Building a Legacy

How do we want to be remembered? What are we doing so that our ministry will be lasting?  What will be our legacy?

1. Faithful to Spread God’s Word

For many years, religious literature and Bibles were banned from this part of the world.  Communism had a strangle hold on religious freedom.  In the early 1990’s, when communism fell, HIM responded immediately , and our Ministry Center in Vyborg, Russia has faithfully distributed  over 500,000 Bibles, New Testaments and portions of scripture throughout Russia and other former Soviet countries. 

Last year, I told you about the tract we were printing in Hungary, and since that time we have distributed over 4,000 gospel tracts to the people of Budapest.  Each tract contains a clear Gospel message that is relevant to the culture.  As we are faithful to spread God’s Word, we know the scriptures will penetrate and speak to those who receive it.  God has promised in Isaiah that His Word will not return void, but will accomplish its purpose of changing the lives of people all across this vast region.

2. Faithful to Care for Widows and Orphans

God’s Word admonishes us to care for the widows and orphans, and we have joyfully responded!  In various places across our region, we have ongoing ministries to widows and orphans.  At our Ministry Center in Russia, poor women can receive a warm meal and hear a Gospel message as well as participate in the weekly worship service.  At Christmas, Romanian widows receive gifts of food and other necessities.  We also have several ongoing ministries to orphans in Russia and Romania.  Everything we do for the least of these, we do as unto the Lord.

3. Faithful to Preach the Gospel

God’s Word is powerful, and we rejoice that God has given us many new converts this year as a result of the preaching of the Word.  We had several summer camps this year across our region, where people heard the simple plan of salvation and responded by repenting and turning their lives over to Christ.  Many of the converts were young people and some have chosen to publicly witness to their salvation by being baptized.  These young people will continue the legacy for future generations.

4. Faithful to Train Pastors and Leaders

One of my greatest passions is to train leaders who will take the Gospel to their own people.  We have already experienced great success in this area. Over the past 20 years, Richard Grout has mentored several young men who are now pastoring churches and leading large Christian organizations. 

5. Faithful to Involve National Converts in Ministry

While I was in Russia recently, I was impressed by the legacy that we are building there.  Recently, two young ladies have both been saved from a life of addiction as a direct result of HIM’s missionary work.  And now, both of these young ladies are involved in ministry and outreach through the center.  This is our legacy…national converts who are passionate about faithfully spreading the Gospel in their own country.  And I believe we can do this in an even greater measure.  Jesus said that we would be empowered to do even greater works than those of His day, and I am claiming that promise.  I am envisioning souls being won to Christ and churches being planted all across the former Soviet Union.

I want to personally thank those of you who have prayed and financially supported the ministry of HIM in Eastern Europe and Russia.  God has truly helped us to accomplish great things for His Kingdom.

Thank you for helping us as we are Building a Legacy of faithfulness in Eastern Europe and Russia.

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