrainian (with husband I speak his language), German and English. I desire to learn two more.
– How many grandchildren do you have?
– 10.
– What language do you speak to them?
– I speak English with children and grandchildren.
– What language do you comprise your poems?
– Russian.
– How many poems were turned into songs?
– I’m aware of about 50. But I’m sure there are much more.
– Does meaning between poems and songs stay the same?
– Not always. I.M. Skirda’s music based on a prayer poem «Weeding is easier when soil is soft» is very good.
– What needs to be done here in America by parents and church to prevent youth loss?
– Good language schools have to be build. And we have to spend much time in family reading in the native language. Otherwise assimilation will result by the third generation.
– What advice will you give to the young people ready to get married?
– People need to marry. And family should be built on the rock, upon solid foundation, not the sand, which is prone to crumble. Do not get carried away by sexual sensations.
– What would you advice to the sisters in the Lord?
– God has established firm order for the family: Jesus – the head to the husband, husband – the head to the wife. The wife should recognize that husband is the head and the authority in the family, and to accept it. I’ve accepted it. I did it because God decreed husbands above us. It makes our life easier. Our submission to the husband brings blessings to the family. Ultimately our submission makes our husband the way we want to see him. One can’t destroy God established order.
– What is the secret of your working capacity?
–I get up daily at 5. I begin my day with a prayer. I bring to the Lord all my cares and matters, children, grandchildren and friends. Then I have light breakfast and daily walk for 1.5-hours in any weather, then I begin my daily work.
Vera Kushnir’s family lives in Santa Barbara (CA). "She knows how to welcome people and is known for her hospitality" - from the words of A. Patz. "She does everything herself at home. Contrary to the rumors, she writes, we never had a housemaid. Never! I did and do everything myself: I cook, wash, iron, mop my floors and wash windows, darn socks, and even cut my husband’s hair ... (laughs). "
***
It is amazing how Vera Kushnir’s life so abundantly filled with service to the Savior; it is a clear reflection of God’s word: "Planted in the house of the Lord ... ...flourish; they will still yield fruit in old age. They shall be full of sap and very green. To declare that the LORD is upright ...”
Brightest impressions after meeting with poetess were most precious to me.