Encountering Hope is brought to you by SGA (Slavic Gospel Association). On each episode, you'll hear inspiring stories of pastors and churches serving in very difficult circumstances in Russia, the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. And you'll be blessed by how God is transforming lives and adding to His Kingdom. We pray these stories of the Lord's life-changing power will enrich your life and that you will be encouraged each time you encounter hope.
Founded by Belarusian immigrant to the United States in 1934, SGA is headquartered near Chicago, Illinois.We help reach "forgotten" orphans, widows and families in 10 countries across the former Soviet Union and Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel through an extensive grassroots network of local evangelical missionary pastors and churches. These faithful servants care for physical needs and proclaim the life-transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ.SGA also strengthens indigenous evangelical churches through training for pastors, evangelists, and children's workers.
Through Encountering Hope, you will learn how SGA is sharing the Gospel, equipping the church, and helping the forgotten. For more information, please visit SGA.org
SGA-supported pastor Andrei reports how God opened doors for ministry in the Dagestan region. Andrei and his team were able to overcome opposition and share words of faith and encouragement to a predominately Muslim population.
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Building the church can be daunting at times. But we’re tasked to become fishers of men and SGA-supported pastor Pavel shares an opportunity God presented for him to cast his net. Support the work of SGA »
In Russia, Pastor Sergei sows the truths of God’s Word fully and patiently in minds and hearts. He then trusts the Holy Spirit to make the Bible come alive and bear fruit. He tells of two young people to whom he ministers. Support the work of SGA »
Children simply see Jesus for who He is. And many times it is from the mouths of little ones that parents first hear the clear Gospel message and seek the Lord. Pastor Viktor has seen this firsthand in a Belarus village. Support the work of SGA »
As an SGA-supported pastor in Far East Russia, Maxim reaches young adults with the Gospel. Time and again, he sees God at work in extraordinary ways. And Maxim’s role? It’s faithfulness as he continues to invest in lives. Support the work of SGA »
SGA-supported Pastor Andrei spreads the Gospel to give hope amid the turmoil in Ukraine. He shares how believers like Aleksandr are working to renew their spiritual strength after returning from the chaos at the front line. Support the work of SGA »
Nikita’s story speaks to our need to trust God when our hearts are broken. SGA-supported pastor Pavel shares how this young boy turned to God for healing as his family was falling apart. Support the work of SGA »
Pastor Valery, who serves in Russia’s Tatarstan region, reports on some exciting developments in their SGA-supported youth outreach. With your support, this ministry can continue drawing young people closer to Christ. Support the work of SGA »
The Lord moves on His timetable, not ours. He only requires us to remain faithful to do what He’s called us to do. In Belarus, Pastor Sergei is rejoicing over what the Lord has been doing in his church for people like Lena. Support the work of SGA »
One person grows up in a godly home. Another is from “the other side of the tracks.” These are two different journeys, but Pastor Boris has seen God take people from many different experiences and make them His own. Support the work of SGA »
Vyacheslav serves in a former Soviet nation where he has suffered hardship that exists in ministry. He also feels the moments of sweet joy when fruit appears in a person’s life. Here, he shares the harvest he’s seen. Support the work of SGA »
Children are resilient; however, they can still carry the scars of post-traumatic stress. Vasily, an SGA-supported pastor and his church members in Ukraine, are working to bring comfort to kids who have endured so much. Support the work of SGA »
For those who live in an environment of heartache, it can be difficult to find hope. By helping introduce kids to God’s grace, they can truly leave their old lives behind and begin to see life through God’s lens. Support the work of SGA »
In Kiev, Vasily and his team are ministering to orphans, local children and those in poverty through Summer Camps. By sharing the Gospel, the team is planting seeds of faith — even in the midst of chaos. Support the work of SGA »
Even when it looks like nothing is happening, God is at work! Pastor Alexander labors for Christ in a village in Belarus. He is working to ensure that the truth of Christ is heard on all of those “regular” days. Support the work of SGA »
God is greater than anything Satan can do to hinder our progress. In Ukraine, SGA-supported pastors like Vadim are working hard to serve internally displaced people in spite of facing almost insurmountable challenges. Support the work of SGA »
No greater example of the transforming love of Christ exists than in the lives of orphan children. In this story from a former Soviet nation, witness how the church is ministering to abandoned children through Orphans Reborn.
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The Gospel is so extraordinary that a dear brother risks his life to take this message to a village at the border of a Muslim country. He shares the Good News with children during an SGA-supported Summer Camp ministry. Support the work of SGA »
When the Holy Spirit fuels us, we’ll even praise God in the darkest of times! Pastor Oleg wanted to fill his service with that kind of praise this past Easter. And one young girl stood out for her desire to lift her voice. Support the work of SGA »
Easter has passed and SGA-supported missionary Pastor Sergei and his church are rejoicing for the way God moved in their outreaches. Sergei wants to share his thanks with you—our partners—who helped make it possible. Support the work of SGA »
Pastor Alexander has witnessed the crucible of affliction being used by God. As He melts away idols, He turns hearts to worship the one true God—Himself. Alexander tells of one man who had been rejecting God and His people. Support the work of SGA »
Sometimes, God so burdens your heart that you have to venture outside your comfort zone and trust Him. Recently Pastor Serik experienced this in Central Asia where God placed a man in Serik’s life who he struggled to reach. Support the work of SGA »
Israeli law forbids Pastor Sasha and his church from evangelizing Jewish people with the Gospel. Still, they find ways while distributing food aid to the war-afflicted. But it’s not an easy task, and they need our prayers. Support the work of SGA »
Pastor Viktor and his team have traveled over 7,000 miles, visited 38 villages, and held 93 worship services across Russia. Viktor shares how God created opportunities to share His word with people in need along the way. Support the work of SGA »
SGA-Supported pastor, Vasily reports on conditions in Ukraine as he ministers the Gospel to those who need Christ. His efforts are helping people cope with the stress and uncertainty of war. Learn more about Vasily’s example of faithfulness. Support the work of SGA »
Peter, an SGA-Supported missionary pastor in Ukraine is working to share the Gospel and much-needed aid with those in that region who were affected by the war. Learn more about how under God’s protection, Peter is bringing hope to people in need. Support the work of SGA »
There is only one cure for spiritual blindness—repentance and faith in Christ. Pastor Andrei shares Oksana’s story, who was both spiritually and physically blind. Learn how God brought her out of her spiritual blindness. Support the work of SGA »
As believers, it’s important to show God’s transformational power to others in everything we do. Pastor Vladimir shares how a negative witness can profoundly impact others as they seek God’s healing. Support the work of SGA »
Though people may disappoint us, God never will. Dealing with her husband’s unfaithfulness, Makha sought counsel from Pastor Garnik. Learn more about how she turned to Christ to find peace in a difficult situation. Support the work of SGA »
Tested faith is no stranger to Igor. He’s a missionary pastor in Ukraine. And like many of the faithful there, he is tested on a daily basis. But Igor shares of one new believer who has truly been in the refiner’s fire. Support the work of SGA »
How did God share the Gospel with an orphan girl named Kristina in Russia? Through the faithful witness of Olya. Because of her, Kristina discovered her heavenly daddy and introduced him to her terminally-ill mom. Support the work of SGA »
In the early church, believers’ safe place was the family of God. Elena has witnessed the difference the body of Christ makes today for orphan children through the SGA-supported Orphans Reborn ministry in Russia’s Siberia region.
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Often, God brings us unexpected opportunities to share the Gospel. At other times, we might plan a specific outreach, then the Lord prompts us to go further. Pastor Ivan in Belarus shared one such opportunity. Support the work of SGA »
Vasily and Lena have been rocked by the war in Ukraine. They ended up at a shelter in Kropivnitsky where they met Andrei—an SGA-supported pastor. But even before this, God was leading them to faith in His Son Jesus. Support the work of SGA »
In Christ, we can let go of past hurts. That’s what Pastor Eugene does in Ukraine, where his faith has been tested. And he’s seen that those who count their lives as loss for the sake of Christ are shining most brightly. Support the work of SGA »
In a predominately Muslim nation, a faithful servant has given his life to taking the Gospel to the broken and forgotten. Once he was lost to this world and bullied others. But now he’s a powerful ambassador of Christ. Support the work of SGA »
Often in the war in Ukraine, strangers in need show up at all hours, asking for food and shelter. Pastor Vyacheslav has seen a steady stream come to his church. Recently, he received a call in the middle of the night. Support the work of SGA »
It took almost 17 years before an unnamed man in Pastor Alexander’s church repented. The brother had been homeless and an alcoholic. Yet, God in His timing, called the man to be a writer of poetry and a preacher of His Word. Support the work of SGA »
Pastor Viktor and his church in Siberia give time and resources to minister to those with nothing. Single mothers and widows are those most often in need. Viktor shared of one widow who was overwhelmed by their visit. Support the work of SGA »
Mykhailo is a deacon at a church in Ukraine. His congregation has seen much destruction in the war. But with aid shipped by SGA from Poland, these believers provide for those in need and help hopeless people find hope. Support the work of SGA »
In Central Asia, Pastor Volodya saw the physical and financial needs of little Oysha and her grandmother. He helped with both, but he didn’t rest there. Volodya, along with his church family, ministered to their souls. Support the work of SGA »
Pastor Pavel frequently endures difficulties to serve Christ in Belarus, where he ministers to many with disabilities. This is often a forgotten and disregarded population of every country. But God has burdened Pavel’s heart for the disabled. Support the work of SGA.
Rather than dwelling on the hardship and trials of ongoing war in Ukraine, Pastor Oleg is focused on the mission to make Christ known. He sees God building His church, and everything else fades from worry. Support the work of SGA.
For Pastor Nikolai, the difficult news of terminal cancer was taken with peace. As he processed this diagnosis, he made sure all is in order for his church and family. Then, Nikolai started “packing his bags for heaven.” Support the work of SGA
Many refugees from eastern Ukraine are in Pastor Viktor’s region of Russia. Their grief is overwhelming. But Viktor and his church are serving Christ by ministering to their needs through the goodness and compassion of God. Support the work of SGA »
Often in our trials, we see Jesus as the steady anchor for our souls. That’s been Pastor Vladimir’s experience in Ukraine, where he’s seen people seeking answers from God and praising Him when all else is falling apart. Support the work of SGA »
The Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has been under constant bombardment during the war. But through Pastor Alexander’s faithful service, many are hearing of the hope they have in Jesus—a hope that transcends the heartbreak of war. Support the work of SGA »
What would you do if missiles began flying and bombs started exploding? Would you keep your eyes on Christ? Many of us wouldn’t know what we’d do. But in the midst of war in Ukraine, there were youth who didn’t miss a beat. Support the work of SGA »
In western Russia, tuberculosis patients and physically challenged children are beloved objects of Pastor Dmitri’s ministry. Dmitri and his church are praying that God brings a great harvest among these ostracized people. Support the work of SGA »
Vasily is an SGA-supported missionary pastor in Belarus. He has seen God’s hand at work in the young lives of Andrei, Volodya, and Daniel. And he is eager to share the joy of seeing God turn them to faith in His Son. Support the work of SGA »
Prayer knows no boundaries of time or depth. In Russia, Pastor Alexander has seen answered prayers in unexpected times. Hear more about the power of prayer and how faithful servants, like Alexander, are making a difference. Support the work of SGA »
Pastor Vladimir, in Ukraine, is sharing God’s Word while meeting the urgent needs of the community. Hear more about how Vladimir is planting the seeds of the Gospel and waiting patiently for them to take hold. Support the work of SGA »
Pastor Alexander ministers to people in Belarus, like Vasily, whose lives have been consumed by their sin. After living a broken and empty life, Vasily came back to his faith. Hear about Vasily’s path to redemption. Support the work of SGA »
God is accomplishing much in former Soviet nations, and you are an essential part in the fellowship of ministry through SGA! We thank you for your bond with us and with those working the harvest and planting the seeds of the Gospel. Like Viktor. Support the work of SGA »
Western Siberia’s harsh climate of 90+ degree summers and winters of double-digits below zero does not deter faithful SGA-supported missionary pastors. They’re intent on reaching the unreached with the Gospel! Alexander is one such faithful pastor. Support the work of SGA »
Ukrainian refugees are experiencing the love of God as they come to churches in the former Soviet nation of Moldova. Hear how believers are meeting temporal needs and proclaiming the Gospel in the consuming storm of the war in Ukraine. Support the work of SGA »
There is a longing for joy and peace in Ukraine. Andrei, supported by SGA, is ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of his neighbors by turning their hearts toward God. Hear about these incredible transformations. Support the work of SGA »
Pastor Alexander knows that proclaiming the Gospel to the orphaned children and elderly in Belarus is the most important way to serve them. Learn more about how Alexander supports his community by teaching them about Jesus. Support the work of SGA »
Despite their struggles, Yura and Luda place their trust in God. The SGA-supported missionary couple left Ukraine to help serve and plant churches in Israel. Hear about how they find joy in their service to God. Support the work of SGA »
With a desire to witness to everyone and a patient trust in God, Pastor Vyacheslav is leading people to repentance and faith in Christ. They’re people like Oleg and Denis who travelled different paths, but are united through a common hope in Jesus.
God is turning lives to Himself, and He’s doing that through Pastor Alexander who ministers in a maximum security prison in Belarus. For the most part, the world has given up on those called “criminal.” But Alexander sees God at work in their lives.
For Pastor Piotr, the war in Ukraine has not stopped him from travelling to minister to displaced families. “I have already traveled more than 37,000 miles on such trips,” he says. Hear more of how the seeds of the Gospel are now bearing fruit!
Though missile attacks continue in Kiev, Ukraine and his family faces many health challenges, Pastor Viktor is faithful to labor for the Gospel. Hear how Viktor and his church are sharing the hope of Christ with people in this battered region.
Valery is an SGA-supported missionary pastor in southern Belarus who has seen the whispered work of God in small, unexpected moments. Some of those moments arise following the delivery of a single bag of groceries to a soul in great need.
When Pastor Gennady travelled to minister to those suffering in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, he saw things that broke his heart. But then God moved Gennady’s heart to do something—to preach Christ to the lost and to care for their needs.
God has called Pastor Vladimir to minister in a village that is uninterested to hearing The Good News. He prays for the strength to carry on his mission because he trusts in God’s plan and timing. Vladimir finds hope in unlikely places.
Alexei, a missionary in Belarus, uses his talents and skills as a carpenter to connect with young people and teach them about Jesus Christ through the Gospel. By reaching out to them beyond the church building he created a transformative experience.
Suren, a Jewish man from Buhkara, believed he was on the right path. He didn’t understand why people would follow Jesus Christ. Until one day he met Olga, an SGA-supported worker. She helped open his eyes and heart to God’s Word.
As we are preparing for Christmas, people in Ukraine are living in a war zone. Amidst the violence and hostility, the Lord continues to walk with us. The eternal peace of God overcomes whatever happens in the world around us.
Many people are living in great poverty in the former Soviet country of Georgia. God calls us to have compassion for the poor and to share the life-changing Gospel. One pastor recounts a visit with a desperate family in need of prayers.
Valery, a pastor in Ukraine, places his trust in God despite feeling alone in his mission. In the early days of the war the church grew, but now that the war has lingered on, people have grown discouraged. Valery finds strength in the Lord.
Only with God as our as light, can we overcome darkness in our lives. Pastor Vladimir ministers to children in Ukraine, helping to guide them to the truth of the Gospel. He knows that with God’s grace anything is possible, and lives can be changed.
Rezi seeks out the lost and forgotten people to spread God’s message in the former Soviet country of Georgia. He reaches people who have never heard The Good News and brings them hope through Jesus Christ. Providing food for the soul is everlasting.
Pastor Ilya encounters a young woman in great need. Instead of going on with his busy day, he stops to help. Ilya is living as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ serving the poor. His compassion opens hearts and minds to God’s Word.
Christ is inviting us to follow Him. By placing our trust in God, we will be shown the path forward. Dmitri, a pastor in Belarus, and his wife experienced this firsthand when they had worries and fears about taking in poor orphans.
Trusting God’s will can be challenging, especially in war-torn Ukraine. Igor is a pastor working in prison ministry and believes that God placed him there for a reason. The Good News is being shared to more prisoners than ever before.
God calls us to share our treasures bountifully and that we will reap the rewards. Alexander, a missionary in Belarus, shares a story of a generous act of kindness from a poor man, who gave away what little he had to his suffering neighbor.
Many people in war-torn Ukraine, like Olena, are seeking aid from local SGA-supported churches. Witnessing the good works of the churches, Olena and many others are receiving a helping hand in addition to learning the Gospel of Christ.
Pavel, a faithful pastor in a Muslim-majority country, ministers to children who have been through terrible trials. Pavel finds inspiration from the joy he sees when the orphans come to realize the love of the Lord.
Many of the orphans Pastor Vitaly meets in Siberia have experienced suffering at the hands of others. Through the help of the believers at the Crisis Center, a young woman named Katya, learns about God’s redeeming love and healing power.
Pastor Mikhailo has been sharing the Gospel and much-needed aid with thankful refugee families in Ukraine. In a recent report, he shares how the gift of food and shelter—combined with the lovingkindness of God—dropped healing balm into wounded lives.
Pavel is a faithful SGA-supported missionary pastor in Belarus who has a heart for the overlooked, the forgotten, the abandoned, and the mistreated. He was recently blessed to baptize Sveta, who was born disabled and abandoned by her parents.
Many orphan children in the former Soviet Union have endured incredible pain. To one teen, the concept of forgiveness wasn’t even a consideration. But that didn’t stop Pastor Sergei from faithfully ministering to a broken and hurting heart.
Vycheslav is a faithful missionary pastor in Russia. One place he loves to visit and share the Gospel is an orphanage. When COVID blocked him from visiting there for a long time, Vycheslav thought he would lose contact with the children. But God . . .
When we “see” each life as God does, we see them as potential vessels of His grace and purpose, and worthy of our love. There’s a beautiful story like that which shows us the fruit of an SGA-supported Summer Camp for children with special needs.
It’s almost unthinkable that a little girl would suffer so she could comfort others. But so it is in war-torn Ukraine, where Marina lost her leg under a collapsing wall after an explosion. Now she’s caring for other victims of this tragic conflict.
Issachar was a proud and faithful Jew who thought he had honored God with his life. He met many Christians who came to Israel to observe history—which to Issachar seemed like a waste of money. But our sovereign God had other plans for him.
Ever tried to be kind to a person who is not very nice? It’s hard! But your love—a long-suffering love—might be just what they need. Sasha and Diana are faithful servants who tirelessly reach out to orphan children who can be quite unlovable.
Facing the world without a support system is hard, and so we praise God for the fellowship of a local church. Pastor Alexei has seen the strength of the body of believers in action in Belarus—even younger ones encouraging and blessing one another!
When a shell exploded next to the home where Pastor Sergei’s granddaughter Marina lived in Ukraine, the wall collapsed and she lost her leg. Sergei and Marina are back in their village today. And even after all the hardship, they still help others.
When one spouse comes to faith in Christ, and the other remains worldly, this creates both challenge and opportunity in marriage. But the opportunity is even greater! Pastor Yuri has seen this firsthand in the lives of several couples in Belarus.
In the remote region of Yakutia, Yegori and his youth ministry team visit villages scattered about for the sake of the Gospel. Most communities are steeped in shamanism and have never heard of Christ. So how do you open the door? You pick up garbage.
It would be easy to look at a church that was ready to shut its doors or an overwhelmed village official as people who were facing great difficulties in life. But Pastor Artem shares how each trial was part of God’s better plan in Far Eastern Russia.
Pastor Alexander recently saw the transformation of several lives at his church in Belarus. One man named Arthur didn’t comprehend anything he’d heard about Christ after several visits to the worship service. But one day, that began to change.
SGA-supported missionary pastors like Vasily in Belarus bathe their ministries in prayer. They continually ask the Lord to send people with whom they can share the Gospel. And recently, Vasily shared that God answered his prayer in a very direct way.
Pastor Serik didn’t want to travel 311 miles from his home in Central Asia to share the Gospel. “It was so far,” Serik says. “I was looking for reasons not to go.” But God used his wife to tell him to go! Find out what happened when Serik obeyed.
When our plans go awry, it’s easy to get discouraged. But we must realize that God has a better plan. Pastor Pavel recently told us about his summer camp and Vacation Bible School outreach where he encountered frustrating problems right at the start.
Many refugees have fled to Belarus during the war in Ukraine. But each one has offered an opportunity for pastors like Viktor to reach out with aid and the Gospel. Here’s how providing food packages to Tatiana and her family is already bearing fruit.
Little Igor lives with his grandparents in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Pastor Vladimir shares Igor’s story and tells us how the boy learned about the love of family after experiencing heartbreaking abandonment.
The Orphans Reborn teams sees many children who struggle with the loneliness of constant change. Listen as they share the story of Diana, who like the bent woman, learned how to place her trust in God and let Him be the change-maker she needed.
Pastor Vladimir tells the story of three Christian sisters and the difference between how each prepared for their final days. Listen as he shares how each of these ladies professed their love for God up to their last breath.
After a week of Summer Bible Camp in Belarus, Pastor Andrei saw 97 campers respond to the truth of the Gospel! Kids like Tanya and Artem were removed from the pressures of the world. And at camp, they found hope in Jesus and unexpected joy.
Just as God sent Jesus to us gentle and lowly with a message of love and grace, so He sends His people today. A small church in Siberia is wonderful example. They’re poor, but rich in love for Christ and others. And God is blessing their ministry.
Svetlana was run out of places due to her special needs son creating disturbances. A sickly young boy named Mikhail just wanted to be well. Both were lost, but now they have experienced God’s lovingkindness at Pastor Alexander’s church in Russia.
What a blessing it is to hear reports like Pastor Nikolai’s! We rejoice with these persevering servants when a harvest is reaped from their faithful labors. Be encouraged as you hear how God is working in the lives of Svetlana, Anna, Vika and Sergei.
Finding peace in the midst of war seems unlikely. But it’s available to all through a relationship with Jesus Christ! This is the good news Pastor Grigory continues to share as his church provides aid to hurting Ukrainians like Lyudmila and Veronika.
Pastor Eugene leads a ministry to addicts in Siberia. He constantly sees lives lost to the world made new by God’s grace alone—like Tatyana, whose life of addiction was displayed in a very public way. But now she is singing a joyful hymn of praise.
No human plan would conceive that an unbeliever would direct a hurting soul to a church. No tracts, no training and no strategy! But this was God’s work to save Alexandra in Far East Russia. Hear more of her unique story as shared by Pastor Maxim.
It’s difficult to build relationships with people opposed to God’s righteousness. But it’s to those that God’s grace comes through Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, Pastor Sergei is a friend to those the world has cast off. He shares of one such man.
The greatest evidence of God is hearts supernaturally turning to Jesus in faith. It’s why we need to worship and glorify Him, and Pastor Alexander is doing that in Belarus today. Hear more about the transformation of two young men under his ministry.
Only Christ can effectively break the chains that enslave us. Oleg, a missionary who teaches at Israel College of the Bible, shares Sergei’s struggles with addiction and how he turned from a life of bondage to alcohol to a life in service to Christ.
We are often most effective in sharing our faith during unplanned moments when the sharing just happens. God answered Pastor Serik’s prayers to share the Gospel with all people, in all places by sending him to minister in the slums of Central Asia.
With every trial we endure, we make a choice—whether we will put our trust in the world or in Christ. Pastor Eugene shares Zina’s story of faith. After losing her husband and sons, she chose to focus on helping other women achieve spiritual growth.
Amidst the destruction and heartache of the war in Ukraine, Pastor Yuri is proclaiming hope in Christ and working to renew families in Belarus. Hear how Yuri is using all of God’s tools to restore broken marriages, broken families, and broken lives.
Discreetly and boldly ministering in the vast territory of the former Soviet Union, Pastor Andrei demonstrates how God brings about fruit in His time and in His way. Hear how Andrei is faithfully planting the seeds of the Gospel.
Sometimes, all we can see is the struggle in front of us. Sergei, a Ukrainian pastor, is well-aware of this truth. He ministers amidst the shelling in the Kherson region to bring hope to those who are suffering. Hear more about Sergei’s ministry.
No matter what we go through in life, God’s grace leads us to victorious living. Anatoly, a missionary pastor in Siberia, has experienced discouragement as a constant obstacle. Listen as he shares how God’s encouragement helped him keep the faith.
Our lives are filled with choices; often, we choose paths that lead us toward damage and despair. But God can lead us in a new direction! Alexander, a missionary pastor in Belarus, leads his village forward by showing them how to turn to Christ.
Pastor Igor works to fight poverty that’s both physical and spiritual in the mountainous land of Tajikistan. In this place where opposition to the Gospel is strong, Igor and his church move forward in faith to plant seeds of the Good News. Listen.
Mikhail only ministered to 16-year-old Roma for a short time. But Mikhail knows his outreach to the troubled orphan was not accidental. Though Roma struggled with addiction, he gave his life to Christ. Hear more about his heartbreaking struggle.
During the early days of the Ukraine war, Valentina and her family slept in a cellar on sacks of potatoes to stay warm. Today, they’re one of many Pastor Sergei’s church has helped with food and shelter. And now Valentina has encountered God’s peace.
Pastor Ivan has seen the highs and lows of ministry in Belarus. When he saw the need out in the field, Ivan started visiting homes with food and the Gospel. He shares the story of one family who had never considered attending a church service.
Vladimir is a pastor working in Russia’s Volgograd region. Here, he shares how God is taking and remaking lives into “vessels of honor,” as the Apostle Paul wrote. This includes Yuri, a former drug user and thief. He, too, is now a vessel of honor.
In one chaos-stricken region of Ukraine, SGA-supported churches are providing aid to displaced families and those who have lost everything. Some are hearing the Gospel for the very first time! Listen and hear from their hearts full of thanksgiving.
Just as Paul and Silas ministered in Philippi, Khafis and his team stand ready to share the Gospel in a predominantly Islamic country in Central Asia. Hear how they are working diligently to tell people of the hope that they have found in Jesus!
Alexander is ministering to children in Omsk, Russia, whose needs are often overwhelming. Through his compassion, they are connected to both physical and spiritual healing and receive the message of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Alexei, an SGA-supported missionary, connects with youth through his carpentry club, and takes food to broken families in his community. God uses people like Alexei and his wife, Anya, to minister to those suffering the damaging effects of sin in Belarus.
SGA-supported missionary, Vasily, is following God’s prompting to share the Gospel in the small village of Belarus. Recently he reconnected with a childhood friend to show him the way of salvation through repentance and faith in Christ.
Pastor Sergei has labored over a long period of time to those we might call “the least of these.” It’s taken long-suffering faithfulness to sow the seed of the Gospel. He shares the story of Christina and the fruit of God’s work in her life today.
It’s easy to give up hope when we’re short of money. But that’s when we can become rich in God. Pastor Pavel ministers to the poor who, apart from God, suffer with no hope in this world. Pavel tells us of one such woman and how God has changed her.
Facing the possible loss of everything the people hold dear has kindled fear in many during the war in Ukraine. But despite the dangers and risks, a missionary pastor named Yuri presses forward in ministry so that more Ukrainians will turn to God.
In central Russia, Luda ministers to brokenhearted orphan children along with her local church. So many of them have suffered greatly, and Luda wants them all to experience the love of God. Like 12-year-old Ruslan, whose parents are both addicts.
Children in broken homes are forced to grow up quickly. They step in where parents or guardians are failing and struggle with the consequences of adults’ sinful choices. So when believers like Pastor Vladimir love them, they’re eager to know more.
How awesome it is that God uses His redeemed to reach others! After a sinful life led him to prison, Alexei didn’t know he’d one day be a deacon in a church. But God did, and He planted missionary pastor Boris in Alexei’s life as part of His plan.
Thanks to Artyom and his family, orphans and children in foster care in Russia’s Irkutsk region are experiencing the love of Christ. Find out how this dedicated pastor is seeing “much fruit” and reaching a forgotten generation with the Gospel.
Sergei helplessly watched as his son was taken into the army. The young man wrestled with his conviction about not taking the life of someone else. And through his example of staying true to his conscience, he teaches us all to trust God.
Each of us is quite different, but God can use all of us for His glory! Khakim is a martial-arts instructor and a missionary in Russia. Hear how his non-traditional ministry is reaching children who would never consider going to a church service.
For some, life is difficult beyond compare and all hope seems gone. But even in this, Jesus knows our pain and ministers to the brokenhearted through people like Pastor Sergei in Belarus. Sergei shares about Andrei, an orphan boy he pointed to Jesus.
Only our God can work a story within a story. He ordains timely meeting points with others in which we hear the Gospel and are saved. Listen how Oleg—a missionary pastor in Ukraine—has seen these stories play out in the lives of people like Tanya.
Orphan children wrestle deeply with questions of self-worth. But then the message of God’s love is proclaimed through SGA-supported “Orphans Reborn” ministry leaders like Luda. And children like Vlad find their infinite value in Jesus Christ.
Who are the least likely to turn to Christ? We might think it’s the elderly. But that’s a human judgment, and not from God. He brings people to faith in Christ at His appointed time. Hear two stories of God’s loving grace to the elderly in Belarus.
God opened Ilya’s eyes to see his sin and the grace in Christ Jesus. The former atheist and alcoholic says that “the Good News I heard surprised me.” And overwhelmed by God’s love, Ilya believed. Hear how he desires to proclaim Christ with his life.
Trials can cause us to fear. But instead, what if we focused on God's power? Fear would be gone. And so it is today for a widow named Yulia who has to support four children on her own. Find out why she can say: “I am not even scared by the war.”
Every day we can honor God and declare his goodness, no matter the pain of our past. Andrei had a tragic childhood in Russia. Now 26, he remembers the pain of growing up as an orphan. But a recent trip to serve kids at an orphanage changed his life!
Life is filled with trials, but the Bible calls us to place our hope in eternal life with Christ no matter our circumstances. Ludmilla had Stage 4 cancer with only 3-6 months to live. What was Ludmilla and her husband’s response? Plant a church.
Psalm 139 says every person is “fearfully and wonderfully made”. God cares about each of us, as 12-year-old Maxim discovered. When his parents stopped going to church, a gift years later from their pastor would be used by God to change his life forever
Pastor Viktor could have fled Ukraine during the war, but he chose to stay. “God called us to minister where there is need . . . not just where we are comfortable.” Hear how Viktor has courageously pressed on and seen God at work in people’s lives.
Based on what Jesus said about those who are truly shepherds and those who are but “hired hands,” (John 10:12), I would like to offer the following change: “In Far East Russia, a church was abandoned by the person serving as pastor. But God was still at work! He stirred the heart of a genuine shepherd to make the long, hard drive to get to this congregation and help them re-engage with ministry to their village.”
Only God can turn hearts to Himself. That means a believer’s work is to loving and patiently present the Gospel. Hear how Serik faithfully lives this out in Central Asia, where he distributes aid that opens doors to share about Jesus.
Cell phone connection is priceless to Ukrainians during the ongoing war. When Natalia lost her signal after her hometown of Mariupol was attacked, she found connection at the local church as well as something more—a signal that will never be dropped!
The truth of God’s Word transforms lives. Pastor Igor sees it every day and shares a story of a man so filled with joy after believing in Jesus—he baptized himself! Hear more of how God worked in his life through faithful believers’ discipleship.
Even in their sin, God’s love for His children is unwavering.He loves people who run away from Him, and so should we. This is how Pastor Sergei shepherds his congregation in Belarus. Hear how he pursues those who are straying with the long-suffering love of God.
Destructive events like the war in Ukraine won’t be understood this side of heaven. But today we can still see God’s handiwork. And people like Andrei are experiencing this! Here’s how God worked to protect, rescue, and bring his family to faith.
A faithful pastor, Sergei has scattered the seed of the Gospel for some time. He’s seen faith produce spiritual fruit in many lives. But in others, it hasn’t happened until much later. Here’s the story of Fatima who at first gave no regard to God.
Pastor Sergei’s “Silky Way Gospel Project” is no gimmick. It was the historic “Silk Road” trade route in Asia that inspired his team’s evangelism strategy! Hear how they have already seen a response to the Gospel—starting with Oleg and Yanush.
Who we exalt and who we don’t says much about our world. But God uses His church to tell the forgotten ones about His love. Hear how faithful servants like Ivan are reaching those the world has passed by—including an orphan named Leonid.
Despite bombs exploding close to a church’s building, the people of God keep gathering for worship and serving Him and their community every day. Hear from Pastor Yaroslav about what it’s really like in the war zone and why hope is shining through.
Some Scripture can seem difficult to apply. But when we see an ordinary person live out the same teaching in an extraordinary way, we realize God can enable us to live out our faith, too. Be inspired by the example of seven-year-old Danik in Belarus.