SLAVIC GOSPEL ASSOCIATION

Innercircle Perspective

Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47).

I want to express deep appreciation for all your prayers, all your encouragements, and for all your sacrificial help during this past year. 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. And the Lord has done it all through your faithfulness as an SGA partner in the Gospel.

Throughout the vast lands of Russia great things are happening, but nowhere is the blessing greater than in Beslan, Russia. You may recall the terrorist takeover of Public School No. 1 on September 1, 2004, and the massacre of 330 children, youth, teachers, administrators and parents that ensued. This was the worst manifestation of evil that I have ever had to confront. At the same time, that which has followed may be the greatest manifestation of God’s marvelous grace that I have ever seen.

The terrorists killed two beloved children of Pastor Sergei and Bella Totiev, while a third child sustained a disabling injury. Four precious children of Pastor Taimuraz and Raisa Totiev were also slain. Altogether 15 children of the Amond Baptist Church and a young Sunday school teacher lost their lives and many were seriously injured. In miraculous ways, the Lord under-girded the grieving Christian families, carrying them through the devastating experience while granting grace and strength for them to forgive the evil people who were responsible.

Almost immediately thereafter, pastors Sergei and Taimuraz began to lead their recovering church family in various outreach ministries to the grief-stricken Beslan community. They began to pray that from the terrible tragedy the Lord would raise up a great church, an Antioch church, capable of taking the Gospel not only to Beslan, but also to the entire Russian Republic of North Ossetia. SGA partners have given generously to help make their extensive labors of love possible, especially their ministries in the public schools.

Now more than three years later, Louetta and I recently visited again. What the Lord has done in the public schools is more than remarkable, perhaps unique in all the earth. Gloriously He has continued to expand the Amond Church ministries in the schools of Beslan and in ten surrounding villages.

The Beslan believers’ vision to see the Lord raise up an Antioch church has begun to materialize. Grace Bible Church of Bozeman, Montana, a church that SGA founder Peter Deyneka, Sr. helped organize more than 70 years ago, has stepped up to lead the development of an Antioch coalition of churches in Montana to come alongside the Beslan church. It was our great joy to take GBC senior pastor Dr. Bryan Hughes and four GBC elders to Beslan with us. Dr. Hughes spent a week teaching an advanced Biblical Hermeneutics course to all the pastors and missionaries in the North Ossetia region. It was a wonderful time for all and served to launch an exciting new, high-potential partnership in the Gospel.

Finally, January 7 marked the beginning of the 75th year of ministry for Slavic Gospel Association. Please join with us in praising the Lord for bringing us through many challenging times and for blessing our shared ministries for nearly three-quarters of a century. Heaven will reveal the countless precious souls that the Lord brought to Himself through the broadcasting of thousands of radio programs, through the discreet distribution of millions of Bibles, and since 1990, through all the extensive church-based ministries. We have so very much to celebrate for the glory of Christ, and plans are being developed for regional 75th Anniversary celebrations to take place in 2009.