Thursday, March 27, 2014
Slavic Gospel Association at 80!
A Rich Legacy of Reaching Russian-Speaking People for Christ
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
LOVES PARK, IL
(ANS) – Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).
SGA founder Peter Deyneka traveled many miles around the globe preaching the Gospel
This year, a small North American Christian mission is celebrating 80 years of ministry—a significant milestone for any organization. Slavic Gospel Association (www.sga.org), may be small in size, but its impact across Russian-speaking lands in the scope of eternity is immense.
And the passion that founder Peter Deyneka Sr. had to see his beloved people won for Christ remains to this day. On that cold January day back in 1934, Peter could never have imagined how much would be accomplished for the glory of Christ and the sake of the Gospel over the next eight decades.
Peter Deyneka had come to America’s shores as a teenager in 1915—sent by his family from what is today the former Soviet republic of Belarus. Settling in Chicago, he was drawn to faith in Christ through English lessons and the powerful preaching of Pastor Paul Rader at Moody Church. By then, the Russian revolution had taken place and the iron grip of atheistic communism had a stranglehold on the people. Peter’s heart was broken for his people, and he was driven to “rush the Gospel to Russian-speaking people everywhere.”
In the backroom of a suburban Chicago shoe store, Peter Deyneka gathered his first board of directors—businessman George Benson, Dr. Arthur I. Brown, businessman C. B. Hedstrom, and Pastor Paul W. Rood. Through prayer, the mission was begun as the Russian Gospel Association, becoming Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) in 1949—reflecting the desire to reach all Slavic peoples for Christ.
And the Lord showered His blessings throughout the years that followed. With Peter’s lifelong motto, “Much Prayer, Much Power” as their foundation, SGA missionaries spanned the globe preaching the Gospel wherever Russian speakers could be found. Bible training for Russian-speaking pastors and church workers was a top priority. Russian-language Bible institutes were begun in Canada and Argentina.
SGA missionaries produced thousands of Russian-language Gospel radio programs for broadcast through the Iron Curtain into the Soviet Union
Since open ministry was not then possible in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, partnerships were developed with radio ministries including HCJB, Trans World Radio, Far East Broadcasting Company and independent stations. For 48 years, powerful radio transmissions penetrated the Soviet Union. A vast array of Russian language programs was prepared by SGA radio missionaries including the Bible Institute of the Air, and the Seminary of the Air.
Scripture was read at dictation speed, and the hearers behind the Iron Curtain would write it down, copy it, and distribute it secretly and as widely as they could. Handwritten New Testaments and entire Bibles were produced. And millions of Bibles and other Christian books and booklets were translated into Russian, printed, and covertly distributed behind the Iron Curtain.
After the Soviet collapse, SGA was able to support Bible training directly in-country for pastors, missionaries, children’s workers,
and youth leaders
After World War II, SGA missionaries shared Christ in the Displaced Persons Camps in Germany, Austria, and other locations—camps teeming with refugees from Soviet-occupied nations. To expand Gospel outreach even further, SGA offices were opened in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and New Zealand. Finally, after more than 40 years of ministry, Peter Deyneka Sr. retired in 1975 and passed the leadership of SGA on to his son, the late Peter Deyneka Jr. Only eternity will reveal the total impact of these faithful men and their ministries in the lives of millions of oppressed people.
Then in 1989, the Lord declared His power and brought the Iron Curtain crashing down. The grip of communism was broken across the Eastern Bloc and the 15 republics that made up the Soviet Union. The world changed dramatically overnight, and SGA had to adapt to the new realities. Direct access to Russia and her neighboring countries was now possible, and through His people in the West, the Lord provided the resources to serve the faithful, long-suffering believers and their churches.
The SGA-sponsored Orphans Reborn ministry reaches thousands of lonely, forgotten children across the CIS with Christ’s love
Further transition took place in 1991 when Peter Deyneka Jr. retired from SGA, and was succeeded by Dr. John B. Aker who opened Regional Ministry Centers in Moscow, Kiev, Minsk, Omsk, Almaty, and Khabarovsk. These ministry-support facilities provided Bibles, the Moody Bible Correspondence Program, Christian books, Sunday school materials, sound systems, humanitarian aid, and other ministry resources.
In 1994, Dr. Robert W. Provost was called to succeed Dr. Aker as president of SGA. Serving the first priority of the Russian evangelical churches, the mission stepped up the development of many Bible training ministries: Irpen Biblical Seminary and Odessa Theological Seminary in Ukraine, Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary in Russia, Minsk Theological Seminary in Belarus, Bible institutes in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, and the Moody Bible Correspondence Program.
In addition, as church leadership in Russia determined the need, Strategic Bible Institutes and the Antioch Initiative together trained 1,200 faithful men. Making it all possible were more than 500 North American churches who sent their pastors to 40 different cities in Russia to conduct the training courses.
SGA partner churches and individuals began sponsoring national missionary pastors to evangelize and plant new churches in unreached communities. These missionary evangelists have persevered, and thus far several thousand new churches have been planted throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Although Christian persecution is rising again in some former Soviet countries, Christ is still building His church and SGA exists to serve His people across Russia and the CIS
Since 1989, the Lord has done so many “great and mighty things” that one article could never contain it all. SGA’s faithful partners have helped train 8,000 pastors, youth leaders, Christian education workers, missionaries, and children’s workers. SGA sponsors ministry to thousands of Russian-speaking orphan children through Orphans Reborn.
Thousands more children are reached each year at Christmas through Immanuel’s Child, and through more than 300 summer camp ministries. Needy families are being shown the love of Christ through Compassion Ministries. This involves food distribution as well as the provision of clothing, footwear, and other aid when possible. Strategic, zealous congregations are being helped to reach their regions more effectively.
What God has done is truly glorious. Yet the work is far from being done, and today the faithful churches face renewed challenges. With thousands of miles of territory to cover, and 90 percent of the cities, towns and villages still without an evangelical witness, the task remains enormous. Tragically, the window of freedom that opened after the Soviet collapse has been steadily closing. In some parts of the CIS—especially the Muslim-dominated republics of Central Asia, Soviet-style persecution of the churches has resumed with renewed vigor.
Dr. Robert W. Provost
Dr. Provost shares from his heart about the opportunities that still exist, and the needs that still remain. “Not long ago, a pastors’ conference was being held in one of the CIS nations where evangelical churches have been facing considerable pressure. With tears in his eyes, a church leader told his audience, ‘I thought we had more time.’ In that one brief sentence, this godly man shone a bright light on the realities of today. Time is short, and we are praying that those who have the resources will help us come to the aid of our brothers and sisters across the CIS. Millions of people are waiting to hear, even wanting to hear of the love of Christ, and the enemy is doing all he can to hinder or stop them from hearing altogether.”
Dr. Provost continued, “The recent events in Ukraine are a powerful lesson. To date, Ukraine has been the freest of all the former Soviet countries for the church, but when the violence broke out, no one knew for certain which way things would go. We still don’t know what lies ahead in the short term. The fact that a Baptist preacher could be called on unanimously by the Ukrainian parliament to serve as speaker of the parliament and acting president is historic. Yet as happens so often in history, things can change overnight. Our comfort is that we serve a sovereign God who continues to build His church.
“Despite the difficulties, new opportunities continue to open and we want to seize them! Please pray for SGA’s ministries in Russia and her neighboring countries, and even in Israel through Russian-speaking believers. We are deeply grateful for God’s provision through countless sacrificing individuals, partner churches, and foundations, across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. And the good Lord willing, we shall keep pressing on with the life-changing Gospel until He comes. “Much prayer, much power!”
For more information on Slavic Gospel Association, please go to www.sga.org
Note: I would like to thank Joel Griffith, Communications Manager of SGA, for his invaluable help in compiling this special feature. He can be contact at joelg@sga.org
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Dan Wooding, 73, is an award-winning journalist who who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 50 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States and around the world. He is the author of some 45 books, the latest of which is a novel about the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother called “Mary: My Story from Bethlehem to Calvary”. (Click to order)
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<!–BYLINE:By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries–>
<!–LEAD:Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).–>