Encouraging Blast from the Past

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.

Slavic Missionary Service has been involved with ministry on the foreign field since 1933. Recently, SMS was reminded of the first director's activities in South America. A pastor from Brazil sent SMS a short message which showed the wonderful assistance that Ivan Neprash gave to his congregation and church in the past.

Around 1935, Ivan Neprash traveled to Brazil and attended a meeting in Sao Paulo with people who had emigrated from the former Soviet Union to South America. A wonderful partnership was started. The church was founded in 1928 by Carl Grigorovich. In the 1950's, construction on a new church was started which would seat 800 people. With donations received through SMS, Ivan assisted the completion of this building.

Gratitude continues to be expressed for this important gesture of giving. Even Alex Leonovich was able to assist the work in South America, especially Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, through spiritual and financial support from Slavic Missionary Service. His radio messages were first sent from Ecuador to the former Soviet Union trusting that many listeners would hear the Gospel. And many did!

Opportunities abound around the world to share the Good News of salvation and assist believers in the work of the ministry. As God blesses each one of His children, consider how those blessings can be extended to others. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Brother's Meeting: Ivan Neprash is seated first from the right.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 1:8

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.