Representing the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of RussiaInnercircle Perspective
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. (Psalm 50:15)
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. What a crucial moment to be faced with the necessity of cutting back on the vital training ministries, to limit support for the phenomenal youth movement, or to put further expansion of the Antioch Initiative on hold. Sadly, however, we are in the midst of having to make these hard deCISions in the face of economic realities that are impacting SGA’s financial resources.
At the same time, my heart is filled with praise to the Lord for your enduring, faithful partnership in the Gospel. Your support is deeply appreciated and crucial. Your daily prayers are the most important element in our ministries in the harvest fields. Our founder, Peter Deyneka, Sr., led a literal worldwide prayer movement. Many of you remember hearing his zealous exhortation, Much prayer, much power! Little prayer, little power! No prayer, no power!
It is through your much prayer that the Lord has sustained this faith mission for 74 years and six months. We can never thank you enough . . . and we ask you, please, to never stop praying for us and for our ministries. As you receive this Insight, we are encountering our single greatest need for prayer since July 1, 2007. We are heading towards ending our fiscal year on June 30th with a financial deficit of $300,000.
Our predicted shortfall could not come at a more difficult time in the lands of Russia. Inflation has averaged 13% per year for the past five years. Food prices alone are up 30% since last September. In Russia, our dollar is worth only 76 cents compared to five years ago and gasoline is approaching $5 per gallon while most family incomes are still well under $500 per month.
Our support level for SGA-sponsored church planters is much too low. Many are needing to find other employment to sustain their families. The Russian Orthodox Church is teaching against all Protestantism in the public schools. Frequently the mass media speaks strongly against what they call the American religions, and especially against the Baptist Church, calling it the most dangerous cult. The children of SGA missionaries in Siberia are being persecuted and are coming home from school in tears.
Our seminary and Bible Institute accounts, our youth ministry account, and our Antioch Initiative account are all running at a significant deficit. The Lord is tremendously blessing all of these outstanding ministries, but resources are lacking and urgently needed. Ending the fiscal year in the red would mean that these vital ministries will all need to be down-sized substantially effective July 1st.
We would have to turn qualified applicants away at the very time when we don’t know how much longer many of the training schools will be permitted to operate. The outstanding and growing youth movement would be substantially hindered by a lack of basic support. And expansion of the top priority church-planting ministry in Russia, the Antioch Initiative, will have to be put on hold for a year until funding for basic operational support can be secured.
Therefore, dear partners, please pray with us that the Lord will make this critical need known and understood by those whom He has blessed financially for such a time and such a need as this. Pray that the Lord would “rescue” these extremely important ministries by supplying the funds that are needed to sustain them this month, and throughout the summer months.
Thank you in advance for your faithful prayers, and for your material support, as the Lord makes it possible. And in the days ahead, may the Lord bless you beyond measure for His glory.
