The interesting thing is that God’s perspective on success seems vastly different from man’s. It appears to me that God lays the emphasis on ‘faithfulness’ rather than ‘success.’ Paul the Apostle reminds us that all will be revealed at the judgment seat of Christ. He exhorts us to live and serve in such a way that we are well pleasing to Him (2 Cor. 5:9-10). The tragedy is that some desire to please man, who is easily impressed with abilities, gifts and oratory, rather than God who knows the inner thoughts and motives.

Recently I attended a day conference and was challenged by the comment, ‘Who can measure the value of a life given over completely to the Lord?’ Only eternity will measure the value or success of a life lived for His glory.

Many of our national workers remain steadfast and unwavering in the work of the Lord, in what is sometimes a hostile, ungodly environment. Fellow believers across countries of Central Asia continue faithfully serving the Lord where fines and imprisonments are a very real part of their lives. Remember, many of our national workers are located in isolated rural communities with little Christian fellowship. As they make huge sacrifices and struggle with many issues, ‘success’ is obviously not their ultimate goal. Their desire is to be welcomed ‘Home’ with their Master’s words of affirmation, ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant.’ It is highly unlikely that the Moldovan students you read about in this issue of Breakthrough will be applauded as being successful in their society. Nevertheless, they can prove to be ‘faithful servants’ in God’s sight.

As Paul completed his faithful service for God he looked back on a life that had ‘fought the good fight, …finished the course, …kept the faith’ and looked forward to obtaining a ‘crown of righteousness’ (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Genuine success is those who faithfully serve the Lord! He will reward His faithful servants! Derek

S is a pastor in Ashgabat, the capital city of Turkmenistan. He is married with two children, and they live under constant pressure from a government which is deeply opposed to the witness of the evangelical churches in the country. At the same time, the Turkmen government is aware of the need to avoid confrontation with international human rights organizations, so it constantly employs very subtle ways of persecuting believers. One of the favourite ploys is to plant false evidence or illegal material and then for this to be ‘discovered’ by the police. Believers are then fined or imprisoned, not because they are believers, but because they have allegedly broken the law.

S is aware that he and his family are constantly being watched. He has experienced opposition and persecution which forced him out of the computer business he set up to support himself and his family in his ministry. At one point he and his wife and children had to leave the country with nothing, and for four months they lived in Kazakhstan where S was at least able to work and so provide for his family. However his parents appealed to him to return, for his only brother lives in USA and cannot return to Turkmenistan.

He continues to minister as a pastor in his home city, and knows that God will sustain him and protect him and his family, despite the subtle threats of government officials aimed not solely at him, but at his wife and his children. He has peace in his heart and recalls a lesson God taught him several years ago about relying totally upon Him. He was flying in an old, dangerous Russian plane, and it got into difficulties. Passengers around him panicked. They were gripped by terror. S too felt fear but he immediately prayed and asked God to deliver him from it, and help him to trust. As he lifted his heart to God he experienced a peace which enveloped him. Fear gave way to faith and in the midst of the danger he was aware that he was in God’s keeping. ‘I have never forgotten that lesson’, he says. ‘ I know that if anything should happen to me, my Heavenly Father has promised to be a Husband to my wife and a Father to my children’. In the end the plane was able to make a safe landing.

Believers in Turkmenistan live daily under threat of persecution. Their activities are monitored, and at times government officials intervene and try to block or curtail any attempt at evangelism. Nevertheless, despite such scrutiny, it is encouraging to know that there are at present 250 Turkmen students enrolled in the International Bible Correspondence course which SGA helps to fund. Many of these are strong and committed in their ministry of the Gospel in that land. Please pray for S and other Christian workers there – and their families – that God would protect them, and pray that in the face of strong opposition and even persecution, their ministries will produce fruit – the salvation of precious Turkmen men, women and young people.

There was no disguising the joy of the ninth group of Moldovan students on the completion of their demanding two-year Mission School course. The Graduation Service last November was marked by a sense of praise and thanksgiving to God for His goodness throughout their training. Yet clearly there were mixed emotions, other feelings and sentiments bubbling under the surface.

Two of the students reflected on these mixed emotions when asked about their experience of the Mission School. Natalia is married to a former student Vladmir, who graduated in 2009. At home he talked a lot about the school and the blessings he had received. Natalia wanted to be active in ministry in her local church and as she listened, her desire to study grew. Her expectations were high, and she was not disappointed. She says of her training:

The Lord revealed so many truths to me personally through the brothers who taught. God used the whole course to improve my spiritual condition and to bring me closer to Him. It helped me make important decisions in life. So many times I felt that the Word of God was speaking to me directly through our brothers, the teachers.

It was not easy combining studies with her responsibilities as a mother and wife and her growing involvement in the work of her local church, but she speaks of the support of her husband and her children and says:

The decision had been made for my studies. We knew that there would be sacrifices, but though physical needs are important, spiritual food is far more important. I wish that many more church members had the opportunity to study in the school.

A note of sadness creeps into Natalia’s voice when asked about her feelings at the end of the course.

There were many passages [of Scripture] I hadn’t been able to understand, but with the help of our teachers a lot of them became clear. It is very encouraging when all of a sudden the truth becomes clear. I will miss that.

Yurii, a mature student with a ministry of evangelism and church planting, echoes that note of sadness. On finishing his studies he says:

There is a little sadness in my heart. I will miss my studies at the Mission School and the fellowship in the Word.

However, that sadness is counter-balanced by a sense of achievement and purpose, and of gratitude to God for the instruction he received. He speaks of his ‘good memories’:

I will treasure the fellowship with the teachers, especially their humble spirit. I will also remember and use the received knowledge in my ministry. The teaching has helped me to be more effective in the ministry, to have fresh approaches. Every session energized me spiritually. God revealed a lot more truth for me.

Yurii rejoices in how God has led him and opened the way for him to study at the Mission School.

I have been motivated by Ezra 7:10 since my conversion. It continues to motivate me in learning, obeying and teaching the people of God. God prompted brother Pavel Tsapkov, a former student of SGA Mission school to encourage me to study in the school.

That presented a number of serious challenges to Yurii. One of the biggest was how he might continue to hold down his job which was essential to support himself in ministry and provide for his wife and family. However, God was in control.

There were challenges when it came to get the permission from work to be absent, but God always had a way and He took care of this. Again and again I was amazed at the words of the employer: ‘Well, if you need to, then go ahead’.

Yurii proved, with every other graduating student that God is faithful, and honours every step of obedience which his children take.

One of the constant challenges of meeting church leaders from Moldova is their commitment to evangelism and reaching out in every way possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Recently, Pastor Peter Mihalchiuk led his Church in a mission to areas where many people had never heard the Gospel before. His account tells of how God blessed these efforts and answered the prayers of His people.

‘I praise our Lord Jesus for the great blessing and the amazing ministry of the Evangelism Clinic we had here in Moldova and Ukraine during October and November 2011.

We had two teams made up of Christian doctors and nurses, pastors, drivers and other members of our churches. Our Ukrainian doctors had special medical equipment which meant they could help people with their physical problems. Thanks to the generosity of some partners in the USA we were also able to buy medicine that we knew the people would need. When we arrived in a particular area, our pastors and missionaries prepared rooms and invited people for the medical clinics and services. During this time the doctors and nurses worked very hard. In one day, one team tested, diagnosed and treated over 100 patients.

However, we were not there just to treat people’s physical needs. Alongside the medical clinics we also held evangelistic services. In these meetings we had special musical items, people giving their testimonies and our pastors and missionaries preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. About 1800 people from 37 different villages visited our services and clinics. Most of these were not Christians and for many of them this was the first time they heard the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We want to thank God for this time of great blessing. Throughout this period many received Jesus Christ as their Saviour and came into our churches. In addition to this we built up good relationships with a lot of people. In our culture, evangelical Christians are still treated with suspicion and many are afraid to even cross the threshold of a ‘house of prayer.’ However, now our missionaries have good relationships with many unbelievers and they are able to continue their work with them.’

Vasiliy once served in the Soviet Navy as a submariner in the Northern fleet. On one occasion there was a fire in his compartment and 44 men died through lack of oxygen. Vasiliy almost lost consciousness, but in desperation he started to pray to God. “If you will save me I will serve you”. Miraculously God answered his prayer and someone put an oxygen mask on him before he lost consciousness. As a result, Vasiliy was the only person who survived the fire from his compartment.

Sadly for 40 years Vasiliy forgot about the promise he made that day. However, in the recent mission led by Peter Mihalchiuk, Vasiliy was invited to a Christian clinic. During a service God touched his heart and he remembered how he had been delivered from the fire all those years ago. He came to the pulpit praying with tears in his eyes and God marvellously saved him.

Now God is using him in his village in amazing ways. He is telling people how God saved him twice. Recently his wife and daughter Aliona have also repented. However, Aliona’s husband is very angry and has been trying to stop her coming to church and being baptised. Please pray that God will speak to this man and so unite this family in the Gospel.

Avram can you please tell us something about your family, home and background?

I was privileged to be raised in a Christian home as the eldest of five children. Now I’m married, and my wife Yaroslava and I are blessed with two boys, Mario and David, and I trust they know they are blessed to be in a Christian home. Mario 22 years old has already made his confession of faith in Jesus Christ! He’s now a student at the University in Belgrade where he is studying philosophy. David 12 years old, has not yet made his commitment to Christ, but he loves God and likes to play the piano and sing for the Lord’s glory. I think he’s near to taking his decision for Jesus.

How were you converted and called into the ministry?

I was 10 years old when I first felt the love of God, and the need to respond to it. However it was the tradition in the Baptist churches of the former Yugoslavia not to baptize a child. It was not until I was 18 that I publicly confessed Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and was baptized. However, even before I was baptized, I was invited to preach a number of short sermons in my home church. I was very enthusiastic about this and felt the call to become a preacher of the Gospel of Christ. A year later, it was announced to the churches that the Theological Seminary in Novi Sad was receiving applications for new students. Immediately I started to pray about it and the Lord opened the door and I was admitted as a student there.

In what particular ministries have you been involved?

Before I finished Seminary I was asked to become assistant pastor of the local church in Novi Sad. After more than 3 years I was ordained a pastor at the same church. A year later I was elected as youth leader of the Baptist Union in the former Yugoslavia for a 3 year period. After this I became a pastor in my home town of Vrsac, where I have served for 24 years. In this period of time I have also served two terms as general secretary of the Baptist Union in Serbia, one term as its president, and one as the mission coordinator of the Union.

What role has SGA played in the past and what role may it play in the future?

While I was at the Seminary I was introduced to SGA visitors. Since then our link has never been interrupted. I was encouraged to learn better English in order to use Biblical resources which we lacked in the Serbo-Croatian language. SGA assisted me in taking English classes and giving me good Christian literature. From SGA I also learnt what it means when somebody says: “I’m praying for you!” The encouragement in prayers, visits and material aid in bad times, as in good times, cannot be evaluated by words. Our church, along with many others, has received aid through the Widow’s project. In addition, through SGA’s Mission Schools we have trained 3 groups who now serve as local church leaders. SGA is also supporting a number of church workers. We were also blessed when an SGA group of young people visited us and did village evangelism and children’s work. For the future I expect the same fruitful cooperation with our churches in this part of Serbia.

What blessings have you experienced and what challenges are you facing?

What encouraged me most last year was when at least 4 village churches, (the 5th is on the way), have reopened with new people. On the other hand the existing Christians and churches have somehow lost their boldness in reaching others, in prayers, even in coming more regularly to the church meetings! Amongst young people there is “lack of time” for spiritual things. But as for the servant, all that is required is to be faithful!

How can we pray for you?

Even though my heart condition is much better than it was, please continue to pray for my health. Pray that I will remain faithful to God’s call and always seek to serve in the power of God’s Spirit. Pray for my family that we may continue to be an example. Pray especially for Christian youth and young pastors.

‘When we think of the need of transportation on the mission field perhaps the first image that comes to our minds is that of a small canoe in Africa, a bicycle in India or a camel in Egypt. Few of us would actually think of a real car. At the end of the day a car is normally more expensive than a canoe, a bicycle or a camel. However, in his time Noah built an ark, David used a cart, Jesus rode a donkey and Paul traveled by a sailing boat. They all needed the most appropriate vehicles of their times.

In the “asphalt jungle” of Romania, a pastor is called to be on the road far more than a doctor, a teacher or any ordinary worker. Since the nature of his ministry requires him to be in so many places in such a short period of time, his efficiency is increased when he can get from one place to another as fast as possible: from the church to the hospital, from the wedding to the funeral, from the counselling meeting to the new building site, from the mission school to the youth camp, from the pastor’s fraternal to the isolated village in the mountains.

Up until 4 years ago we didn’t have a vehicle for ministry. We remember the times when getting to a dying brother took hours, when the daily visitations had to be short and spaced out, when the Bible radio programme was almost impossibly close to the baptismal service, when I had to miss speaking engagements due to extremely long distances and when the elderly ladies had to walk home from church in the dark on icy paths because there was nobody to give them a lift.

Since SGA helped us acquire a second hand car for our ministry, things have changed dramatically. We have been able to meet many more needs within our congregation and community. As well as that we have been able to reach with the Gospel into areas and villages that are far away and very isolated from the rest of the world. We have increased our visits to the orphanages and to the mentally handicapped institution; we have been able to transport more humanitarian aid to the flood affected areas and we have started a mission ministry into Ukraine. As I was writing these lines, Paula my wife came into the house after a long day of working with children and after doing a few car runs in order to take all 15 of them back to their homes, while the temperature outside was -20ºC!

We would therefore like to take this opportunity to express our real thanks for the tremendous difference that SGA has made to our ministry by helping us with a very much needed vehicle. Our gratitude is extended indeed to all SGA supporters for their sacrificial generosity towards the advance of the Gospel in the difficult land of Romania. Thank you for giving us an appropriate “donkey” by which to reach, help and win for Christ as many people as possible in this “asphalt jungle”’.

With many thanks,

Paula and Catalin Croitor,

Bethlehem Baptist Church, Suceava, Romania

Through these critical times I am reminded that the Lord Who holds the future is sustaining and strengthening us. In all the changes that come in our personal lives or in SGA we can trust in the Lord, knowing that He Who holds the future is with us. Isaiah’s trust was in the Lord Jehovah Who was his strength, song and salvation – ‘I will trust and not be afraid’ (Isaiah 12:2). With the Psalmist we can say, ‘Our times are in His hands’ - that means the joyful times as well as the sad times, the peaceful times as well as the troubled times.

This issue of Breakthrough focuses on a number of new beginnings. The work in Odessa, Ukraine is an example of those who are prepared to give themselves to the work of the Gospel to create new beginnings for children. You can also read about the opening of SGA’s first Mission School in Ukraine and the recommencement of our teaching programme in Slovakia. Church planter Delcho Atanasov informs us of new beginnings in two Bulgarian villages.

Some years ago, one of the major banks had as its advertising slogan, ‘We do not know what the future holds – but we need to be ready for it.’ Thank God the believer is ready for whatever the future holds. The Bible reminds us of ‘this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast….’ In his letter to the Colossians, Paul the Apostle describes the future certainty of the true Christian, referring to it as ‘the hope which is laid up for you in heaven… Christ in you, the hope of glory.’

A.B. Simpson sums up the confidence of the child of God as he writes, ‘The believer’s future is as bright as the promises of God and as secure as His throne.’ Step forward positively, believing His promises, and trusting God’s power. Let us claim our inheritance in these coming days, and discover that the most difficult and disappointing places of life’s experience are God’s greatest opportunities for new beginnings.

‘I loved all the children’s clubs in the villages.’

‘It was both a challenge and a blessing to my heart and the Lord’s help and presence were felt throughout the whole trip.’

These were some of the sentiments expressed by members of SGA’s 2011 Mission Trip to Romania. With bags packed and all preparations complete, the group made its journey to Oradea, Romania, full of excitement, enthusiasm and much anticipation. Pastor Cosmin Marc, Missions Pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church coordinated the complete programme, accompanying us throughout the entire mission trip. After arriving at midnight on August 3rd there was little rest before commencing our first busy day of village evangelism. However, we very quickly adjusted to the high temperature, different culture, food etc.

With everybody in the bus and car provided by Emanuel Church, we commenced our journey to Brusturi, a village 65km from Oradea situated in the hills. The road required skilful negotiating! However, we arrived to be greeted by 45 children, a number that grew to 65 over the three days of Holiday Bible Club. Each HBC had a packed 3 ½ hour programme which the children thoroughly enjoyed. The greatest joy was to see children and young people openly responding to the Gospel.

Lunch was served by sisters from the church before we embarked on an afternoon’s visitation. This involved the team singing, testifying, and preaching in a number of homes over the three day period. We were amazed as believers invited family and neighbours to their homes and exposed them to the Gospel in a very direct manner.

The team spent Sunday 7th in Calacea, a village situated approx. 70km from Oradea. The programme commenced at 9am with two Bible study groups, followed by the morning service. After the service we visited a sister in her home to share fellowship around the Lord’s Table. Then it was back to the church for the afternoon service. We returned to Oradea tired but fulfilled as the Lord granted us a good day in His house.

It was back to Calacea on Monday morning for our second HBC. Over the three days numbers grew to 90 children and 30 teens and twenties. Each afternoon we conducted our third HBC in Susag, where Daniel Vlad, whose paintings we used for our Christmas cards, leads the work. Very quickly we changed our programme to facilitate all age groups from young children to senior citizens. Again we proved the Lord’s help as the team first conducted an evangelistic service, followed by a youth meeting and HBC.

This church building was partially funded by SGA several years ago. However, the congregation is entering its third winter with no heating system. Recently Daniel requested funding and thanks to our SGA partners we were in a position to help. We had a shorter journey to the village of Les, where we conducted our final HBC on Thursday and Friday mornings. Again the children really enjoyed their 3 ½ hour programme which involved craft, quizzes, memory verses, games, English songs and Bible stories. It was thrilling to teach these children Bible lessons and see the excitement on their faces. The afternoons were spent visiting the village homes and presenting the Gospel.

It was so encouraging to meet graduates from Oradea School of the Prophets responsible for the work in these villages. I could not help but think of how often we teach students, attend graduations, and say our farewells, seldom hearing from them again. Here I had the opportunity of seeing these former students continuing to serve the Lord effectively in the villages. They are only an example of many other graduates who are quietly impacting communities with the Gospel. It reinforced the value of the Biblical Leadership Training that continues to be the main focus of SGA.

One aspect that deeply impacted the team was the visits to the widows. We visited many who have benefited from SGA funding, providing financial assistance to more than 6500 widows. Several of these ladies in their late 80s and early 90s welcomed us into what were sometimes very basic dwellings. This was a very moving experience for the young folk as they listened to these elderly saints thanking God for all His blessings, despite living in extreme poverty.

On the final Sunday morning the team shared in Emanuel Baptist Church, then in Les for the afternoon service and finally an evening meeting in Nojorid. We praise the Lord for this new development in the village of Nojorid, just 15km from Oradea. The village council has given a plot of land for the erection of a church building. Liviu Naghi, a graduate from the School of the Prophets is in charge of the small group which meets regularly in a home. This is the tenth church planted by Emanuel. SGA is committed to providing funding for this building.

Much too quickly the time arrived to say goodbye to those who had become our friends during the trip. Pastors Peter Vidu and Cosmin Marc expressed their grateful thanks that SGA had considered Romania as a destination for the Mission Trip. ‘This is a new ministry for SGA in Romania,’ Pastor Vidu exclaimed as he warmly invited us to consider a return visit. With a sense of fulfilment that God had used us for His glory we commenced the long journey back home. Tired but feeling spiritually revived, team members had a renewed desire to serve the Lord with all their hearts.

Over the next few months more children will arrive and it is planned that in the future the numbers will increase to 50 children in the orphanage. The children arrive in small groups to help them settle into a new environment with a new routine. Once enrolled they will all go through a number of medical examinations and the older children will be prepared for school. Some of these older children have not attended school for the last 3 years and so they will need help in adjusting to a new routine which will make fresh demands upon them. However, the team is excited and looks forward to caring for these needy souls.

Pastor Igor Bandura writes ‘If the Lord allows it ... we would have a total of 50 - fifty souls, fifty destinies - everyone of them in need of love, care and understanding. Pray for these young people, so that their hearts will be filled with warmth and love, and that they would feel that they are sincerely loved and cared for.’

The church in Slatina has planted two other village churches. One is called Biserica Alba (White Church) where there are one thousand two hundred Jehovah’s Witnesses. We need to pray for those working in a place of such spiritual darkness. In response to such needy situations it was a joy to see the commencement of the Mission School in Slatina which, by the grace of God will be a means of equipping others to minister to the dear people in these locations. The believers are already involved in effective ministry in this region of the Ukraine and have welcomed the opportunity to be better equipped to fulfil the task which the Lord has given to them. They see the School as a crucial means of enabling them to be faithful servants of their Lord and Saviour, as they seek to proclaim the Good News about Christ in a clear and compassionate way. It was both an encouragement and a challenge to appreciate what has already been accomplished and at the same time to recognize how much need there is and how much still needs to be done. May the Lord help us to stand with our brethren in this new venture for His glory and honour.

Its founding dates back to a conference in August 1991 when a group of pastors and Sunday School teachers from across Kazakhstan (plus a few others from Russia and Uzbekistan) gathered together and recognized the need for permanent Bible training courses. As was the case for all the former Soviet Republics, Bible Schools had not been allowed under Communist rule. However, all that changed when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. Shortly after the conference, initial classes at the new ABI were offered under the leadership of Pastor Viktor Zinchenko, Almaty’s first director.

Dr. Oleg Korotky, who was the second director of the Institute writes, ‘The purpose of ABI is to develop students in three different directions — academically, spiritually, and practically, with the final purpose of influencing local churches in their ministry. The institute prepares ministers for the five Muslim republics of Central Asia, and its graduates and students are ministering through almost all of Central Asia. For example, about 35% of the pastors in Kazakhstan are graduates or students of ABI, and the number of pastors is growing. One of our graduates is the pastor of the biggest Baptist church in Kazakhstan and in all of Central Asia. He is also one of the leaders of the Baptist Union in Kazakhstan, and this gives him the opportunity to strengthen many other churches in the country.

Before ABI began, no one could preach expository sermons, and Christians were unfamiliar with exegesis. There were a lot of problems with understanding Bible doctrines. Many churches were holding to certain traditions, not understanding that sometimes traditions are not consistent with the Scriptures. But our students started to teach local congregations Bible doctrines, and in so doing, strengthened many churches in their spiritual life and ministry. Many students became missionary pastors across Central Asia, with many new churches and small groups being planted. One of our graduates is from Uzbekistan, and he has a strong influence in his region there. Their church has around 800 members, yet largely meets in small groups. This underground church is carrying its ministry forward in a very strong Muslim environment.

To date more than 550 students have graduated from Almaty Bible Institute, 167 of these from the pastoral programme. Today, Pastor Alexander Karyakov, who is sponsored under SGA’s Leadership Support programme, serves as president. He believes the mission of ABI is as vital today as it was 20 years ago. He writes

‘Our students come from all regions of Kazakhstan, as well as from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Some 70 percent of our graduating students are involved in evangelistic ministry, preaching and discipleship. The impact can be measured by the trust among churches in Central Asia for our spiritual and biblical education. We are a key source ensuring the proclamation of sound conservative biblical doctrines and evangelical Christianity. Many brothers and sisters from the rural provinces have access now to a quality biblical education. This definitely makes up for the lack of such training during the Soviet period when it was impossible.’

We are thankful to the Lord for ABI, and ask that you continue to pray that the Lord will use it as He raises up men and women for Gospel ministry throughout Central Asia.

(Parts of this article first appeared in an SGA (USA) publication and are used with permission. SGA (USA) is also a valued partner of ABI).

Leprosy is a disease which slowly eats the body leaving limbs withered and eyes missing but it does not attack the vital organs and people can live to old age. The disease can now be treated within two years but those living in Tichilesti did not receive this treatment until it was too late. Although they are no longer infectious the residents are scarred for life and have to manage without fingers and toes. Some are blind but they do not complain. They have lived through war, hunger and isolation. Some were taken from their parents as children and have lived there ever since.

Ioana, one of the residents, was eleven years old and infected with leprosy when she was taken to Tichilesti, and has lived in the colony since 1941. Ioana married a resident at the colony and gave birth to a daughter who went on to live a normal life outside and attended school in the city of Tulcea. She visits her mother regularly.

The residents had no idea where they were being taken when they arrived there. Since the fall of Communism in 1989 the hospital’s reputation and the patients’ lives have improved. The one thing that has remained is the support that the residents give to each other. Those who are fitter visit the weaker ones and take them food. The residents soon hear when visitors arrive and they come out to greet them, because it is rare that they see anyone from outside the colony.

There is no use for money because there are no shops to buy from. They simply need help because they may no longer be able to manage on their own. Despite the suffering of Tichilesti’s leprosy patients, life goes on as normal.

Roman Nedelcu a former patient, was born in 1944. He entered Tichilesti in 1957 infected with leprosy, and after being cured left in 1977. Roman almost immediately received the call of God to return to the colony to serve those with whom he had lived for 20 years, and was elected as pastor of the Baptist church that meets in the colony. Today through the leadership support ministry of SGA, Roman and his wife Vasilica are being funded in their ministry among these needy people.

It was our joy to meet Roman who introduced us to his son who is 22, and has recently married. He is a great help to his father as he assists those who are not able to get to the church on their own. The opportunity of fellowship with residents in the Baptist Church was not to be missed as they gathered together for a meeting. How we give thanks to God for such a blessed time of ministry.

Please pray as the Gospel is preached each week, that others will come to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

During this oppressive regime, Yevgeny’s grandfather, like many others, was denied access to reading or studying God’s Word; however, through Christian Radio ministry, he was able to obtain what he had long desired. As God’s Word was read at a dictation pace, Yevgeny’s grandfather recorded it until he had hand-written the entire Bible.

We are greatly blessed in this country with freedom to study and preach the glorious message of this Book. This is a celebratory year of the publication in 1611 of the Authorised Version which marked a notable moment in the history of the English Bible. While we still enjoy liberty to obtain and share the Word, many of our brothers and sisters endure persecution and even death for this very reason. In this issue you can read of those in Central Asia who suffer for the very sake of the Gospel. Forces continue to be active in seeking to destroy and banish this greatest of all books. However, we are reminded in Isaiah 40:8 that this Book will survive forever. ‘The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand for ever.’

The incredible durability of the Bible throughout the ages confirms this truth. Every effort to destroy the Bible has failed. It has been banned and burned, and yet it lives and spreads. No other book has such universal and international appeal. It is applicable to every area of modern life. It impacts lives, changes nations and influences the world. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, God’s Word continues to penetrate lives and communities. There is a deep reverence with emphasis on the importance of Scripture. Nehemiah (ch 8) records the actions of the people in relation to the Word. As the Book took a prominent position there was reverence, attentiveness and brokenness. Today the Bible needs to be restored to its rightful place in our lives, churches and nation. There is no substitute for the power and influence of this precious Book.

The main objective of studying the Bible is that we might know God. It is not just to know the Bible; we can know that without ever knowing the God of the Bible. Breakthrough shares of those in Central Asia and Romania who desire not only to know the Word of God, but the God of the Word. D.L. Moody once said, ‘the Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.’

Unlike secular literature, this Book is beyond all others. Dr R. G. Lee reminds us that “it breaks the fetters of the slave, takes the pain out of parting, takes the sting out of death, takes the gloom out of the grave and gives us a hope that is steadfast and sure.”

The Bible is the most wonderful, enduring, precious, influential book in the world, a treasure beyond human valuation. It is one book, one history, one story - it is His story.

Derek

Peter, can you please tell us something about your family, home and background?

Liuda and I celebrated our 25th anniversary last year. My wife was brought up in a Christian home. Her father was a pastor. He ministered as a pastor for many years in Ukraine during the Soviet times and was persecuted for his faith, but remained faithful to the Lord. I believe that this in some way predetermined the nature of our relations in the family. It will be 22 years this year since I have been ordained for pastoral ministry, and if I did not have my family’s support my ministry would not have been possible. The Lord blessed us with two sons and a daughter. Serghei is 24, Andrew is 22 and Liuda is 15. It’s our greatest joy that all our children are converted and called into different ministries within the church.

How were you converted and called into the ministry?

I was born and brought up in a big country, called the Soviet Union. After applying for college, I came to understand that everything in our country was built on lies. Marxist theory, which was the foundation of Communism denied there was a God. Our brains were washed with the words “It is scientifically proven that there is no God.” But the problem this teaching faced was that it could not change society or individual men. We were promised that Communism would bring paradise but everyone knew that was not true. Our country was getting poorer, people were starving and could not provide the essentials for their families. It was then I began to doubt the theory of Atheism and started looking for the truth. After several years of questioning and searching, I came across the words of Christ Himself in John 14v7 “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” which I read in my mother’s New Testament. Those words suddenly threw light on my way and I came to know the Lord in repentance. To begin with, I could not find a group of believers, but eventually I found one who gathered at a house, hiding from the authorities. I joined them and within a year was baptized. Immediately after the baptism I and others started different church ministries.

In what particular ministries have you been involved?

In the beginning of the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the long awaited freedom arrived in our country. We then mobilized all our resources for evangelism and our country saw the dawn of revival. Many were converted in the surrounding villages and they needed spiritual counselling. So our church had a new vision from God. We wanted to train missionaries and plant new churches around our area. Over the past few years our considerably small church (120 members) has planted 17 new churches and look to continue this ministry today. In the Northern part of Moldova, where I live, we have only 1 church for every 5 populated locations. Many have named this area “The Spiritual Desert”. Our aim is to bring the Gospel to all people of our country and to have at least one evangelical church in every location.

What role has SGA played in the past and what role may it play in the future?

In 1993, when we experienced a great revival, we started the ministry of church planting. But very soon we faced great challenges. We did not have experience, our missionaries were not trained, there was a lack of literature, and there were no finances to build Prayer Houses. It seemed that the ministry was about to stop. We were in despair but prayed diligently and the Lord answered those prayers. Right at this time we met fellow workers in Christ from SGA (UK) who were willing to support us in different spheres of ministry. The first thing that we started together was a spiritual training programme. A Bible school was opened and hundreds of missionaries and pastors have been trained there ever since. Great help was provided in publishing the necessary Christian literature for us. The financial support of missionaries through SGA has allowed us to plant many new churches in towns and villages. We were greatly blessed and are still blessed with SGA’s Houses of Prayer project. We would usually buy a cheap house and reconstruct it in such a way that the church could have their services there. We also see many blessings through humanitarian projects of SGA as well; projects like supporting orphans and widows which are a shining example of Christian love. But the greatest blessing we receive from SGA is the Christian fellowship and prayerful support. We always look forward to their visits so that we can hear the preaching, feel the brotherly love and check our “spiritual watch.” So, fellowship and prayer are the priorities in our partnership with SGA and God pours out His blessings on everything else.

What blessings have you experienced and what challenges are you facing?

Our greatest need is spiritually trained people who would minister on mission fields. Two years ago our church sent out brother Ivan who is 65 now and has some health problems. He does not have his own transport, but travels about 50km by bus and walks the rest of the way. We simply ran out of the resources, but so many ministries are still left to be done. From one point of view people like Ivan are a blessing to the church and a great example to follow. But we need young ministers because without them there is no future for the ministry. Unfortunately, the economic struggles force many brothers who are potential ministers to leave the country for work elsewhere. Meanwhile the doors of evangelism and church planting are still open. But my personal feeling is that it won’t be like that for long. So I rush. Every time when we dedicate a new church or a soul repents my prayer is “Thank you, Lord, but please allow us some more time, because we have done so little for your Kingdom yet.”

How can we pray for you?

I don’t even know what I should ask for that the Lord has not already given me. I have a wonderful family who serves the Lord together with me, a wonderful church, a wonderful team of missionaries, some years ago God healed my wife from cancer, SGA supports us both spiritually and financially – I often think that we are the most blessed people living on earth. There just remains one thing to ask for and that is wisdom and blessings for the ministry. Please pray for the men who have committed themselves to the ministry. Pray that God will grant them strength and victories in spiritual battles. I know that many of them are tempted by Satan to abandon the ministry and move to other countries to find work. Please pray that God will call young men into the ministry and for them to answer the call. The words of Christ in Mtt. 9v37 “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” are now more than ever relevant to us.

In 1992 SGA entered into partnership with Christians in Central Asia to help sponsor this venture and since then approx. 11,000 students have taken part in the IBCS with the possibility of studying over 34 different subjects in 10 different languages. The students come from all over Central Asia and include those who are Pastors, Preachers, Church Leaders, Missionaries and Sunday Schools Teachers. In addition, recent statistics show that 25% of all students are non Christians searching for the truth of the Gospel.

One former student who is now a pastor in Uzbekistan writes ‘These courses are very important not just for Christians but also for those who are looking for the way to find God. I am thankful to the Lord and to our dear friends who are ministering in the IBCS and to those who help financially. May our Lord be with you always.’ Please remember our fellow brothers and sisters in Central Asia and pray that God will use the IBCS to sustain His people and equip them for whatever the future may bring.

According to Radio Free Europe, the church leaders’ statement called the cartoon “insulting,” and demanded an apology. They also charged the paper with printing a false report about a Karaganda church. The article implied that the church was involved in brainwashing people to become Christians. The newspaper denied that the cartoon had religious overtones.

It is unclear whether the Kazakh government will take any disciplinary action toward the paper in response to the incident. However this matter is further evidence of renewed hostility toward evangelical churches in central Asia. Evangelical churches often face false stories and rumours about their worship practices. Time after time, as local communities see the truth and good works of the churches — especially with children — these false stories backfire and the Lord grants to many the repentance that leads to life.

Commenting on this situation, one Christian worker from Tajikistan said ‘[the passing of this law] will prohibit the work with children up to 18 years old. It will bring problems to the church. Traditionally Tajiks consider themselves as Muslims so they will continue to have their rituals and traditions in spite of what the Government says. So [religious work among children will] be OK for Islam because it is viewed as part of their traditional heritage. But for evangelical Christians it will be difficult because it will be considered as proselytizing.’

We praise God for the extensive camp ministry that has gone ahead unhindered this year, however the future of this work is uncertain and requires much prayer.

To plant a brand new Church in a village where there was no previous witness can be hard, but to reestablish churches and begin again can be even more difficult. However, that is exactly what is happening in 4 villages in northern Serbia. The Lord has provided the opportunity for pastor Avram Dega to get involved and help restart an evangelical witness in each of these villages and it is an opportunity he is excited about and thankful for.

The villages concerned range from 50 to 500 families and in some cases they have been without a Church for decades. The original works closed for a variety of reasons but the Lord laid a burden on Avram’s heart for these areas and he began a programme of door to door work and literature distribution. We can praise God He blessed this work and meetings have now recommenced with men and women and boys and girls coming under the sound of the Gospel.

Currently the numbers are small but those attending are committed and inviting others. Avram is convinced that God is working and soon there will be new converts. There are still challenges to be overcome but God is more than able to meet His people’s needs. So please pray that the Lord will use Avram and his team to establish four new churches in this needy area of northern Serbia.

Daniel Vlad is no stranger to regular readers of Breakthrough. He is a graduate of SGA’s Mission School in Oradea Romania, who is currently recovering from throat cancer. However, his passion for souls motivates him to travel 60km to his home village to share the Gospel. Although he encountered many obstacles, there is a growing congregation meeting today in a new building partially funded by SGA. There are also hopeful signs of establishing another church in the same neighbourhood.

Besides his pastoral responsibilities Daniel is also a gifted artist. He therefore seemed to be the perfect choice to support this Christmas, as there is a real need to help Daniel in the work and there is the opportunity to make use of his artistic gifts. So this year the design of each card has been taken from one of Daniel’s original paintings and all the profits raised from the sale of our cards will be going to support him in his vital ministry.

The cards come in packs of 12 (4 each of 3 designs) and cost £3.00 per pack (+p&p). They can be purchased by either contacting our office or your local SGA representative. There will be many Christmas cards bought and sold this year, but in doing so why not join with SGA as we support Daniel in his Church planting ministry in Susag and beyond. It is a wonderful opportunity to be part of the work of God in Romania as we celebrate our Saviour’s birth and incarnation.

He recalls the beginnings of his links with SGA. In 2000 he was invited to undertake a teaching trip to Romania. William Smylie had known of Hamilton’s links with Beni and of his wider interest in the work of God in Romania, and offered him the opportunity to go and teach under the SGA banner. That first trip was ‘an eventful one’ says Hamilton, for his SGA colleague on the trip became unwell and had to return home, leaving him on his own to undertake the journeys to Oradea and Medias and to fulfil the teaching in these schools.

Since that first trip Hamilton has undertaken many others as an SGA ‘invitee’ and he has engaged wholeheartedly and passionately in what he [and SGA] sees as the most precious work to be carried on in that needy land – the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. He writes:

‘I thank God for the invitation to be involved in the SGA schools in Romania – Jibou, Satu Mare, Suceava and Oradea. Here God’s Word is being shared with local village pastors, elders and young people who… can become sharers of that Word with others.’

Hamilton’s burden for the land of Romania has continued to grow as he has witnessed what he describes as ‘the vast need – 8,000 villages without evangelical witness’ and he has expressed his admiration for the ‘tremendous work’ which SGA is doing there. The schools are meeting a vital need, offering training to Christian workers who will never be able to go to university, but who have a vital role to play in both reaching others for Christ, and then teaching them the Word of God, so that they in turn will win others to the Saviour.

He regards one of the great strengths of SGA’s teaching programme as its commitment to faithful handling of the text of Scripture. This, he believes, is essential, for many of those in SGA schools come from an Orthodox background which has profoundly influenced their thinking. Hamilton writes:

‘There are ideas and beliefs they need to unlearn, and come to a deeper appreciation of the Bible’.

He continues:

‘It is a critical time in Romania. One of its strengths over the years has been the church-planting programme which has been pursued throughout the country. People have heard the Gospel, been converted and gathered together as church fellowships, from which they are being encouraged to reach out to others. However there is a great need for training Christian leaders and workers in these churches to handle the text of the Bible properly so that Christians can understand the work of Christ in the Gospel and appreciate the blessings they have in Him.’

In this area SGA is fulfilling a vital role. Generations of church planters have already been trained in the Mission Schools, and new generations are presently being prepared. Hamilton’s description of the need is ‘absolutely vast’, and he understands clearly that God’s people must co-operate together and support one another faithfully if this great need is to be addressed.

We thank God for the precious partnership which has developed between Hamilton and SGA, and pray that God will use it for the glory of Christ and the onward march of His Church in Romania.

The damage caused by those floods in southern Romania had to be seen to be believed. As the pictures of the utter devastation came to the attention of Christians across Romania, a growing conviction that something had to be done took hold of God’s people. A request was made to help, and SGA along with others, joined with our partners in Romania as they sought to respond to the needs of people. As the following article from Filip Faragau in Romania records, God has used and blessed this initiative in amazing ways.

“Our motto in this project through which we helped rebuild over 70 houses in 5 villages was: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. More important than the houses that were built, is the fact that Christ built His Church in these spiritually barren areas. The region is known for pagan and occultic practices and as a result all forms of Christianity have struggled to make an impact through the years.However, there is now a church in each of the villages where we worked! Praise God! The vast majority of the people who now attend these churches have come to know Jesus as their Saviour because of the way they felt the love of God expressed in the service of those who helped them during their time of need. They could not believe that someone from hundreds of miles away cared for them and was willing to help them without demanding anything in return.

Now that the building work is over, our goal is to support these newly-planted churches in their ministry. Throughout the year there are groups of Christians from various parts of Romania (and also other countries) who go to these villages and, together with the local church, organize ministry events – children’s Bible clubs, football coaching (with a spiritual twist), medical aid, smaller building projects etc. As an example, this summer, a group of young people from the city of Cluj-Napoca, together with Christians from Northern Ireland, will minister in the village of Carna. This will be our fourth year of ministering in Carna - the villagers now consider us part of the family. Our main focus in these summer projects is the children – it is a great joy to see a new generation hearing the word of God!

Praise be to God for this opportunity to serve Him! We also thank you for all your prayers and support. As we now look back over the years, we see that the overflowing of love on these villages far surpassed the flooding, and we stand in awe of how God transformed the disaster into a celebration of Life.“

The Bible reveals God as a permanent, promising, providing, protecting, powerful One. In this day of uncertainty and unrest we need to remind ourselves that He is still the great and mighty God Who controls the universe. ‘All nations before Him are as nothing…. It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers….’ He is the One Who reigns from eternity to eternity. Our God reigns!

There are times when we can become discouraged and feel defeated as the problems of life seem insurmountable and circumstances overwhelm us. Darkness surrounds us and it often appears there is no way out. The question could then be asked, ‘How big is your God?’ It is true that God’s greatness does not depend upon what we think of Him; however, He can never be bigger in our lives than we allow Him to be. Warren Wiersbe made the comment, ‘We need to see our circumstances through God rather than God through our circumstances.’ This will determine how big God is in your life. If you see Him through your circumstances, then God will be small and the circumstances big. If you see your circumstances through God, then God will be big and the circumstances small. Isaiah discovered God’s greatness during very uncertain circumstances. The kingdom of Judah had experienced strong leadership for 52 years under King Uzziah. However he died, and his successor Jotham had little knowledge of his new role.

Isaiah, anxious about the future of the people, made his way to the temple to seek God. In that hour of seeming defeat, he experienced a great spiritual blessing. The earthly throne was empty but he saw the heavenly throne was still occupied by God. This is a good practical lesson for Christians today. When the day is dark, lift your eyes to heaven, and see God on the throne.

We need to see Him as the almighty, reigning, miracle-working One. Like David we should face our Goliaths in ‘the name of the Lord of hosts… for the battle is the Lord’s.’

Reports and testimonies in this issue of Breakthrough underline the confidence our co-workers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have in God. Their response to the challenges of ministry is always the same – God is Able!

Looking at the task of reaching the nations with the Gospel, it is easy to lose hope in the face of unbelief. But if we look to our great God, then mountains can be reduced to a plain, obstacles can be surmounted, difficulties can be overcome and barriers can be broken down. God is Able!

Dima Sarchuk was one of the first boys taken into Grace Shelter and is so grateful to God for permitting him to be a part of this Christian community, as it was there he came to know the Lord. Dima’s parents left him at the hospital after his birth. He was adopted, but then sent to a state orphanage where he stayed until the age of twelve. It was when he had health problems and required surgery that he began to search for God. After two years at the Shelter he trusted the Lord as his Saviour. He is now married to a believer and has set up a Christian home. How different everything could have been for Dima!

Work continues on the Transition House. There are legal age restrictions on the Shelter which force young people to leave at 18. The Transition House will give hope to young people over this age where, under the supervision of houseparents, they begin to live independent lives. The first floor is finished and the second floor is near completion. Peter and Lidia Dovbya, the houseparents of the first group of children in the Shelter, will move very soon into the Transition House with their now grown-up ‘family’.

Recently Pastor Bandura expressed the Church’s desire to carry on this great ministry. “We continue to pray eagerly for a new group of children to add to the Shelter as a new family. There is still a great need to help orphans and as a Church we are willing to respond to the need and continue our ministry to them.” God has certainly answered their prayers! A couple, Andrew and Inna Dovdnya feel called of God to replace Shelter houseparents, Peter and Lidia. They will be responsible for a new family of 20-30 children. Meanwhile, Vitalii and Luda Suhotskiye continue to care for a small group of orphans in the shelter.

Through SGA’s Children’s Ministry Project we maintain our support for the Shelter houseparents, the general running costs and also funding for the completion of the Transition House.

What a future you faithful supporters are giving to these children! What a prospect they have as they surrender their lives to Jesus Christ, exchanging their absolute sorrow, rejection and homelessness for the joy of being accepted, provided for and above all assured of Christ’s riches for time and eternity!

When I was sixteen years old I had a dream. In this dream I saw the end of the world. The dream was very terrifying. Everything was in ashes and ruins. I told Jesus in the dream: ‘I don’t know what I have done to you, but I would like to live some more.’ Then God said to me: ‘You are mine’. I forgot about the dream.

In 2002 I was nineteen years of age, already married and with one boy. I then had the same dream three times and I was very frightened. I told my mother about it and she took me to see the ‘Hodja’, a Muslim priest. He spoke very vague words to me and I was disappointed. My mother later told my dreams to our neighbours who were Christians. Then they invited me and took me to their church.

I then kept going to the church, but I liked only the songs. The sermons did not touch my heart. Then my second son was born, and we found out that he was seriously ill. He had a hole in the heart. On a second visit to the hospital we were told that the hole in his heart was getting bigger. I was crushed. That day I went to a church service which gave me hope. The words which touched my heart were from Matthew 11:28: ‘Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ These words were just for me. I understood that Jesus could heal people. He could even raise the dead.

I believed he could heal my baby boy with only a word, and could make him live. I shared my prayer need with the church, and then all the nearby churches started to pray for my second son. The next six months were very difficult indeed. My wife and family were against my new faith in Jesus. On the next day that we were due to go to the hospital, I went out and got special treats to bring to the doctors for I knew my son was better. My father thought I was crazy!

The doctors could not believe what they saw when they examined my baby son. The hole in the heart was gone! I told them that Jesus had answered my prayers, and that He is Lord of Lords. Praise the Lord that all of my family have now trusted Christ. Since 2007 I began to preach in my home church. I believe that God is faithful, and I pray that I may be faithful to Him.

Peter, can you please tell us something about your family, home and background?

I grew up in a Christian family so I knew the Bible from my childhood. My father was Pastor of a Brethren (Evangelical) Church and this influenced my understanding of God’s greatness and love. Even when we used to live under Communism we experienced a lot God’s interventions in activities done by our churches. I was educated as a mechanical engineer and after graduating from school I went into military service for one year. Later on in 1990 I married Renata. We have three children: Anna (20), Dorota (18) and Samuel (15).

How were you converted and called into the ministry?

When I was 9 I asked the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins.Since then I grew up in the knowledge of Scripture. Besides my parents I had several Christian mentors. For example, there was a young married couple (Misko and Marta), who opened their small flat to 10-15 teenagers every Thursday night. Misko was a very obedient follower of Jesus Christ. He always kept telling us he wanted us to outgrow him in the knowledge of the Lord and in ministry. Later on I became a member of the leadership team of a teenage group. It was good preparation for future pastoral ministry. Even when I started my mechanical engineering career the church recognized that I had some gifts so they invited me to help as an assistant pastor in a newly established church. I accepted this calling on 1st May1991.

In what particular ministries have you been involved?

The Velvet Revolution in 1989 brought changes to our country and opened up new possibilities. Together with other believers, we realized it was a time for reaching out to new people. There were open doors to schools, hospitals, even prisons. We started a new church plant in the nearby district town Ziar. After 8 years I moved to East Slovakia, where I pastored a church in Vranov and finally in Hermanovce, my current location. The church in Hermanovce has constructed a new building and we are able to start some new ministries.

What role has SGA played?

Right at the beginning of my pastoral ministry I was accepted as a full-time student of All Nations Christian College in Easneye, Hertfordshire for a one year programme (1991/1992). It was only possible with the help of SGA who sponsored my study. During that time I came to know people such as Trevor Harris and Peter Barrie, who were my “personal SGA tutors.” Since then our relationship has continued, with SGA workers coming to Slovakia and helping us, especially by teaching God’s word. There is one special ministry which is run with the help of SGA and it is the Opal Camp. In 2005 we called a young man called Slavo Krupa to the full-time ministry of this facility. The Opal Camp is used by many churches in Slovakia to organize their camps and other activities. It gives our church an opportunity to organize special summer camps for teenagers with at least half of them coming from non-Christian families.

What blessings have you experienced and what challenges are you facing?

With the help of SGA we were able to minister to many teenagers and make new contacts with some of their parents. It is good, because we are seen as a slightly sectarian group. But by this ministry, parents can see their kids are not only well cared for but also touched and changed. Yet many parents are still hesitant to send their kids. So we need to be courageous and flexible enough to prepare a good programme for teenagers and develop a good relationship with their parents. Our culture is quite religious, almost everybody goes to church, but not many know Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

How can we pray for you?

Please pray for Slavo (and Miriam his wife) as he prepares the programme for this summer. Please pray that the parents from non-Christian homes will overcome their religious prejudices and send their teenagers to camp. Please pray for our church, as we desire to share the Gospel with parents, that we will develop ways to make deeper contacts with them. May the Lord be glorified by this ministry. We desire to be a light of God for people around. Thank you for your participation in prayers and support!

Biblical Leadership Training

The training of nationals continues to be the main focus of SGA’s ministry, with 400 students attending the Biblical Leadership Training courses in 8 different countries. Many of these former and current students are faced with tremendous opportunities to reach out with the Gospel. Nonetheless, with meagre resources their efforts can be greatly inhibited as circumstances dictate part-time ministry or emigration.

Leadership Support

Leadership Support offers practical and financial assistance to Christian leaders who cannot be supported by the groups or small churches which they serve. Last year SGA supported 122 national workers in different areas of ministry and also provided a Pastors’ Fund in Poland and Bulgaria. We are very grateful to individuals and church fellowships across the UK and Ireland who help sponsor these workers. We try to keep the sponsor informed by regularly forwarding ministry reports and prayer requests. Our goal is to see all the churches and workers become self-supporting and operating independently of foreign finance, but this is still some way off. At least 40% of those funded by SGA still require sponsorship.

Houses Of Prayer

We are amazed at the number of Prayer Houses the Lord has enabled SGA to provide in locations where graduates are serving the Lord. Being aware that it is impossible for village congregations to raise this money, Slavic Gospel Association has funded 21 such buildings in Moldova, 3 of which were purchased last year. On Saturday 27th November 2010 an SGA team travelled 50km from Balti to Maramonovca and Domintini to visit two of these Prayer Houses. The final 5km took us off the main road and along a rough dirt track before arriving at Maramonovca where two current students serve the Lord. This is a community with no evangelical witness. However, the brothers were hopeful that the building would be opened in January. Meanwhile, twenty people were travelling from Domintini to another village as they had no meeting place. This provision will be a great blessing to this group of faithful people, giving them a much needed Prayer House, which is required for effective evangelism in this village of 3,500 people. Fresh requests for Prayer Houses are being considered so that other congregations will have a building in which to worship.

Literature

SGA has viewed the translation of literature and writing by nationals as vitally important to help in the work of the Gospel and in the strengthening of the church. Through funding for Christian Literature, SGA helped with the publishing of much needed books in Romania last year including, ‘Toward Rediscovering the Old Testament’ and ‘Toward Old Testament Theology’ by Walter Kaiser. Funding was also made available for the publishing of a number of Bible Commentaries written by Dr Ben Faragau including Ecclesiastes, Genesis, Messianic Psalms, Deuteronomy and Hebrews. We also focused on Poland and Slovakia where ‘A Call to Spiritual Reformation’ by D.A. Carson and ‘Nothing in my Hands I Bring…’ were published. Over the next months we will focus on Biblical material for Hungary, Poland and Ukraine.

Radio Ministry

The Romanian and Polish ‘Voice of the Gospel’ radio broadcasting ministry continues to be a vital means in the spread of the Gospel. SGA continues with its commitment to help sponsor these tools for ministry.

Crisis Response

SGA continues to meet needs and emergencies through which the love of Christ is ministered in practical ways. Since 1991, Bread of Life, a Christian humanitarian organization has provided for many refugees in Serbia. Last year SGA supported this vital ministry amongst the most vulnerable in society. It also supported orphans and widows in many countries, and responded to emergency situations where financial help was required. An example of this was the serious flooding in Eastern Romania. Again, SGA sought to stand with the believers by providing financial support so that the testimony of those who go to help people in their time of need may be used of the Lord to spread the Gospel in these very needy areas. We are overjoyed to be able to report that during the winter of 2010/11 in excess of �29,000 was distributed to widows in Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Ukraine, Serbia, Poland and Central Asia. Since this project was launched in 2000, more than 6000 widows have benefited from the fund. SGA, working in conjunction with Bibel Mission, Germany, sought to give hope in Central Asia by funding Christmas presents for children of poor families. For many, it was the only Christmas gift they would receive. With much excitement they unpacked their gifts of toys, sweets etc, but most importantly, a Children’s Bible. Non-Christian families had the opportunity to listen to the Good News of Jesus Christ and many contacts between believers and non-believers were established.

Babbacombe Conference

A highlight in 2010 was the culmination of SGA’s 60th anniversary celebrations at the Babbacombe Residential Conference in November, which incorporated the SGA bi-annual International Directors’ Conference. It was a great joy to welcome guests from America, Canada, Germany and also Ruth Deyneka-Erdel accompanied by her husband Paul. The conference was not only a time of giving thanks to God for His faithfulness to all the SGA offices in their fields of service across Eastern and Central Europe, Russia and the CIS, but also a time of united rejoicing in God’s faithfulness to SGA UK during 60 years of its existence. We were stimulated by all we heard and came away with a renewed dedication to be more active in the spread of the Gospel.

These highlighted activities and achievements portray something of what the Lord has enabled us to do in His name. We are so conscious of His provision and sustaining hand upon us. However, you are very much a part of these achievements as you stand with us in prayerful and practical support in the work of the Gospel and we sincerely thank you.

Suceava

The graduation in Suceava was a time in which the Lord was honoured and glorified. Three students testified very movingly to the grace God had showered on them by bringing them to a knowledge of Himself and then calling them into His service. Hearts were stirred as they witnessed to the contribution which the school had made in their spiritual development and ministry. One student spoke of his intention to become a monk but the Lord had graciously intervened in his life and now, although physically unwell, he is preaching the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Another expressed how totally inadequate he felt to exercise a leadership role in his local church, but as a consequence of being a student in the school he thanked God for His enabling and equipping grace. There was an evident sense of the presence of God on this occasion and the congregation wholeheartedly gave the glory to the Lord as they praised Him for everything that he Had accomplished in the experience of all the students. It is times such as these that remind us how privileged SGA is to have this ministry given to us and we pray that there will be many more similar services.

Satu Mare

The city of Satu Mare in northern Romania has been host to an SGA Mission School over the last two years. The whole area has been opening up to the Gospel in recent times and so the training offered by the School has been strategic in developing leaders not only in the Baptist Church but also in Pentecostal and Brethren fellowships. The School maintained its numbers over the two years and in November came the long-awaited day of graduation. Friends and family joined with the Church for what was clearly viewed as a major day for believers at Satu Mare. Some of our students told their remarkable stories and expressed deep appreciation for the instruction they had received. Another led the time of open prayer and worship, so characteristic of Romanian worship. Their growth over the period of the School has been outstanding. Crowning the day was the ordination of another student, Marin, to the office of deacon. This office carries a much higher status than it generally does in Britain. It authorises him to act and officiate on behalf of the churches. Florin Negrut, President of the Baptist Association, was there for the occasion, sharing in the preaching and the act of ordination. Certificates, flowers, photographs and the celebration meal that followed made the day seem more like a wedding than a graduation! Our prayer that day was that they would go on to make a great mark for God in their city and county; that like David they will ‘serve their own generation by doing the will of God.’

Baia Mare

Two years of study for the students of 2nd Baptist Church, Baia Mare reached their culmination at the graduation on Sunday 21st November. when the church was full. Pastor Daniel Chereji spoke appreciatively of the teaching given by SGA staff over the two years. The students had been prepared for the long-term goal and vision of planting an evangelistic church (100 of them!) in every village where there is none in Maramures county. God is no doubt working in a mighty way in this Church. Being there one can see the spiritual life and vitality of the members and the sense of God’s power at work in many lives. Pray for the ongoing work of this Church, the students who are now more prepared to go with the Gospel, for the churches in the villages and for Daniel’s health as he is still waiting for a kidney operation.

Alexander can you please tell us something about your family, home and background?

I was born in Almaty in 1969 into an atheist family. When I was 25 years old I became a Christian and was baptized in the first Baptist Church of Almaty. I have been married fourteen years. My wife’s name is Tatiana and we have three children: Daniel 12, Sofia 9 and Mary. We live in our homeland in Kazakhstan, in a village near Almaty city. We are members of the first Baptist Church of Almaty. Our nationality is Russian but almost all of our neighbours are Kazakh.

How were you converted and called into the ministry?

Almost all of my life, I prayed to God because my life was very difficult. I repented and received Jesus Christ in September of 1994 and was baptized in December of 1994. After me, my fiance Tatiana received Jesus. I started to visit my Church every Sunday and felt a strong desire to become a preacher and teacher of the Bible. For this reason, in 1998, I attended the pastoral faculty of Almaty Bible Institute (ABI) where I studied for two years. In the same year I was ordained a deacon. After my graduation from ABI the leaders of our region sent me to Ukraine to further my education and in 2005 I graduated from Odessa Theological Seminary with a Bachelor of Theology degree. After this I returned to Almaty.

In what particular ministries have you been involved?

I started to preach and teach in my local Church and in other Churches within two months of my baptism. I also took part in many evangelistic meetings which our local church held. I organized small groups for studying the Bible in my apartment and prepared for my move to Odessa Theological Seminary in 2001. After returning to Almaty in 2005 I resumed the small group meetings in my house and as an ordained deacon I was part of the leadership team of the first Baptist Church of Almaty. In addition, since 2005 I have been heavily involved in the ministry of ABI. I have been a teacher, the dean of the missionary faculty and since 2009 I am now the rector of this institution.

What role has SGA played in the past and what role may it play in the future?

When I started my spiritual education in Almaty Bible Institute in 1998 I was taught by brothers from SGA. They were my first teachers and influenced me in my spiritual formation and my theological convictions. I have also benefited from SGA through their finanical support of ABI. Without these donations ABI could not have continued for the last 17 years. I hope that SGA will continue to support us in the future and will send good, competent teachers as they have done in the past. Looking to the future, we are beginning to organise a new Church plant and we hope to have the support of SGA for this new venture.

What blessings have you experienced and what challenges are you facing?

The greatest blessing in our family was the birth of our third child, Mary in December of 2009. God blessed us as we started a new small group in our home which we built in 2007 in a suburb of Almaty. Unfortunately our daughter Mary has a congenital problem and for this reason she was operated in May of 2010. During this time we asked many questions and prayed many times but our Almighty God did not leave us in trouble and helped us through this time. After the first operation she has been getting better.

How can we pray for you?

ABI needs to get a licence for legal work in Kazakhstan. We have sent all the necessary documents to the officials but there have been many delays. There are big problems with bureaucracy in Kazakhstan. Pray that we will receive this licence from the government. Our daughter Mary needs a second operation which will be in May. Pray that God will bless it and its result. Also I have very weak sight - approximately minus 9 in both eyes. Please pray that my vision doesn’t get worse.

This seemed to be a very appropriate way to celebrate the Reformation, as putting the Bible in the hands of ordinary men and women was one of the main aims of the reformers. However, the Church in Vrsac had a problem. They knew there were people in the town who wanted their own copy of the Bible but they could not meet the full cost of supplying 400 Bibles free of charge. So the request came to SGA - can you help us? As long standing partners of Pastor Dega this was a request we were pleased to meet and in October the Church began their celebrations.

The following report comes from Pastor Dega as he recounts how God still uses the distribution of His own Word today.

Dear Christian Friends and SGA prayer partners,

With great joy and thankful heart we’re presenting a report on our church’s recent event. On Sunday October 31st, we gathered together as a church with our friends to celebrate the victory of God’s Word! As one of the essential heritages of the 16th Century Reformation, the Bible was spread widely among ordinary people, and the truth in it reformed and changed people’s lives! With such a belief we provided Bibles and New Testaments for many families and friends that would gladly have a Bible! On the occasion we had guests from Timisoara, Romania, who served with praising songs and a Bible message.

Firstly, we gave a Bible to every person who attended the Sunday service of celebration, then we sent a Bible copy to every family at home, who asked for it. Also we continued to offer free Bible copies to the families that were visited in their homes by home visit evangelism teams of two in the town and surrounding villages! Nearly 300 Bibles and New Testaments were given in that way!

The next step is to invite those families that are not (yet) Christians, but received a Bible copy, to participate at our pre-Christmas evangelism meetings. Praise God, there are already individuals who positively reacted to the Gospel presentation in their homes!

Herewith we’d like to express our profound gratitude to the Slavic Gospel Association, who helped in providing two thirds of the Bibles we were giving out with this project! We appreciate so much your taking part in this project and are grateful for your financial help and your prayers which are so valuable as well! May the Lord bless each one of those who gave and prayed for this cause!

Linked through the love of Christ,

Gratefully,

Avram Dega,

Pastor of Vrsac Church

Pastor Ficsor, can you please tell us something about your family, home and background?

I was born in the midst of World War 2 as the 6th child of 11. From my early childhood I worked with them on their farm. My parents were deprived of all their goods during the war but of their faith. After the war they started everything again with hard work. From 1948 the communism came to might and this fact closed the doors of high schools before us, and I stayed on the farm. The revolution in 1956 brought some changes in this area, and in 1960 I was able to attend high school and later, beside working, I studied and gained a diploma as an engineer. In 1968 I married a very devoted Christian girl and then together we sought what the will of God would be for our life.

How were you converted and called into the ministry?

Our parents brought us up in faith. They did not speak a lot, rather their example influenced me. Though our ranch stood far away from the church, yet, they took every opportunity to take us into God’s house. I invited Jesus Christ in my life as a child and I sealed that decision at the age of 15 by the baptism. Even when I was quite young I knew that God had a plan for me. His precise calling reached me at the age of 28. My wife stood with me and we served together, first in the local church by teaching songs and music for children. Later He entrusted me with a special work: Christian broadcast ministry. That time it was very dangerous, because the government tried to stop every Christian activity and the believing in God. Preaching was very limited and exclusively in churches. In spite of all these hindrances and prohibitions, at week-ends and at nights I was on my way in the country making recordings for Trans World Radio. Then we smuggled these records out of the country. Our relationship with SGA started that time, at the beginning of the 70’s. They were God’s secret angels who took the cassettes through the border into Monte Carlo.

In what particular ministries have you been involved?

Our Lord placed us in a home for elderly people where we served between 1983 and 1991. We cared for them spiritually and physically as well. It was wonderful to see how the lives of 70-80-year-old people changed as they started following Jesus. Later our ministry has become enlarged and we established the Good News Foundation (GNF) as a mission-organisation. We planted a new church. Under the converts there were alcoholics, drug-addicts etc, and they got freed from their dependencies. We outgrew our church building; we needed to build a bigger one. By gathering together and teaching neglected children we help those families „at the hedges”. We organize club-programs for them, workshops and camps, and we teach them daily that they may be able to fit into the school-education, since the gypsies are still far behind other people. Through our wide-spreading charitative ministry we can help many people to have clothing and food, letting them experience God’s love by that.

What role has SGA played in the past and what role may it play in the future?

During that time the Lord has called me to serve Him in full time, independently from people, depending only and alone on Him. In this situation SGA stood with us. They have been supporting our family personally. They systematically support the camps we organize for the gypsy and Hungarian children and young people. In our building project, beside continually having encouraged and prayed for us, they supported us with considerable financial means. They organized groups of volunteers to do building work. We wish to continue our ministry in faith in the future, too. We go forward standing on the promise of our God and on the experiences He has lead us through during the past. I believe without doubt that whenever God moves the hearts of the brothers and sisters through SGA to practise charity, they minister to His little ones.

What blessings have you experienced and what challenges are you facing?

The greatest challenge for me and for my wife was to give up our civil job. Both of us started to serve Him in full time and without receiving any payment. I have to admit that I was very afraid to do so and from the time of my calling in 1988 I hesitated for 3 years. I ‘stepped into the water’ in 1991. (Joshua 3:13.) My wife and our 5 children stand in faith with me and they encourage me. SGA have heard of our decision we had made with my wife. I can remember the day very well even today when, at springtime of 1992, two co-workers of them visited us, they encouraged us, having promised that they would stand with us, and they granted us a bigger amount for our ministry. Since that time they continually send their support for our family and they also support several of our projects. Let me say thanks here for all that. I know that our obedience in following God’s calling resulted in repentance of many souls as they accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. This is a tremendous blessing from the Lord!

How can we pray for you?

In Hungary in this hard economical situation there are many gypsy and Hungarian families struggling in hard financial situation. Less for the adults but more for children we can help by encouraging and teaching them, by moulding their thinking that way. Unfortunately they do not realize the importance of education, nor preparation for life. Please, pray that we may not get tired of helping them or fighting for them. Please, pray that we may reach more and more gypsies and Hungarians with the good news for the glory of God!