A Testimony in Novopolotsk

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).

The Interim Director of Slavic Missionary Service had a wonderful experience during his visit to Belarus in November. He was the main speaker one Sunday during the worship service in Novopolotsk, Belarus. Pastor Victor Bogdanov (SMS missionary) also spoke briefly, and it was the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

There was still some extra time in the service, so Victor asked one man to share his testimony. He talked about the time that he heard that Americans were in Novopolotsk. He decided to go and see these people from another country. He had never seen any foreigners in his lifetime.

He remembered one "older" man coming to him, sitting down and chatting with him before the service. (It was Leon Chechowich, the former International Coordinator of SMS.) Then, he heard another man sing and the words gripped his heart. (That was the Interim Director.)

He could not believe that Americans could be exactly like him; therefore, he listened to the messages from the Word of God more intently. This is what helped him to come to the Lord and repent of his sins.

Praise God for the call of God to be missionaries, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel! Pray that God will call more people to fulfill His will throughout the world. “And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them… Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:36-39).

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

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.