Dr. Steve Durasoff
The life of Steve Durasoff was eventful and rich in accomplishments, always in the service of Jesus Christ. The full story would take several volumes. Born the fourth child of loving Russian immigrant parents, he lived a colorful youth in New York City. He fell in love with “the girl next door,” and when he was called to serve in World War II, he and “Nadja” began their 67 years of loving marriage at his base in North Carolina. He served in the United States Army as a dental technician, working in a forward base in Belgium after D-Day, sometimes under enemy shelling. Soon after his return he was called to ministry, and by 1949 “pioneered” a church in rural New Jersey-an Assembly of God in a Methodist building in a town called Baptistown! After building a thriving congregation there, he went to a small “basement church” with 18 members in Hempstead, N.Y. After several years the membership was in the hundreds in a new church building, and remains there today. In 1965 Steve became a professor in the new Oral Roberts University, and before he left in 1980, he led and trained many dozens of students for ministry “behind the Iron Curtain,” and brought hundreds of Bibles to underground churches. He also authored three books in those years. In 1980, the Durasoffs became Assemblies of God missionaries to Continental Bible College in Brussels, Belgium, where Steve served as President from 1986-1990. Students came from over 20 countries each year, and three of them became Presidents of Bible Institutes in Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine. From 1990 to 1996, Steve and Nadja traveled multiple times to Russia and East Europe to assist in the formation of new Bible schools as far away as Siberia. Since 1996 Steve has been “retired” in Springfield, Mo., continuing ministries of prayer and sending Bibles to Russia and East Europe. Delightfully, he also renewed his youthful hobby of oil painting. He produced a large number of excellent and colorful artistic works which remain as a treasured tribute to his personality and talents. Pastor, professor, missionary and mentor, musician and artist, loving and loved husband, father and (great) grandfather, Steve Durasoff served his Lord to his final day last Wednesday.He passed on peacefully in his home, on his great journey to his true home. He was preceded in death by his sister Anne and brother George. He is survived by his wife, Nadja; sister Zena Walegir; children Douglas Durasoff and Dana, Dolores Taylor and Daniel; four grandchildren Matthew and Hannah Durasoff; Sarah and Sonya Taylor; and one great-grandchild Riley Durasoff. Visitation will be in Greenlawn North Funeral Home Monday, May 17, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be in Central Assembly of God Chapel, Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 1 p.m. Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in the Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Assemblies of God missions, for the Siberian Bible Institute or Moscow Theological Institute, Russia.