Slavic Missionary Service

Pray daily for pastors in the Slavic countries (as well as your own) that they will have wisdom and power from God to preach the Word effectually and to care for all of the saints. Pray that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will accompany the preaching of God’s Word throughout all lands. Ask God to stir up Christians to use their God-given freedom to the fullest advantage in making known everywhere the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

How important it is for believers to be nourished in the faith in order to flourish in the faith! “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it” (1 Peter 5:12). Many of the missionaries of Slavic Missionary Service are pastors in different regions with different opportunities and outreaches to exhort their congregations. “Exhort and teach” (1 Timothy 6:2).

Not only are SMS missionaries pastoring churches but also some are teaching in Bible Colleges and seminaries in Belarus and Ukraine. Some have even been able to utilize their gifts of teaching in South America and North America, even Papua New Guinea.

Exhortation means “to call one alongside and urge a course of conduct.” Leaders are expected to exhort their church communities with sound doctrine and sanctified living, as they journey as one with Jesus. “These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority” (Titus 2:15).

Telling isn’t teaching and listening isn’t learning. Precepts and principles from God’s Word must be applied to the believer’s life and put into practice. “Preach the word… reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Intercede for the missionaries of SMS, especially those who are leaders that they will exhort their congregations to live and love as Christians not only in their church communities but also in other places of commerce, communication and connection. “We urge (exhort) you, brethren, to excel even more” (1 Thessalonians 4:10).

Blessed is the man you discipline, o Lord, the man you teach from your law.

Psalm 94:12

The Lord will resume His dealing with the nations, as well as with the Chosen nation, when He has completed the church in this Age of Grace. God is working today “to take out” of the nations “a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). Ask God to empower every witness that is proclaiming this message of love to sinful men. Pray continually that the Holy Spirit will convict men of their need of Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).