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 women to serve the Lord in the home, the church and the community! Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna specifically contributed to the ministry of Jesus and His disciples “out of their private means” (Luke 8:2-33). The Christian church in Rome was encouraged to assist Phoebe “in whatever matter she may have need of you,” for she had been acknowledged as a “helper” (Romans 16:2). The Christian church in Philippi was encouraged to help Euodia and Syntyche to unite in harmony, because they worked with the Apostle Paul in sharing “the Gospel” (Philippians 4:3).

Priscilla worked side by side with her husband to advance the Gospel “in their house” (1 Corinthians 16:19), and “all the churches of the Gentiles” thanked God for their ministry (Romans 16:4). The Apostle Paul acknowledges that the “sincere faith” of Timothy was taught to him by his “grandmother Lois” and his “mother Eunice” (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15). These examples prove that the ministries of women are vitally important and valuable to Lord’s work.

Slavic Missionary Service praises God for missionaries’ wives and for women who are assisting the furtherance of the Gospel. SMS especially is grateful for Dawn (Leonovich) Arthur who works in the American office, and for Yevgenia Chegir and Olga Jarichevskaya who work in the Belarusian office.

Each of these ladies not only assists in the daily tasks of office procedures but also benefits God’s work in Christian hospitality and mentoring. Besides those ministries, Dawn Arthur teaches Sunday school and is involved in a pre-marriage counseling program. Yevgenia shares the Gospel and Christian literature to many patients in one of the main hospitals in Minsk, Belarus. And Olga lends her expertise in bookkeeping to a few local churches in Minsk, as well as the Minsk Theological Seminary.

Pray for these ladies as they handle the day to day duties within the SMS offices, as well as their other callings within their churches and communities. Pray that sponsors will understand the significance of such workers and unite with them to further the spread of the Gospel. “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:6

Never wait for the lost soul to approach you and ask about the way to salvation. He or she seldom comes. The method of our Lord Jesus was to seek the lost. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). All around us are opportunities to witness about “new life” in Christ, if the believer will allow the Holy Spirit to assist him in sharing that marvelous message. People should be given a choice. Pray that all of the SMS missionaries will present the Gospel to anyone who is willing to listen to the “Good News.”