Representing the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia
SGA Celebrates 75 Years of MinistryJanuary 6, 2009 |
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President Dr. Robert Provost, the staff of Slavic Gospel Association, and Dr. Piotr Konovalchik, former distinguished president of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia, are today marking the 75th anniversary of the mission’s founding in Chicago. . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveDecember 2008 |
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The promised “Great Light” came exactly as prophesied. How tragic it is, however, that after 2,000 years, most of the people in most of the countries are still in a dark land. . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveOctober 2008 |
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. . . This was the theme verse for the recent Congress of our Russian brothers and sisters in Christ, our faithful partners in the Gospel. Their parents and grandparents were some of the finest Christian examples on earth throughout the 20th Century. . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveSeptember 2008 |
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The summer is nearly over, and my heart is filled with praise to the Lord and gratitude to you and all our partners in the Gospel. Your faithful prayers and generous support have sustained our ministries and encouraged us onward. . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveAugust 2008 |
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As I write, the final accounting has not yet been accomplished, but the results so far are encouraging. As our doors of opportunity are closing, it is you and our other precious partners in the Gospel who make all of our vital ministries possible. . . . |
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A New Family in ChristAugust 2008 |
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Vitaly Kuchinsky knows something about sacrifice and being an outcast. If you were to meet him, you'd find it hard to believe that this unassuming young student at Minsk Theological Seminary is a "black sheep" to his family. But he is, and it's not because of his past sinful lifestyle. . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveJuly 2008 |
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This, dear partners, is the most important Innercircle Perspective that I have written in a long, long time. It is, indeed, a "day of trouble" for SGA's ministries in the lands of Russia. The door is closing again and the needs are critical and urgent. . . . |
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From the CampusJuly 2008 |
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We are thankful for yet another successful year at SGA-sponsored Bible institutes and seminaries across the lands of Russia. Here are some highlights from each of the schools supported by our partners. . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveJune 1, 2008 |
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The International Herald Tribune front page headline is "A Kremlin Map for Religious Paths, Protestants Facing Official Antipathy." The New York Times front-page headline reads, "Kremlin Rules, At Expense of All Others, Putin Picks a Church." In the article featured by these two prominent newspapers, Clifford J. Levy writes . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveMay 1, 2008 |
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Imagine a former convict leading Gospel ministries in four large Siberian prisons, and a former drug addict giving oversight to three Bible-based drug-rehab centers! As an SGA partner, your prayers and support are making such wonderful things possible . . . |
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Prayer Alert and Press Release: New Kazakh Legislation Restrictive to MissionsApril 23, 2008 |
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The lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s parliament has passed new legislation that would impose severe additional restrictions on missionary activity in the country. If signed by President Nursultan Nazarbaev, this law . . . |
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Prayer Alert: Police Chief from Balaev Case Injured in Accident |
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The police chief in Zaur Balaev’s region — the very one who ordered the raid on Zaur’s church and his subsequent arrest on false charges of resisting arrest — fell victim to an accident, and is now paralyzed in a wheelchair. Pray for the salvation of this police chief . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveApril 1, 2008 |
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I am writing while on the way home from the most encouraging Christian conference I have ever attended. 350 local church youth leaders came from 61 of Russia’s 88 states and also from other countries including Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Moldova, and even from Israel . . . |
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Pastor Balaev Released from Prison!March 19, 2008 |
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It is with great joy and praise for our God and Father that I bring you news of the release of Zaur Balaev! This faithful Baptist pastor had been imprisoned in Azerbaijan since last spring after conviction on false charges of resisting arrest and holding illegal meetings. |
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Russian Youth Conference — Training to Be Strong in ChristMarch 17, 2008 |
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SGA helped sponsor a February youth conference in Moscow that brought together some 400 local church youth leaders from Russia and several other countries. Russia’s growing youth movement involves more than 20,000 young men and women blessing their churches and impacting their communities for Christ . . . |
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Belarus Orders U.S. Ambassador Out — Possible Impact on Evangelical ChurchesMarch 13, 2008 |
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In Belarus today, evangelical churches are not allowed to engage in public ministry outside of the church walls. Pastors and missionaries can encounter significant difficulties from local authorities as they seek to fulfill their ministries. But despite these challenges, the ministry of these churches goes on and the Lord continues to draw many to Himself as the Gospel is proclaimed . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveMarch 1, 2008 |
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The Bible is replete with references to His constant guidance to those who belong to Him . . . those who have repented of their sins and trusted in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as their Savior and Lord. It was these wonderful promises from God that kept the faithful Christians from giving up during the 73 years of communist oppression in the last century . . . |
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Ministry Report 2007February 25, 2008 |
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For SGA and the Bible-preaching churches we serve across the lands of Russia, the year 2007 was filled with significant accomplishments as our faithful partners responded to increasing opposition in tremendous ways throughout the year. In addition, 2007 brought a growing number of challenges for the churches as governments continued to tighten restrictions on their ministries . . . |
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Dangerous Tajikistan ConditionsFebruary 15, 2008 |
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Please pray for the dangerous winter situation that has engulfed the people of the nation of Tajikistan. And please pray for the Christians there; for their well-being and that the Lord would give them opportunities to reach out in His love to their suffering neighbors and co-workers . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveFebruary 4, 2008 |
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You have helped make possible the proclamation of repentance for forgiveness of sins in His name to 11 nations that were formerly held captive by atheistic regimes. Thousands more have been trained in the Scriptures, thousands of precious souls have repented of their sins and been gathered into new church families, and thousands of children and youth have become acquainted with our Savior... |
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An Interview with Imprisoned Pastor Zaur BalaevJanuary 18, 2008 |
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As we reported previously, pastor Zaur Balaev of Azerbaijan was sentenced last year to two years in prison after conviction on what church officials say are false charges of resisting arrest. We now have a brief update from Ilya Zenchenko, general secretary of the Azeri Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, who recently was able to visit pastor Balaev in prison. Continue reading An Interview with Imprisoned Pastor Zaur Balaev |
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The Freedom is FleetingJanuary 15, 2008 |
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Evangelical churches are often slandered by other religious groups opposed to the Gospel and by administrative leaders. Warnings are distributed in communities saying that the Baptists are a dangerous sect to be avoided. Mass media messages are promoting the idea that evangelicals are Western groups and are enemies of the motherland. This mindset is being pushed into the educational system through . . . |
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Innercircle PerspectiveJanuary 1, 2008 |
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God’s Word is abundantly clear that He is in full control of all the nations. It tells us that He determines governmental leadership at all levels in all the nations, that He raises up nations and empires and takes them down according to His plan, and that He does it in a manner that causes men to seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him (Acts 17:26). When He brought the Soviet Empire crashing down... |
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Celebrating Christmas For OrphansDecember 21, 2007 |
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Evangelical churches in seven countries will reach more than 4,700 orphan children with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ this Christmas season. During the scheduled outreach events, faithful church workers will distribute to each child a wrapped gift for their very own, Russian-language Christian children’s literature, and other much-needed items such as warm clothing or toiletries. |
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Innercircle PerspectiveDecember 1, 2007 |
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I am writing from a Russian pastors’ conference at a rented, snow-covered, wooded facility two hours west of Moscow. Gathered here are 52 faithful men of God. Each of them serves as the senior pastor of their church. Their weights of responsibility are great. Moreover, the doors of opportunity are steadily closing. |
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Prayer Alert: Imprisoned Pastor Disturbing NewsNovember 22, 2007 |
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Sources report that officials at the prison where Azerbaijan pastor, Zaur Balaev, is being held have been demanding a shockingly high level of “payments” from the pastor’s family and friends. Although the officials are denying it, these bribes are allegedly being demanded before Pastor Balaev is given food or allowed to meet with his family . . . |
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Preaching the Gospel in Russia: North American Church Coalitions Celebrate Growing Impact of the Antioch InitiativeNovember 21, 2007 |
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(ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS) — More than 60 evangelical pastors from across North America gathered last week in Rockford for the annual Antioch Initiative Leadership Conference. The pastors are heading up special, regional church coalitions formed in support of the SGA-sponsored Antioch Initiative in Russia. |
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Innercircle PerspectiveNovember 1, 2007 |
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When each month it is my joy to write this column, my heart goes immediately to all of you who serve so faithfully in this Gospel partnership. It is incredibly amazing how the Lord has brought us all together for the sake of the Gospel and for the sake of His Name, the Name of our matchless, wonderful Savior, Lord and King, Jesus Christ. |
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Lost Generation is Russia’s Best HopeOctober 1, 2007 |
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In Russia today, a lost generation is looking for truth and a reason to go on. When the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991, people were free to worship God for the first time in over 70 years. But after so many years of atheistic teaching, very few were left who knew anything of the Gospel of Christ. |
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Azerbaijan Pastor ImprisonedSeptember 11, 2007 |
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Evangelical church leaders in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan are asking for urgent prayer in connection with the case of 44-year-old Rev. Zaur Balaev, a Baptist pastor in a rural village in Azerbaijan’s far north. An Azeri court has sentenced Pastor Balaev to two years in prison . . . |
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Training in TruthAugust 1, 2007 |
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Preparing the Lord’s servants to preach His Gospel — before the doors to evangelism close. Bible-believing churches in Russia are praying for pastors and leaders who are fully trained in the interpretation of Scripture, prepared to defend a pure Christian doctrine and able to preach persuasively in Jesus’ name... |
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Historic 9,000-Mile Gospel Bicycle Expedition Underway |
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Bicyclists from evangelical churches across Russia set out on a four-month, historic, 9,000-mile evangelistic journey on Sunday, May 13. The transcontinental “Gospel Expedition” began at the coast in northern Germany, and is crossing Europe then all the way through Russia to the Pacific coast city of Vladivostok. |
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Remembering Russia’s Late President and His Impact on Russian Churches |
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(LOVES PARK, IL) — As news spread about the death of former Russian president Boris Yeltsin Monday at age 76, governmental leaders, religious leaders and everyday citizens reflected on the legacy left behind by Mr. Yeltsin’s nine years in power. It was a mixed legacy, one where millions rejoiced at greater freedom, but also struggled with deep poverty in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse. |
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Orphans Reborn Opens New Location |
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As a result of a much-appreciated commitment from a North American partner, Orphans Reborn is now supporting orphan ministries in a new central Asian location. |
Camping in Kirov, Russia |
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Churches in Russia's Kirov region reach out to youth in their communities through a summer camp ministry. Read this report and hear about how God has blessed these faithful laborers to bear beautiful fruit! |
Unexpected Gifts Open Doors to Evangelism |
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Christmas time in Russia is an incredible evangelistic opportunity. This article from this month's InSight Newsletter highlights this important time of the year — and the wonderful fruit from this great harvest time! |
Blagovestie Tours Southwest Russia |
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The music team Blagovestie has seen the Lord work mightily through their ministry in recent months. Read these reports about the impact of this evangelistic ministry! |
Siberian Baptism in Winter |
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How far would you go in a step of obedience to Jesus Christ? Two faithful young believers, eager to demonstrate their committment to Christ, were baptized in early April — in 5° weather. |
Chita Strategic Bible Institute Update |
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In the far reaches of Siberia, the residents of Chita have seen a tremendous work of the Lord in their region — thousands saved since the breakup of the Soviet Union. |
Immanuel's Child Report: '05-'06 |
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In this year's ministry, thousands of children received special Christmas gifts and an opportunity to hear the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. |
