As I look back at my youth, I recall all the help from family and friends at the Evangelical Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY. They helped Ann and I come to know Christ and to live for Him. They taught and showed by personal example what sincere love and concern truly mean. When I was called into full-time ministry, their caring response was intensified. Almost all of them are in heaven now (and that is where I long to be)!

As I look back to our initial call to ministry among Slavic people, I was completing studies at Toccoa Falls Bible College. James Stewart, director of European Evangelistic Crusade, spoke at a mission’s conference and challenged me to use my identity with the Slavic people to reach them for Christ. We were invited to Australia by the Russian-Ukrainian Baptist leadership to help in outreach among Slavic immigrants who had settled there after the end of WW II.

A new church was constructed, and I served as pastor. A union of churches was formed. They elected me as president. I was asked to visit all the churches annually to preach the gospel and deal with problems they were facing. We moved again when a new leader was needed in Melbourne and Adelaide. Being supported by churches in America made it very easy to make such moves. Ten wonderful years of service were ended when we returned to the states to care for my mother-in-law.

During this time, we were invited to serve in churches in California, Michigan and Ohio using Russian and English languages over a period of more than 25 years. Another call came from Australia for a three year assignment in a church that needed a bilingual preacher while the pastor worked on his doctorate.

Then, a surprise invitation from Dr. Komandant, president of the Evangelical Christian Baptist Union of the Soviet Union, came to me as I relocated to Australia. “Come and preach the gospel in the churches in the Soviet Union.” I still must conclude my ministry in Australia. He wrote back, “Come as soon as you are able.” When the work in Australia was complete, I flew to Moscow, Russia where God had opened a wonderful opportunity to preach the gospel and get acquainted with the Evangelical Christian Baptist Churches.

Because the government’s attitude toward religion was changing, the church leaders took advantage for the promotion of the Gospel to a hungry nation that needed the Bread of Life. I arrived at the Easter season, and I was introduced to the very best music that I have ever heard in the entire world.

In Krasnadar, Russia on Easter Sunday, six men each spoke for ten minutes. I would speak for fifteen minutes. I enjoyed every part of the three hour service, especially the closing invitation. Twenty-two individuals came forward at the pastor’s invitation to repent and receive Christ.

When returning to the states, an invitation followed by Dr. Alex Leonovich to join Slavic Missionary Service. Opportunities arose to speak in American churches with support given for special projects; some to support missionaries, some to build churches, some to provide Bibles, literature and flannel graph sets. God put together a wonderful team interested in winning people to Christ and planting new churches. Over twenty churches are now functioning effectively reaching new families through summer camp, home Bible studies and special evangelistic outreaches.

God’s commission remains for us to reach those souls appointed to be part of the body of Christ. We continue to do what we can to help this important task. Thank you for sharing in this vital work.

Leon (and Ann) Chechowich
Former Field Coordinator of SMS