Slavic Missionary Service

Pray for your local church and the local churches in Slavic countries. Ask the Lord to increase the spiritual life of each member of the church. Ask Him to assist your church in the area where you live to seek souls with salvation from sin. And may this assistance extend throughout the whole world. Pray for your pastor and leadership, as well as the pastors and leadership in the Slavic world. Pray for peace in the world. Ask God to restrain evil through the Holy Spirit in order that His Word may have free course in every country.

Isn’t it wonderful when God surprises with a small or large blessing when serving Him faithfully and fervently! Sometimes, it’s extremely difficult to be patient, as He unfolds His plans. But when answers arrive, words cannot express the joy welling up within weary hearts!

In the summer of 2019, the SMS Interim Director was informed that funds were being gathered to put a new roof on the church in Slonim, Belarus. Already, half of the amount was collected. Could SMS assist in this matter? Of course, an affirmative answer was given. On returning to the states, the interim director shared the news with a few friends and supporting churches. Within a few weeks funds were obtained. During a trip to Belarus in November, SMS shared personally the wonderful news to the pastor (SMS missionary) of the church.

After returning to the states, a message was received that an opportunity has been presented to purchase a building on one of the main streets in Slonim. This building, much larger than the House of Prayer, would be ideal for growth in ministry for the Lord. Would SMS agree that the funds already gathered can now be utilized for this purchase? Of course, if the leadership deemed this direction as God’s will, how could SMS disagree?

Then, a wonderful transaction happened in December 2019. The Slonim Church purchased the building. And the churches of the Grodno Region of Belarus, as well as the Belarus Baptist Union, assisted them in this exciting endeavor. Clearly, the hand of God was seen throughout this whole situation!

Now, SMS will consider how they can help in the renovation of the building for future worship services and outreach ministry. The SMS Interim Director will travel to Belarus in February to worship with the congregation in Slonim and to visit the new site in order to investigate the needs for reconstruction within the interior of the building.

SMS rejoices when God opens “a door for the word” (Colossians 4:3) and “a door… in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 2:12). Therefore, workers must be prepared to serve when God indicates potential opportunities. “A wide door for effective service has opened… and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9), but God always helps the Christian leadership to overcome those difficulties and build the church for His honor and glory. As the missionaries of SMS continue “to report all things that God has done with them,” SMS prays that the “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) will remain wide open for evangelism and edification.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Luke 12:48

God’s strategy for world evangelism calls for two equally important elements: Co-missionaries and Go-missionaries, the senders and the sent, the supporters and the workers. A Christian church without missionary enthusiasm is a contradiction. God depends upon the faithful testimony of His people for the evangelization of the world. The Savior expects those who have tasted the sweetness of salvation to spread the news far and wide. He has commissioned His children to share His Word to the lost in every country.