SLAVIC GOSPEL ASSOCIATION

Monthly Prayer & Praise

September 2008

7—The Lord’s Day: &helip; they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you &helip; It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony (Luke 21:12-13). It is heartbreaking to hear reports of increased persecution of churches across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Please remember our brothers and sisters in prayer, asking the Lord to sustain them in the midst of all challenges.  

8—Prayer: Despite severe restrictions, evangelical churches across Belarus continue to have profound impact for the glory of Christ. Pray today for SGA’s Regional Ministry Center (RMC) in Minsk. May God continue to make our staff there a continual encouragement and dependable resource.  

9—Praise: According to Rev. Eduard Genrikh, president of the SGA-sponsored Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary, the school is now the only state-licensed higher education institution for biblical training in Siberia and surrounding regions. Join us in praising the Lord for this wonderful development!

10—Prayer: The exploding price of oil has had a devastating impact on many ministries around the world, and SGA is no exception. Please join us in prayer about this situation.  

11—Praise: In addition to ministry opportunities in Russia, SGA missionary Ruth Deyneka Erdel is also a great blessing each summer to the children of ethnic Russians at the Evangelical Baptist Center Camp in Willington, Connecticut. We praise and thank the Lord for Ruth and her decades of service to Christ.  

12—Prayer: Pray today for Rev. Ruvim Voloshin, vice president of missions for the Russian UECB. As restrictions on evangelical churches tighten, ask the Lord to grant Ruvim and his fellow pastors wisdom in their response to each local situation.  

13—Prayer: Should the Lord tarry in His coming, it is vitally important to reach the next generation for Christ. Pray for children’s ministries across the lands of Russia, including Sunday school outreach.  

14—The Lord’s Day: So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the Gospel to get their living from the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14). In the CIS, economic conditions make it very difficult for most local congregations to support a full-time pastor. Lift this critical need before the Lord today, praying with us for the resources these churches need to enable their pastor to devote his entire time to ministry.  

15—Prayer: Pray for SGA’s professor of Bible, Dr. Roman Dechtiarenko. This month, Roman is teaching at the SGA-sponsored Minsk Theological Seminary in Belarus. Pray for Roman and his students as they dig deeply into the Word of God.  

16—Prayer: Although SGA seldom engages in direct humanitarian aid these days due to shipping costs and difficult customs regulations, we still provide funds to local churches across the lands of Russia for such aid on an as needed basis. Pray with us for replenished resources as poverty remains severe for many families.  

17—Prayer: Dr. Piotr Mitskevich serves as pastor of Moscow’s Golgotha Baptist Church in addition to his duties as vice president of the Russian UECB and president of Moscow Theological Seminary. Please lift this faithful brother and his family in prayer today, asking for the Lord’s continued anointing of Piotr’s ministry.  

18—Praise: In addition to the four SGA-sponsored seminaries across the CIS, our partners also help sponsor several Bible institutes   for those unable to attend seminary full time. We praise and thank God for His provision of these strategic Bible training opportunities.  

19—Prayer: Pray for SGA’s Moscow office staff, led by Valery Kazakov. Valery and his team provide vital support and coordination for SGA personnel and partners when traveling in Russia on ministry business.  

20—Prayer: Pray for Jess Miller, SGA’s new project manager. Jess’s responsibilities include oversight of programs and projects designed to support SGA’s various ministries across the CIS. We are thankful for this new addition to the SGA family!

21—The Lord’s Day: As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured (James 5:10-11). As persecution of believers increases across the CIS, we remember those faithful brothers and sisters who endured heavy oppression in the Soviet past. We praise and thank the Lord for their bold testimony.  

22—Prayer: Pray for SGA-sponsored church planter Alexander Spichak, whose busy ministry includes a powerful outreach into juvenile detention facilities in Russia’s Ivanovo region. May the Lord draw many of these youthful offenders to Himself as Alexander shares the love of Christ with them.  

23—Prayer: Please join us in praying for Dr. Bob Provost and SGA’s leadership team. As worldwide economic conditions drive up the cost of ministry, we need the Lord’s wisdom in setting the correct priorities and seeking additional resources.  

24—Praise: We continue to praise and thank God for His provision of the SGA-sponsored Orphans Reborn outreach across the lands of Russia. With an estimated minimum of 500,000 parentless or neglected children in the country, Orphans Reborn is a vitally important ministry that is reaching many of these lonely, forgotten kids for Christ.  

25—Prayer: Please intercede in prayer for Irina Gladishko, the wife of SGA’s Kiev RMC director Sergei Gladishko. Irina has endured significant back problems and pain for months. Pray for healing, and join us in thanking the Lord for Sergei, Irina, and their faithful family.  

26—Prayer: Often taken for granted here in North America, Sunday school ministry is still in development across Russia and her neighboring countries. Ask the Lord for increased resources to help Bible-preaching churches establish biblically-sound Sunday schools.  

27—Prayer: Intercede in prayer today for Rev. Gennady Abramov, UECB regional vice president for Russia’s Far East. Thousands of miles removed from Moscow, the Far East can be a daunting place for ministry. We praise and thank God for Gennady’s faithful, diligent service to Christ.  

28—The Lord’s Day: You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness (2 Peter 3:17). On this Sunday, pray for Russian pastors as they shepherd and guard their flocks from the many false teachers that flooded in after the Soviet breakup. May the Lord enable them to stand firm against pressure to adopt the unbiblical church growth methods so popular here in the West.  

29—Prayer: Pray today for SGA/Canada director Allan Vincent and his faithful staff. Ask the Lord to abundantly multiply their resources and supporting churches across Canada’s huge territory.  

30—Reflection: We conclude September with the wonderful promise of God &helip; The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them (Isaiah 9:2).