Representing the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of RussiaMonthly Prayer & Praise
JULY 2009
2—Intercede in prayer today for Pastor Yuri Sipko, president of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB). Pray also for the seven regional vice presidents who serve with Yuri in overseeing Russia’s largest evangelical church fellowship.
3—Pray for Pastor Alexander Vervai and the SGA-sponsored Bible institute in Tajikistan. As the Bible institute program continues to develop in this largely Muslim nation, ask the Lord to grant His wisdom, anointing and protection to the students and teachers.
4—Independence Day (U.S.): Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God (1 Peter 2:16). We praise and thank the Lord today for the way He has granted us the freedom to worship and proclaim the Gospel — a freedom that is absent in many places across the globe. May God’s people always make the most of the opportunities He grants, as the permanence of freedom is never guaranteed.
5—The Lord’s Day: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). As you worship today, join us in thanksgiving for the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray that many more will be drawn to saving faith through its proclamation, both here and across the lands of Russia.
6—Pray for SGA president Dr. Bob Provost and our mission’s leadership team. The summer months are frequently financially challenging for many ministries. May the Lord grant our leadership wisdom and direction as our new fiscal year gets off the ground.
7—Please intercede for the SGA-sponsored Antioch Initiative in Russia, especially the Bible training that is proceeding for church-planting missionaries and pastors. Our ongoing prayer is for church-planting and evangelism to multiply greatly across Russia through the visionary leadership of these sound, Bible-preaching churches.
8—Pray for SGA’s Kiev Regional Ministry Center staff, led by Sergei Gladishko. Also pray for our mission’s chief book translator and editor, Sergei Omelchenko, who is also based in Kiev. We thank God for our Ukrainian team and their dedication to serving the churches as they proclaim the Gospel.
9—Earlier in the spring, authorities in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan made more arrests of evangelical believers for their ministry activities, despite constitutional protections guaranteeing freedom of religion. Please pray with us for these brothers and sisters as they face increasing pressure and outright persecution in these largely Muslim nations.
10—Lift SGA’s Loves Park, Illinois, office staff in prayer today. Ask for God’s blessing, encouragement and enablement to do all we can for His glory, and in service to Bible-preaching churches across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
11—SGA-sponsored summer camp ministries are now taking place in Russia and her neighboring nations. Please intercede in prayer for the children in attendance, asking God to open their hearts to the Gospel as they hear it, and see it lived out before them.
12—The Lord’s Day: Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith . . . (1 Corinthians 16:13). On this Sunday, let us renew our purpose to always stand in intercession for our brothers and sisters across the CIS. Even as we lift them in prayer, we are inspired and encouraged by their faithful witness in difficult circumstances.
13—Across the lands of Russia, most students at SGA-sponsored seminaries will be back in their home regions engaging in summer practicum ministry. Pray for them as they serve, and prepare to return to classes in the fall.
14—Join us in praising and thanking the Lord for the faithful service of Dr. Piotr Mitskevich, vice president of the Russian UECB. Remember him in prayer as he also fulfills his roles as pastor of Golgotha Baptist Church in Moscow, and as president of Moscow Seminary.
15—Pray for SGA/Canada, led by Rev. Allan Vincent. Also pray today for his faithful assistants — Lynne Vincent and Sandy Hannaford. We are thankful to God for their diligent service to Christ.
16—Lift SGA’s board of directors in prayer today, asking God to grant them His wisdom and discernment in these economically challenging days for Christian ministries.
17—Please pray for director Piotr Podrez and the staff of SGA’s Minsk RMC. May the Lord continue to provide for their needs, and make them a continual encouragement to evangelical churches across Belarus.
18—Dr. Roman Dechtiarenko is our mission’s itinerant professor of Bible. Pray for Roman as he continues to prepare for what will be a very busy academic season at SGA-sponsored seminaries and Bible institutes.
19—The Lord’s Day: Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). As you worship today, join us in remembering our faithful brothers and sisters in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, where oppression of Christians can be severe. We praise and thank the Lord for their faithful, steadfast witness.
20—SGA missionary Ruth Deyneka Erdel was able to spend several weeks in Ukraine ministering to women’s groups this past May. We praise and thank the Lord for this opportunity to encourage the hearts of these faithful sisters, who labor in so many areas in support of their church fellowships.
21—Praise the Lord for His provision in the SGA-sponsored Orphans Reborn ministry across the lands of Russia. With up to 700,000 children living in state-run orphanages and children’s homes, these lonely, forgotten little ones desperately need to know of the Savior’s love for them.
22—Pray for Pastor Vladimir Vandich, who directs the SGA-sponsored children’s diagnostic camp in Kobrin, Belarus. This year, the camp expects to host more than 1,100 children, many battling illnesses related to Chernobyl radiation. Ask the Lord to open the hearts of these needy kids to the Gospel as they receive treatment.
23—Continue to pray for the final completion of Dr. John MacArthur’s Faith to Grow On children’s Bible in the Russian language. We are hoping to get the first printing concluded by this fall, and remain in need of funds for the project.
24—Blagovestie (Good News) is a Russian Christian folk music group sponsored by SGA across the lands of Russia. Headed by Pastor Boris Berezhnoi, Blagovestie has encouraged hearts and proclaimed the Gospel in song to thousands of people in the CIS and even here in North America.
25—Pray for Pastor Nikolai Sinkovets, president of the Belarussian UECB. Pray also for the regional pastors serving across this nation of 9.6 million people — a nation that is very difficult for evangelical church ministry.
26—The Lord’s Day: These men must also first be tested, then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach (1 Timothy 3:10). On this Sunday, pray for the many new evangelical churches being planted across the lands of Russia. Pray for the ongoing need not only of trained pastors, but also for faithful deacons to come alongside and assist them in serving the needs of the church.
27—We praise and thank the Lord today for SGA’s Moscow staff, led by Valery Kazakov. May the Lord continue to make them a blessing and encouragement to the evangelical churches we serve in Russia.
28—Pray today for Pastor Ruvim Voloshin, vice president of missions for the Russian UECB. Ask the Lord to grant him wisdom as he leads the churches in strategizing for continued outreach to the 130-150 different people groups that populate Russia’s 11 time zones.
29—Intercede in prayer for SGA-sponsored Bible institutes across the CIS. These Bible schools are intended to provide solid Bible training to those pastors and layworkers who are unable to attend a seminary full time. Ask for God’s ongoing and increased provision to keep these schools operating.
30—Lift up the students at SGA-sponsored church music schools in the CIS. Sacred music — including choral and instrumental music — is very important to evangelical churches and in the Russian culture. May the Lord continue to bless and anoint their diligent labors.
31—Reflection: We close July with the benediction of the psalmist ... God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us—that Your way may be known on the earth (Psalm 67:1-2).
