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.

A Russian Odyssey

While the focus of the world has been on Russia for political or cultural reasons, ours continues to be a spiritual concern for the Slavic multitudes. Feeling sympathy is no substitute for action; therefore, we felt it was urgent for us to visit this land of many paradoxes.

Through the cooperative effort of the evangelical leaders in the USSR, the Lord opened the door for my wife and me to minister in Moscow, Kharkov, Kiev, Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and Odessa. This trip was the first time my wife, Babs, has been able to join me on a preaching ministry in the land of her parents. The Lord provided the means for this undertaking in the most miraculous way. We could not go with empty hands. Through the concern of God’s people, we were able to bring funds, supplies and equipment beyond our fondest expectations.

After going through customs upon our arrival in Moscow, we were driven to the Intourist Hotel. Our driver was a young, handsome man. We immediately began to converse in Russian. The driver looked at us in amazement and asked me how I had learned to speak Russian. I told him about my family background.

“What kind of work do you do?” he asked as we drove along. I explained my ministry to this young man. I began to tell him about our radio broadcasts with which we are indeed trying to bring peace into the world, as we preach the message of peace through the messenger of peace, Jesus Christ.

As I talked I noticed that the color in his face began to drain. Within those few moments the young man, who had been so talkative before, was now very quiet. I asked him if anything was wrong.

“Sir,” he said, “You have brought me into a state of shock.”

“How?” I asked.

“My mother had been a Christian,” he began. “My father had rejected her because of her faith. Soon after she became a believer, she suffered a stroke. For the next twelve years of her life, she was bedridden and had to receive care. The only joy that she had in those years was to tune her bedside radio to Trans World Radio from Monte Carlo. When I heard your voice, I knew immediately that I had heard it before, when I overheard your programs on the radio.”

Our driver continued his story. “Two years ago, my mother died. As I stood at her bedside in those last hours, she told me that she had been praying that God would send a man from afar to explain to me about the peace she had in her heart. I’m listening to you, but it is not your voice that I’m hearing. I’m hearing my mother’s last words to me.”

We continued speaking on spiritual things until we arrived at the hotel. He helped us with the baggage. While I stood in line to get the key for our room, the driver, shaking Bab’s hand in farewell, pressed something into it. She opened the palm of her hand. It was a note addressed to me, asking to call him. That night, I called him; and we arranged to speak together the following afternoon.

The next day, I spotted him in a crowd of people. We walked to a nearby park. We met as strangers, but after discussing spiritual matters for more than an hour, it is my joy to say that we departed as brothers in the Lord. We embraced each other, rejoicing.

He was a new babe in Christ who had prayed earnestly that the Lord might come into his heart and that the prayers of his mother might be fulfilled, as he gave his heart to the Lord. I returned to the hotel in tears. My wife and I immediately united in prayer for this new brother, thanking God for the blessing on our ministry.

Our fellowship in all of the churches that we visited throughout the Soviet Union was emotional. Everywhere we ministered, we were greeted very warmly by our brother and sisters in Christ.

Alex Leonovich

(A condensed excerpt written in "The Link" – 1985)