Believer’s Baptism in the Slavic World

Alex Leononich, the director of SMS from 1958 to 2013, wrote in his biography the following words concerning the need for continued prayer for Christians in the Slavic countries. "Multitudes of Russian believers prayed fervently and kept the faith, even under great persecution. Their greatest desire was to remain faithful to God in the place where He had put them. The need to pray for Slavic Christians has not evaporated because communism no longer reigns. While grateful for their new freedoms, Russian believers also recognize the potential problems which accompany liberty and ask for prayer to remain faithful to God even while enjoying greater freedom."

The major priorities of Slavic Missionary Service are to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to plant new churches when possible. And involved in these two actions are people. People need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, and people need to worship Jesus Christ, as well as grow in their Christian life. Therefore, SMS encourages its workers to broaden their outreaches by utilizing their specific talents and gifts given by God to reach people.

And the foreign missionaries of Slavic Missionary Service are fulfilling “The Great Commission” by reaching people. In 2018 many converts were baptized after humble acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and genuine repentance of sins. “Then they that gladly received His word were baptized” (Acts 2:41). This identification with the Body of Christ, the church, shows the Slavic communities that these Christians are serious concerning their commitment to obey the commands of their Sovereign God and Glorious Savior.

Throughout the Slavic world, churches are growing and flourishing. Those Christians, who have followed the ordinance of baptism, now desire to serve the Lord with greater determination and dedication. Now, SMS missionaries (as well as others) are educating, encouraging and exhorting these new converts in order to prepare them for future ministry and leadership.

Pray that God will add to “the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47) and will continue to “build” (Matthew 16:18) the church in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, as well as the world. Intercede for these new believers that they will “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Ask God to empower the missionaries of SMS, as they minister for Him and not to grow “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9) but know that their “labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord..

Deuteronomy 8:3

Never wait for the lost soul to approach you and ask about the way to salvation. He or she seldom comes. The method of our Lord Jesus was to seek the lost. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). All around us are opportunities to witness about “new life” in Christ, if the believer will allow the Holy Spirit to assist him in sharing that marvelous message. People should be given a choice. Pray that all of the SMS missionaries will present the Gospel to anyone who is willing to listen to the “Good News.”