Joy to the World

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.

Dear Partners of SMS,

There is joy in serving Jesus! The goal of visiting many of the SMS national workers in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus was accomplished during the last few months, and participation in each place produced one overwhelming impression – Joy.

How wonderful it was to “pray” with joy with our workers (Philippians 1:4), “proclaim” with joy the Gospel with our workers (Philippians 1:18) and see “progress” with joy when serving in various outreaches with our workers (Philippians 1:25).

“In the matter of giving and receiving” (Philippians 4:15), I thank each one of you for your financial gifts for the national missionaries. Truly, they are “a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18). The funds are furthering the faith of the Gospel, and many souls are hearing and heeding the Good News. New believers are growing in grace and knowledge, and new leaders are preparing for future ministries. “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

During this Holiday Season, may every believer “approve the things that are excellent” (Philippians 1:10) by concentrating on and communicating the joyous reason why Christmas is celebrated – “the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

Counting it all joy,
Rob Zapotoski
SMS Interim Director

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

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.