Tribute to a Wonderful Leader

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 sadly said “farewell” in the month of July to a faithful worker in Western Ukraine who served with SMS for 22 years. Ivan Romaniuk served as pastor of churches in Borislav, Lvov and Stryi. He was the pastoral superintendent of the Lvov Region for twenty years; the founder of the Ukrainian Theological Baptist Seminary in Lvov and Borislav; and the pastoral superintendent over eight regions (oblasts) in Western Ukraine before his home going to heaven.

Rob Zapotoski, Interim Director of SMS, had the privilege of working side by side with Ivan for twenty years and as recent as May and June, 2017. Because of the influence and intuitiveness of Brother Romaniuk’s ministry, he was able to guide the interim director of SMS to specific places where he could utilize his gifts and talents to the best of his ability.

Those past few months, Rob Zapotoski was able to teach and preach in Borislav, Ivano-Francovsk, Lutsk, Lvov, Stebnik and Veliki Komyati; and he was able to prepare a new group of volunteers for summer camping ministry in Borislav. In many different towns and cities, he saw first-hand how Ivan encouraged and instructed both old and new leaders in the work of God.

The last words between the two missionary servants revolved around future meetings in the states to raise awareness and support for the Christian ministries in Western Ukraine. Tentative plans were made for fellowship in November, but Jesus had already prepared a place for Brother Romaniuk; therefore, his work on earth is completed. If anyone would desire to send a donation in memory of Ivan Romaniuk, please send your gift to Slavic Missionary Service, PO Box 469, Annandale, NJ 08801.

Until the Lord calls each one of us home to heaven, our work must continue to honor and glorify our great and gracious God. May each of us follow the example of faithful service that Ivan had shown during his life, building on that sure foundation of Jesus Christ.

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Matthew 22:37

Pray that God will add to “the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47) and will continue to “build” (Matthew 16:18) the church in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the whole inhabited world. Intercede for new believers that they will attend church regularly and will “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Ask God to empower and equip the missionaries of SMS, as they minister for His glory, that they may not grow “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9) but know that their “labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).