Reporting about Minstry in Ukraine

In the Word of God nothing is clearer than the longsuffering of God which seeks and waits for individuals to repent of their sins before His holiness requires judgment for those sins. He rises to judgment only when iniquity is full. Pray daily that many sinners will find cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ. Intercede earnestly for unsaved individuals that they will come to God by the “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20). Pray for the SMS missionaries that they would rise to any occasion to proclaim the Good News “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Slavic Missionary Service has partnered with Western Ukraine since the discontinuation of the former Soviet Union. Capable workers for the Lord’s ministry were sought, trained and thrust into the tremendous task of building God’s church.

The Volyn region has become part of the “Bible belt” of Western Ukraine, and Slavic Missionary Service gives glory to God for the privilege of partnering with qualified Christian workers in this area. One of those workers is Yaroslav Trots. He is the regional pastor and oversees the whole Volyn Oblast.

The task of regional pastor involves overseeing 109 churches in this territory, as well as fifteen “home” churches. During March 2018, Rob Zapotoski, SMS Interim Director, was able to travel with Yaroslav to churches in Lutsk, Kolki and Kovel, Ukraine to participate in a leadership seminar, a Sunday school conference and Sunday services.

In May 2018, Yaroslav and his wife, Viktoria, were able to travel to the United States for ministry and to report to churches concerning the work in the Volyn region of Ukraine. Yaroslav was invited as the main speaker of a conference for leadership families in Florida. Then, Rob Zapotoski and they travelled to New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania to share about the abundant opportunities at this time for various ministries in the Lord’s work.

SMS praises God for such workers as Yaroslav Trots. He started his ministry with SMS many years ago and now has developed into a spiritually skilled worker. He understands that “all” of his abilities and talents must be used “for the sake of the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:23).

When serving hand-in-hand with the SMS national workers, the interim director of SMS understands how important it is to continue this partnership of spiritual and financial support. Praise God for the many churches and families that have been supporting national workers through SMS for ten to twenty years! Slavic Missionary Service counts it a privilege to possess such committed and consistent supporters.

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1

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.