Dr.Alex Leonovich: "Message of God's Love"

Pray that God will fill the Slavic believers with a hunger for His Word: "Desire the sincere milk of the Word" (1 Peter 2:2), and a spirit of prayer: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Ask God to call many young men and women to serve Him sacrificially and sincerely in places of leadership. Pray that some will choose to serve in other Slavic countries as missionaries. Intercede for the Christian leadership in Eastern Europe that they will withstand the powers of darkness and remain stable in their spiritual roles.

Alex Leonovich, a native of Russia, ministered in missionary, pastoral and evangelistic work since 1945. He was at the forefront of evangelistic broadcasting into the former Soviet Union by way of HCJB in Quito, Ecuador. As the Executive Director of Slavic Missionary Service International, Alex had an extensive outreach to the Slavic speaking world both home and abroad.

Before accepting the leadership of Slavic Missionary Service in 1958, he served as pastor of two American Russian-Ukrainian churches simultaneously for almost five years. He was marked as a "fiery youth missionary preacher” in both the Russian and English languages by his peers. After taking on the responsibility of SMS, he continued to pastor the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Manville, NJ until he resigned in 1970 to devote more time to the mission’s endeavors.

SMS is grateful to God for the faithful and fervent leadership of Alex Leonovich from 1958 until March of 2013. SMS is happy to share some of Alex’s past articles to encourage all to support the mission, as we continue to work in Slavic countries and reach Slavic people throughout the world.

We Wish You a Blessed Christmas!

What is it that makes a Blessed Christmas? We find the answer to our question in this text. "When they heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him... and presented unto him gifts" (Matthew 2:9-11). This text tells the story of a blessed Christmas.

It was a Blessed Christmas because it was a day of great joy! When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding joy. When they saw the star they said, "It is his star. It stands for the newborn King of the Jews, the Messiah and the Savior."

Very often, signs or symbols become sources of joy. As an example, just this very moment as I was putting these thoughts on paper, I opened my Bible and there dropped into my hands a pressed flower. As I looked at the flower, I was reminded of "Granny," a wonderful friend and faithful supporter of our ministry for well over 40 years. She is now home with the Lord. As I looked at the pressed flower, a garden of lovely memories came to mind, and I was able to live over again the happy days of our fellowship with joy in my heart.

In this same way, the wise men had joy because of what they saw; they saw a star, an object of great importance. It was a new star which to them became a new sign, suggesting something great. One flower can suddenly become a garden. What a message can be brought to mind by just a sign!

It was a Blessed Christmas Day, a day of joy. But joy alone does not necessarily make a blessed or a perfect day. Some might rejoice in the star until in the intensity of "happiness" they lose the significance of the star. You and I know people who have a Happy Christmas but have left out Christ completely from their lives. There are those who let the star lead them to the very door of the house and then never enter in to see the Christ Child. Please note from our text that the wise men entered the house, they saw the Christ Child, and they worshiped Him. To make Christmas a blessed day, we must add worship to joy.

However, something else needs to be added to joy and worship to make this holy day a Blessed Christmas. When these wise men had worshiped, they opened their treasures and presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These were no ordinary gifts. They were tokens of loving service. To have a Blessed Christmas, to joy add worship, and to worship add service. Always remember, you can never give to the Lord more than you will receive from Him.

Finally, the wise men returned into their country by a different road. First, there was joy, then worship followed by their service. Now, there is obedience. Herod said to them, "Come back to me so that I could go and worship Him also," but the voice of God says, "Travel a different road." Sensitivity to God's leading is not enough. There has to be obedience to God's directive will for our lives.

So many of us always go back to Herod. So many who enter the room, bow before Christ and bring gifts to Him, then go back to the old and evil habits of life. Is it because of having walked in the litter of the stable where the Christ Child lay that suddenly people become enticed by the glitter of the king's palace? God forbid! Let us walk in the newness of life to which we have been called of God. Let us together travel the new road – one of joy, worship, service and obedience. We wish you a Blessed Christmas!

Alex Leonovich
Evangelical Baptist Herald
Winter 1995 (adapted)

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"…A special thank you for the book that you sent me about Alex Leonovich. Indeed I do know him: as a small child I listened to him on the short wave radio. He was know to us as Aleksei Pavlovich. My family and neighbors used to get together at our house and listened to him preach every night for many years until we were able to immigrate to the USA. He and Earl Poysti were the main sources of spiritual food for us, because Bibles were scarce at the time of socialism reighning. The book you sent is very captivating to read and I can identify with a lot of things there. I had a hard time putting it down…"

Elena