We are sad to report that Alex Leonovich's younger brother Nicholas Leonovich, unexpectedly went home to be with the Lord Thursday, May 23rd. He was in Ukraine to represent SGA at the commencement ceremony for Irpen Biblical Seminary. Upon arrival, he had a fall, sustaining a severe head injury which ultimately took his life. Nick was the father of SMS's Media Director, Jim Leonovich. Nick is also survived by his dear wife Roz, daughter Christina and by his sister Betty Semenchuk.
The memorial service was held Friday, June 7, at 1 p.m. at Shadow Mountain Church, 2100 Greenfield Drive, in El Cajon, California. Irpen Biblical Seminary in Ukraine also held a memorial service for Nick May 26th as part of their commencement weekend.
There may be additional details and information regarding the memorial service, so please check SGA's website, for more information.
Nick served the Lord in outreach to Slavic people faithfully for 62 years through Slavic Gospel Association. Please continue to intercede for Nick's beloved wife Roz, their children Jim and Christina, and families as they walk through these difficult days. Nick died in his homeland doing what he was most compassionate about, — serving His Lord.
This comes as such a shock but we know that God is in control and His name will be glorified even through such a loss as this.
Nick Leonovich 'Now with the Lord'
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
KIEV, UKRAINE (ANS) -- Nick Leonovich, 84, a senior missionary with the Slavic Gospel Association (SGA), who was seriously injured earlier this week when he fell down a flight of stairs during a visit to Ukraine, has passed away.
Dr. Robert W. Provost, President, Slavic Gospel Association, said in a message to SGA supporters, "It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that SGA senior missionary Nick Leonovich has unexpectedly gone home to be with the Lord.
"He was stricken near Kiev, Ukraine, while climbing stairs after the long trip from his home in California, and had been hospitalized in a coma for the past two days. "He was in Ukraine to participate in the graduation ceremonies at the SGA-sponsored Irpen Biblical Seminary.
"Our hearts mourn with Nick's wife Rose, their children, Jim and Tina, and their grandchildren. Yet at the same time, we are rejoicing exceedingly because Nick is now in the Presence of his glorious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whom Nick served so faithfully for 62 years with SGA. We know that to ... be absent from the body [is to] be at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8)."
Dr. Provost went on to say, "I trust you will join the SGA family in continuing to pray for Nick's beloved Rose, and the Leonovich family. Nick's passing took place while his son, Jim, is still enroute to Kiev. Nick and Rose Leonovich have served Christ at SGA with faithfulness and distinction - in Rose's case since the late 1940s and then Nick since 1951.
"So many Russian-speakers around the world will remember their shortwave radio ministry from Monte Carlo, in more recent years their ministry in Russia, Ukraine and neighboring countries, and here in North America encouraging churches and individual believers with news of what God is doing in the lives of their beloved Ukrainian and Russian people ... and so much more."
The SGA leader also asked people to remember the faculty and students of Irpen Seminary, whom he said, "were so looking forward to Nick's participation in the joy of their graduation tomorrow."
Dr. Provost added, "Especially please remember Irpen's Benjamin Brinza, son of Irpen's late founder Dr. Alexei Brinza. The Brinzas were very close to Nick and Rose, and were by his side through this entire ordeal, as were many of SGA's Kiev Regional Ministry Center staff."
A memorial service is being planned for 5 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at Irpen Biblical Seminary in Irpen, Ukraine, which is a suburb of Kiev, the capital.
"We have lost a true hero of the faith, but we do not sorrow as those without hope," concluded Dr. Provost. "We rejoice in Nick's promotion to glory from his beloved Ukraine, and look forward to fellowshipping with him there again in due time. When memorial service arrangements have been made here in the USA, we will get in touch again to provide the details.
"Nick's home going truly is an enormous loss to us, the SGA family, and to Christian missions, but we know that Nick is rejoicing today in the Savior's loving presence. Thank you again for praying for Rose, Jim, Tina, and their grandchildren as they face these difficult days."
Dan Wooding, 72, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 49 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States and around the world.
