We Don’t Know What Lies Ahead
As the past few months have gone by, I have been joyfully watching how the Body of Christ around the world is rising up to help those in urgent need. Undaunted by a global pandemic, our trust is in the Lord and the unchanging promise of His Word . . . For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
The evangelical churches we serve across Russia and her neighboring countries have been living examples of God’s love as they help needy individuals and families affected by the pandemic. The response from SGA partners like you to our global prayer campaign, Christ Over COVID, has been phenomenal. SGA founder Peter Deyneka, whose motto was Much Prayer, Much Power, would be rejoicing right along with me as the Gospel advances forth to win his beloved Russian people to Christ, and to see how brothers and sisters in Christ are praying for one another and supporting one another in the Lord’s service.
We do not know what lies ahead. Will the pandemic finally ebb away, enabling us to return to a normal situation? Will the colder months herald a renewed outbreak, and will it become necessary to shut countries down again? Those are questions where the answers remain to be seen.
But I do know the promises of God . . . The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul (Psalm 121:5-7). He has called us to keep working and to keep making disciples until He returns, and He has promised that He will keep building His church. Nothing can stop Him from achieving His purpose, not even a pandemic. And together, we will keep on serving Him and bringing Him glory in the proclamation of the Gospel.
For our Savior,
Michael Johnson
President