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.


FROM MY HEART TO YOURS

My heart is overflowing with things of im­portance the Lord would have me share with you. I believe that I can count on you as one who is spiritually concerned and anxious to accomplish great things for the Lord’s glory and the extension of His kingdom as He directs! How blest we are to have a part with Him in this great eternal task!

As we look back upon our ministries both at home and abroad, we can praise God for His leading and blessings! We are also grateful to God for you. You have been so wonder­fully helpful in getting beneath the load so that we could accomplish so much. Some­times we marvel how it has all been done. But we know you have been there and the Lord has been at the right hand of the Father remembering us. What a blessed experience!

Once again, I remind myself and you that time is moving swiftly. There is not as much time to get our work done as there was a year ago. Let us be up and at it together, walking, talking, living, doing, giving, in such a way that we shall be able to bear the scrutiny of God our Father. Let us not be discouraged nor lose heart, nor let us be too elated over our accomplishments. The Lord tells us not to rejoice that the devils are sub­ject unto us, but that our names are written in heaven.

Let us go to Calvary allowing God to deal with us until we know the meaning of the tremendous cost that our Lord Jesus Christ paid for us, and then, let us lay down our lives for Him. Let us launch out into the deep and get busy for Him. Behind every trying circumstance let us see the face of God, and let us be so devoted to Him that nothing can turn us back. Remember, you and I can win, even as Gideon's handful of men. Even one with God is a majority. May the Lord Himself reward you for all you have meant to us and done for us in His Precious Name!

Alex Leonovich
Evangelical Baptist Herald
June 1976 (Condensed)