The early church obeyed Christ’s commission. As soon as the Holy Spirit empowered the expectant prayerful disciples, they exercised that spiritual power to witness to others. The message was repentance and faith. Everyone participated in spreading the Good News.

Soon, the Gospel spread throughout the territory of Jerusalem and beyond. This was spontaneous expansion. The gates of God’s kingdom opened to everyone. God’s plan for the church included the total involvement of all believers, although some like Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Titus and others were called to give themselves to full-time “missionary” service in preaching and teaching the Gospel.

God has not changed His pattern or plan. The church should be a witnessing assembly of believers. A witnessing church should have a powerful influence beyond its own community. That is why the church supports missionaries. It must be interested in producing mature, sacrificial, witnessing members. And some of those members will be called of God to stretch their circle of influence beyond their immediate family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances.

Some dedicated and determined Christians on foreign fields will also need support to prepare for ministry or start a church in their community. Others will need to be trained to reach various age-groups or distinct classes of people. Consistent contributions will assist these faithful national workers to grow personally and to grow the church of Christ Jesus publicly. The supporting church investigates what areas need their support, and the Holy Spirit impresses the congregation to reach that country for Christ.

That is why Slavic Missionary Service was founded 85 years ago. At its inception, it was impossible to support full-time workers in the former Soviet Union, but the founder, Ivan Neprash, sought interesting ways to provide spiritual literature, Bibles and teaching materials to point people to salvation in Jesus Christ. Financial support was personal and private.

The next director, Alex Leonovich, continued the work by preaching and teaching the Word of God through the airwaves of Trans World Radio. And the avenues of distributing Bibles and spiritual literature continued to unfold. Then, when the Soviet Union disbanded in 1991 and many of the republics became independent countries, SMS began to support national workers to build God’s church.

Now, the present director, Rob Zapotoski continues to maintain this wonderful partnership with the leadership and SMS national workers in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Visiting these countries, he has many opportunities to preach and teach God’s Word to various age-groups in various settings. Likewise, he is able to assist the leadership to build the church of Jesus Christ and spread the Gospel to many cities, towns and villages.

How good it is that the Lord has given SMS this great privilege to witness and work beyond the Unites States. Because of contributions from committed churches and Christians, SMS has been able to construct new churches in Slavic cities where there was no building or church territory. Also, SMS has been able to assist missionaries who are building the church of God by methods of evangelization, visitation, summer camps, home Bible studies, seminars, conferences and “one-on-one” witnessing. May God continue to empower SMS to be a witnessing service for His honor and glory!