Illinois

By her own admission, Milanka Friedman is a prodigal child who has returned home. Born in Botos, Yugoslavia, she grew up in an Orthodox Serbian family where religion was very important. Her father observed the religious traditions of his faith, including an annual visit by the priest to bless their home. As a good daughter, Milanka dutifully attended the Orthodox Church on Sundays.

Her mother, who was raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, wanted Milanka to experience the Adventist faith as well. However, with no Adventist church in town, Milanka and her mother had to ride a bicycle over five miles to her grandparents' village to worship with the small Adventist congregation there. It was worth the sacrifice. Milanka recalls how refreshing it was to be able to sing, pray, and listen to stories about God in her own language, something she missed in the Orthodox tradition.

When she was 14 years old, Milanka's family moved to Vienna, Austria, where they obtained immigration visas to the United States through the help of an Adventist pastor. While in Austria, they also attended the Adventist Church on a regular basis, and when her mother decided to be baptized in 1972, Milanka followed her example.

Upon arriving in America, they settled in Chicago, Illinois. Milanka's father drove his family to church on Sabbath, but when he began attending another church on Sundays, that stopped. Because they were unable to drive, Milanka and her mother lost contact with Adventism.

Milanka continued in the Orthodox tradition when she married and began raising her own children. But a sad divorce and other unfortunate circumstances eventually overwhelmed her, and she stopped attending church altogether. However, God never left her and continued to draw her back to Himself.

Eventually, she remarried. Then, just as things were starting to look up again, Milanka came down with an extended illness and was admitted to Hinsdale Adventist Hospital. One day in her hospital bed, she flipped on the television and saw the worship service by John Rapp, Hinsdale Adventist Church pastor. Suddenly, the memories of her childhood faith began to flicker to life once again. She inquired from a chaplain whether an Adventist pastor could visit her, and Ramon Ulangca, Hinsdale associate pastor for discipleship, came to visit.

Milanka's cousin Gloria Celeketic, who has been a Hinsdale Church member for over 20 years, visited Milanka and witnessed to her through prayer and kindness. Today Milanka believes that three people, influenced by the Holy Spirit, led her back to God—Pastor Rapp by his divine worship sermons, Gloria by her constant kindness, and Pastor Ulangca through Bible study and prayer.

On January 4, 2003, Milanka was baptized and began her new life in Christ. "The first time I was baptized, I followed my mother into the water," Milanka confesses, "but now I am truly following my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Today, Milanka (Melanie) is the cheerful face and voice at the Hinsdale Church that greets everyone who visits or phones the church office. She will be the first to tell you that she is finally home—again.

Milanka Friedman with Bruce Babienco, Lake Union Herald correspondent