Blog

The training and equipping of national believers have long been central to SGA’s work, which is why four Mission Schools are currently being run in Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Poland. Each school provides rigorous theological training as it seeks to prepare new church leaders to faithfully handle God’s Word, for it is by its Spirit-empowered proclamation that the church of Jesus Christ grows.

For more than three decades, SGA has been privileged to serve alongside faithful believers in Moldova – men and women who know their people, their culture, and their language, and who have a deep burden to reach their own nation for Christ. Throughout this time, a simple truth has been confirmed: when believers are equipped and encouraged to minister within their own communities, the cause of the Gospel can advance in surprising ways.

Partnership has been crucial to the development and expansion of Gospel work throughout SGA’s ministry, particularly in the Central Asian region. Through fellowship with Trans World Radio, SGA has been able to extend its outreach into areas that were previously almost unevangelised, bringing the Gospel directly into homes and hearts where there is no access to a local church or the usual means of hearing God’s Word. The distribution of small radios – often described as our ‘little missionaries’ – has proved to be an effective way of overcoming many of the barriers faced by those who long to hear and be changed by the Gospel. But why is this project needed, and why is it so valuable in a region where opposition to Christian truth is often the norm?

One of the greatest highlights of SGA’s 75th anniversary year was the opportunity to reflect on those partnerships which have defined the Mission’s ministry over the last seven and a half decades. Just as the Apostle Paul poured out his heart in gratitude for the Philippians (Phil. 1:3-5), we too treasure the preciousness of Gospel partnership with those we are privileged to serve alongside. Yet, as Paul expresses his sincere thankfulness for those with whom he partners in ministry, the over-arching theme of his letter to the Philippians is that this partnership is totally centred on the Gospel. It is the Gospel that both generates partnership and drives it to missionary enterprise.

This summer, SGA was able to send team members on two mission trips.