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).

The missionaries of Slavic Missionary Service understand that part of the Great Commission is “teaching” disciples (Mathew 28:20). Therefore, many of the SMS workers are involved in ministries of teaching. Some teach in Bible colleges and seminaries; some conduct Bible studies, conferences and seminars, as well as special counseling courses; and some mentor others through one-on-one contact and communion.

Jesus Christ Himself understood the importance of teaching. Everywhere He went, He taught the people. Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of His day, the “clergy” if you will. “I always taught in synagogues and in the temple” (John 18:20). And Jesus spoke to anyone who was willing to listen, the “commoners” as well. “And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain… and opening His mouth He began to teach them” (Matthew 5:1-2). His last words to His disciples emphasized this fact of teaching: “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). And after Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples obeyed His command: “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).

Likewise, the Apostle Paul, writer of many epistles in the New Testament, was impelled to teach. Paul proclaimed that his ways are in Christ, as he taught “everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17). He knew the significance of “admonishing every man and teaching every man (Colossians 1:28). Whenever Paul traveled to a new place, he always taught about repentance and faith. In Ephesus he exclaimed, “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).

God has given the church “teachers” (Ephesians 4:11) in order to equip the saints for spiritual service. Praise God for SMS workers who have been given this gift of teaching and are utilizing that gift for God’s honor and glory. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9:9). May God help them to fulfill their calling as teachers, and may they be filled with wisdom and knowledge, always “abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Praise the Lord, o my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Psalm 103:1

The Lord will resume His dealing with the nations, as well as with the Chosen nation, when He has completed the church in this Age of Grace. God is working today “to take out” of the nations “a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). Ask God to empower every witness that is proclaiming this message of love to sinful men. Pray continually that the Holy Spirit will convict men of their need of Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).