SGA celebrates 75 years of ministry in the Chicago area -- where it all began.
USA (MNN/SGA) ― More than 75 years ago, a mission was born in the heart of a young Russian immigrant. That young man, Peter Deyneka, Sr., came to America in search of work to help feed his starving family in Russia -- but instead he found food for his soul through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This weekend, Slavic Gospel Association will be celebrating the "great and mighty things" (Jer 33:3) that God has done over 75 years of ministry to Russian-speaking people. SGA's Joel Griffith says, "It begins Friday evening. It'll be all day Saturday, and then things winds up at Chicago's historic Moody Church with morning worship and conference sessions."
Moody Church is where it all began. Griffith says Deyneka came to Christ at Moody Church in 1920. His passion for evangelism and love for his people were used by God to start SGA in 1934. Founded in prayer, SGA chartered with the purpose of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a people in need of the truth: the people of Russia and the rest of the former Soviet Union. By God's grace, and through their partners' prayer and support, this original mission marches on.
Throughout their history, SGA's mission has been to serve faithful churches in the West, helping them come alongside faithful churches in the lands of Russia.
In celebration of this special anniversary, SGA is looking back so the ministry can thank the Lord for all He has done through the joint ministry of SGA and its partners over the years -- and share a vision as SGA looks to the future.
In gratitude for SGA's partnership, and as a way of saying thank you to friends of SGA, leaders of the churches in these nations will be joining SGA to give reports direct from their mission fields. It's their prayer that the reports from these men -- many of whom struggled under persecution to remain faithful to God -- will encourage your hearts and help you see the glorious way God has used your prayers and your investment in the advancement of His Kingdom in the lands of Russia. Together we will take a look back to see God's hand of blessing on our work together, and be renewed in our vision to press on for the goal of seeing Russia changed by the power of the Gospel.
The celebration begins tomorrow (September 25) and Saturday (September 26) at the Awana Conference Center in Streamwood, IL. Then Sunday, the celebration will move to Moody Church in Chicago where it all began.
Griffith believes God used SGA over the last 75 years to impact the lives of many. "Obviously there was a church even before communism fell and people were being saved them. But, just in the past 20 years, since 1989, it's obvious that I think thousands, if not millions people have come to saving faith -- at the very least have been exposed to the Gospel and the seeds have been planted."
If you need further details on the celebration, click here.
