Ours in the USA: how the family immigrated because of religious beliefs and was able to settle in Washington

Doctor of Philosophy Mikhail Kulakov is one of the authors of a new ecumenical translation of the Holy Scriptures into Russian. In 1993, he moved to the USA with his wife Lyudmila and two children. Today Professor Kulakov teaches at Washington Adventist University. He considers serving people the meaning of his life. His American story is told by "Voice of America".

Photo: Voice of America frame video

Mikhail was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the family of a Russian Protestant, Adventist Mikhail Kulakov senior. Michael says that his father was a Protestant pastor, a human rights activist who was exiled to the north of Kazakhstan.

Ludmila was born in Moldova, in the city of Hincesti. When she turned 19, she left her home country and moved to Tula, Russia, where she entered the medical college.

She says that she constantly felt oppression, since she was born in a believing Christian family and was neither a pioneer nor a Komsomol member.

Michael's family also moved four times because of their religious beliefs. The reason for this was Khrushchev persecution.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

“My father, in order to avoid arrest, was forced to transport his family,” recalls Mikhail.

In the 1976 year, after Mikhail graduated from school, the family was able to move to Russia. There he entered the Tula Pedagogical Institute, but a year later he was drafted into the army in the Far East. After his return, he had the opportunity to receive a theological education in England.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

He became one of two people who were released from the USSR to receive a theological education. After graduating from Newbold College in Bracknell, Michael returned to Russia, where he met with Lyudmila, after which they married. So began their family life.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

At a certain time, the couple was involved in the construction of the first Protestant high school. The creation of the Academy coincided with the period of perestroika under Gorbachev.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

After the opening of the academy, Mikhail felt a lack of knowledge, so with his wife and two children I went to the University of Andrews, Michigan, under the master's program. The daughter was three years old, and the son - a year.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

After a year and a half, Michael had the opportunity to write a doctoral thesis at Oxford University, United Kingdom. Therefore, in 1993, the whole family moved there after the father, where he wrote a doctoral thesis on spiritual diversity in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

“I really wanted to move to America. I didn’t want to stay either in England or in Europe. My dream was America,” says Lyudmila. “Here, in America, a person feels free. There is no such thing in England. It's a class society, and if you speak differently, you have a different accent, they treat you differently. America is an open country, so if you have the strength and desire, then anything is possible.”

Ludmila recalls that she had to persuade Michael to move to the United States for a long time, and in 1998, the family emigrated to America, to Wisconsin.

At that time, the eldest daughter was already 12 years old, and her son 9 years old.

“There was a lot of snow. We felt good because it reminded us of Russia,” recalls Lyudmila.

In 2005, Michael received an invitation to teach at Washington Adventist University, so the family went to Silver Spring, Maryland, where they live to this day.

They like to live in abundant cultures and nations.

“Nearby you can see a Ukrainian church, a Muslim mosque, a Lutheran temple and a Buddhist temple and a variety of cultural and spiritual centers,” Mikhail says enthusiastically.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

At Washington Adventist University, Michael teaches philosophy, etiology. He communicates with many students from different countries.

“We have representatives of Judaism, Islam, and even those who do not belong to any religion,” says Mikhail.

Lyudmila works as an insurance analyst in an insurance company that insures churches and church property all over the world.

“When I joined the company, I worked as a technical assistant. She held this position for about six years. Then I studied a lot to get a special certificate to work as an insurance analyst. I passed the exams and after a while, when a place became available, I was promoted. I really love work. I’m very interested,” says Lyudmila.

Charity ministry

Charity is an integral part of the life of Michael and Lyudmila.

“My main mission is to help students see that the meaning of life is serving other people, so we do a lot of charity work and volunteering,” says Mikhail.

Michael with students often help the homeless. They go to the center of Washington, where they organize food for people, get acquainted with them.

The family always invites students to visit, talks about the Russian culture, and also treats Russian dishes.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

“The teaching process goes completely differently if we devote more time to the children,” Mikhail is sure. “We really love inviting them into our home.” This way we get to know them better. Luda loves to cook for them and treat them. This is our joy."

The children of the couple are already adults. Tatyana 32 of the year. She is married and has two children and is working on her business project - this is the design of children's clothes.

Konstantin 28 years. He is a poet and lives in New York, where he graduated from an advanced educational institution and received a master's degree chaplain.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

He writes poetry, publishes, organizes poetry reading and believes that art should serve the interests of social justice.

“We believe in our children. This is our future, our joy and pride,” says Mikhail.

Like all parents, they want them to succeed, and they believe in their success.

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