Checking out some Slavic Countries

Pray that God will fill the Slavic believers with a hunger for His Word: "Desire the sincere milk of the Word" (1 Peter 2:2), and a spirit of prayer: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Ask God to call many young men and women to serve Him sacrificially and sincerely in places of leadership. Pray that some will choose to serve in other Slavic countries as missionaries. Intercede for the Christian leadership in Eastern Europe that they will withstand the powers of darkness and remain stable in their spiritual roles.

Here are some interesting facts concerning the major countries that SMS assists overseas in ministry. Did you know that…

Russia is twice the size of the United States of America. The population is approximately 143,000,000. (The US population is 316,000,000.)

The capital is Moscow. Russia is divided into eleven time zones. (Moscow is 8 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.) Thirty percent of the people are Russian Orthodox. (Russia has many non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of Soviet rule.) Only two to five percent of the people are Evangelical.

Ukraine is slightly smaller than Texas. The population includes roughly 45,550,000 people. (The population of Texas is 26,000,000.) The capital is Kiev. After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union. (It is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.) About sixty percent of the people consider themselves Russian or Ukrainian Orthodox. Approximately ten percent are Evangelical.

Belarus is slightly smaller than Kansas. The population consists of about 9,490,000 people. (The population of Kansas is 2,886,000.) The capital is Minsk. (It is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.) Belarus is landlocked. Some eighty percent of the people say that they are Orthodox. Fifteen percent claim to be Roman Catholic. Only two percent are Evangelical.

Moldova is slightly smaller than Maryland. The population of Moldova is approximately 3,538,000 people. (The population of Kansas is 5,885,000.)

The capital is Kishinev. (It is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.) Roughly ninety percent of the people consider themselves Eastern Orthodox. Only one half a percent are Evangelical.

Please pray for the souls represented in each of these countries. God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:10

Pray that the Gospel will reach the millions in the Slavic countries that have not yet heard what Christ has done for them. Many small cities and towns still do not have an official place of worship. Ask God to help the Slavic churches be effective witnesses in their neighborhoods. Pray that souls will continue to be saved, baptized and discipled through the ministries of the church. Pray that the Holy Spirit powerfully and persistently will convict men of sin and lead many to believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.