SGA Encountering Hope

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...

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.