Aug 2010 Innercircle Perspective

I have placed you as a light to the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth (Acts 13:47).

The greatest preacher of all time, the Apostle Paul, was preaching to a great crowd of Gentiles in Antioch Pisidian. Nearly the whole city came to hear him. He quotes from Isaiah 49:6, where God the Father says of God the Son that His salvation shall surely include the Gentiles … “to the end of the earth.” Paul’s unstoppable Apostolic missions ministry embraced this great truth. No matter the intensity of the opposition, he personally took the Gospel throughout Asia Minor and even to Europe, “as far as Illyricum,” modern day Albania, and he was planning to go all the way to Spain.

Seventy-six years ago through our founder Peter Deyneka, the Lord raised up Slavic Gospel Association to take the Gospel to the Gentiles (and Jewish people) in the lands of Russia. This included the Soviet-dominated Eastern European Bloc, where SGA/England has been zealously helping take the Gospel for 60 years. And SGA/USA’s mandate included the entire Soviet Union.

In another amazing providential undertaking, our sovereign Lord worked through the communists to deploy (exile) Russian and Ukrainian Christians to some of the most remote (ends of the earth) countries, the Central Asian nations that border on China, Afghanistan, and Iran; and the Caucasus nations that border on Iran and Turkey. Most of these nations are dominated by anti-Christian Muslims, while two of the Caucasus nations are dominated by strongly anti-evangelical Orthodox denominations representing the vast majority of their populations.

To a limited degree, SGA has been assisting the tiny evangelical presence in the Central Asian nations, and in the Caucasus nations. With Russia’s accelerated re-gathering of the former Soviet republics, even stronger opposition to the Gospel movements in these nations is anticipated. It appears that our days of opportunity in these countries are closing. Hence, we are constrained to step up efforts to help the Russian and Ukrainian Baptist Unions in reaching these nations for Christ while it is still possible.

For security reasons, we cannot publish our work in the four Muslim nations in InSight or post information on our website. In three of these countries, the number of like-minded evangelicals ranges from 5 to 7 per 100,000 citizens. The fourth numbers 3 in 10,000. One country has 7 churches and 5 pastors, another has 9 churches and 3 pastors, another has 18 churches and 12 pastors, and the fourth has 30 churches and 11 pastors. We are exploring possible ways of helping Russian missionaries train more men to be pastors. The churches in all four nations have a few men who are qualified and ready to be sent as evangelist/church planters, but they need support. In all four nations, they are discreetly holding SGA-sponsored summer camp outreaches to children.

Through limited partnerships, for 16 years the SGA leadership team has been building trust with faithful Russian and Ukrainian pastors, and national church leaders in these unreached nations. Now the time is at hand for us to intensify our prayers and material support for these persecuted faithful servants of the Lord who never complain, but keep pressing on no matter how strong the opposition. They tell us how impossible their situations are, but conclude by saying, “but the work goes on,” or, “but the Gospel keeps going forth.” Their faith is inspiring and their resources are scant. Please join us in prayer that the Lord will raise up partners for such a time as this, and in these last days, will give us all a passion for prayer and a zeal to see the Gospel go forth.

In the meantime, we cannot thank you enough for all your prayers and your tremendous support, which the Lord richly blesses to keep all our SGA ministries going for the glory of Christ.