In his most recent report, Oleg—SGA’s director of Bible training in Israel—shares about the growing network of small churches that are advancing the Gospel in their communities, as well as the continued excellent biblical training.

Since the late 1940s, SGA has ministered to Slavic refugees in Israel when we placed our first missionary there. We have been serving—very discreetly and largely behind the scenes—through formal Bible training schools that serve Russian and other Slavic immigrants. It is a joy today to see Oleg and other faithful believers pour out their lives for the sake of the Gospel, and to serve them as God leads them.

Please pray that God will continue to build His Kingdom in Israel and open the eyes of many hearts so that they will believe in the true Messiah. Read more from Oleg . . .

Peace to you, dear brothers and sisters, I thank all of you for your prayers and support of my ministry. Another three months have passed, during which God has done much in our lives and ministry. I would like to share a few things with you.

The academic year at our Bible College is drawing to a close. Students will finish their studies in the second half of June and then begin their summer break. Some will take part in intensive courses, while others will be engaged in work and ministry.

In April of this year, ministers from our churches located in central, southern, and northern Israel, along with their assistants, gathered once again for our regular quarterly meeting. However, this gathering was unlike the previous ones. Eric Mock and Alex Pashkovets came from America and presented important topics for our ministers, focusing on serving in small churches and the vital role of prayer. During those days, the brothers received a great deal of practical instruction and spiritual encouragement.

Two-day meeting of our ministers in Netanya

In April of this year, our students completed their studies at the Bible School in Caesarea. The course was offered in a condensed format and covered hermeneutics and exegesis, but the main emphasis was placed on homiletics and practical work with the biblical text.

Bible School in Jerusalem

This photo doesn’t clearly show the classroom, but you can see the teacher and his students studying various biblical subjects in a simple, informal setting. This school in Jerusalem has been operating for about 12 years, and over that time, many students have completed their training. Some of them have gone on to become ministers who are now actively serving the Lord.

Our students not only study—they serve.

In this photo, you see one of our students from Jerusalem leading a Passover Seder at his church. In Israel, before Passover begins, Jewish families gather around the table to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt. Christians also observe this tradition, but they place special emphasis on the deliverance from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ, through whom true freedom has become possible.

Home group ministry

In this photo, you see one of our students leading a home group. These gatherings also welcome non-believers, allowing them to study the Bible together with Christians. This creates a warm environment for building relationships. During these meetings, people not only explore Scripture but also share their struggles and pray for one another.

Reaching the margins in Tel Aviv

As usual, some of my students share the Gospel not only where they live but also frequently travel to Tel Aviv. There is a specific area in Tel Aviv where the homeless, drug addicts, alcoholics, and other marginalized individuals live—people discarded by society. Many among them are Russian-speaking immigrants who came to Israel but lost their way in this new country. Some fell into drug addiction, others into alcoholism, and some turned to crime. After serving prison terms, many are released with nowhere to go. What one sees in this part of Tel Aviv is unforgettable, even after a single visit: trash, old dusty buildings, crumbling sidewalks. People sleep on the pavement and eat whatever someone might share with them. Many end their lives here.

It is in this very place that our students organize outreach ministries. They share the love of Christ. Some of the people they encounter are taken to rehabilitation centers. In this photo, you see one of our students speaking with a man from this part of Tel Aviv. The man stands in the center. He allowed them to pray for him. Perhaps one day he, too, will serve God. My student Yura is a former drug addict and alcoholic. He understands the man in the center—he’s been through it himself. Another student, Yevgeny, spent about 20 years in prison. He, too, understands. Both Yura and Yevgeny were rescued by God from destruction. Both began to serve Him and enrolled in Bible College. Recently, each of them started a family and now rejoice that they once found new life in Christ. Perhaps this lost man, standing in the middle of that grim corner of Tel Aviv—“The Hill of Spring”—and others like him, will also find a new life, one that transforms them into the likeness of the Son of God (Romans 8:29). Your brother has come (Luke 15:27). This brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found? (Luke 15:32).

Blessings to you all, and once again, thank you for your ministry to the people of Israel. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. (Romans 11:26)