10/14/04

Russian Pastor With Children Lost in Beslan School Terrorist Attack
Visits Rockford Area. Thankfulness, Hope and Strong Faith Amid Grief.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Tom MacAdam
Joel Griffith
815-282-8900

(LOVES PARK, ILLINOIS) -- Rev. Sergei Totiev, pastor of the Beslan
Baptist Church in Beslan, Russia, made a brief stop in Rockford
Wednesday to address the Wednesday morning chapel service at Slavic
Gospel Association's Loves Park headquarters. Beslan was the scene of
the horrific September terrorist attack and hostage incident at a local
middle school where more than 300 people, many of them school children,
were killed. Two of Pastor Totiev's children, -- nine-year-old Anna, and
14-year-old Azera, were among those killed. His 12-year-old son, Azamat,
was severely injured and is currently undergoing treatment in the United
States. Pastor Totiev's brother, Taimuraz, lost most of his children in
the attack.

In his brief remarks to the SGA staff, Sergei Totiev (whose ministry is
sponsored through SGA) expressed his thanks to everyone around the world
who prayed for them as a family and for the city as a whole, as well as
helped with financial and humanitarian aid . . .

"I wish I could have been here under happier circumstances. I know the
Lord has His plan for all of us, and being human, we do not always
understand immediately what He is doing. That is why it is important to
be patient, because in time we will see His hand at work.

The tension in Beslan is very heavy, like a balloon that could burst at
any moment. What will happen? Our prayer is that revival will come to
Beslan and I don't think it's an accident that people around the world
are praying for us. This event has brought Christians together like
never before. I am thankful that my family has become a tool in the
hands of God for good. And as a pastor, I ask for your continued
prayers. Sometimes material help can arrive late, but prayer is never
late as it goes immediately to the Lord. We can never pray enough, and
we need your prayers as you need ours."

SGA president Dr. Robert Provost offered words of encouragement to the
Totiev family and the Beslan community, noting that God is already at
work bringing healing and good into this situation despite the
intentions of the evildoers . . .

"To strike at Russia's children is to strike at the very soul of Russia.
In the days that have followed, pervasive grief has consumed the
community of Beslan. We are comforted in knowing that the Lord has
gathered His precious little lambs into His arms and carried them in His
bosom to Heaven. And in His providence, a church never before heard of
around the world in a region of Russia not known around the world has
become a center for prayer and support. In Beslan, several faithful
Christian mothers and fathers who lost their own precious children are
reaching out to those without hope in mourning the loss of their
children. The Beslan church has become a great place of hope and comfort
for a grieving community. Millions of Christians around the world are
praying for a revival in Beslan, and for the Lord to raise up a movement
to take the Gospel to all the people in North Ossetia. They are not only
praying, but Christians around the world are also ready to help."

While significant aid was immediately sent by SGA and other Christian
organizations in the aftermath of the tragedy, ongoing needs include
ministry to the families affected through community support, grief
counseling and physical aid, along with ministry outreach to the region
surrounding Beslan. Anyone interested in contributing to the Beslan
School Victims Assistance Fund can do so by calling SGA at
1-800-BIBLE-50, or via our web site at http://www.sga.org/beslan.

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