Missionaries - Nick & Rose Leonovich
February 2009
Dear Friends,
Last month on January 6, 2009, Slavic Gospel Association celebrated its 75th Anniversary!
We, the Paul Leonovich family, arrived from Belarus in October of 1929 via Ellis Island in New York when I - Nick - was a year old. We settled in Clifton, New Jersey. Our closest relatives, the Peter Deyneka family, had settled in Chicago, Illinois. My mother was the aunt of Mrs. Deyneka, but because of the distance between New Jersey and Chicago, we, as relatives, did not get to see each other very often.
I remember the summer of 1934 when Mr. Deyneka came to New Jersey to conduct services in various Russian churches, and he visited Clifton. They were our cousins, but we called them Uncle Peter and his wife, Aunt Vera, as we respected them as older relatives. Even though I was just 5 years old, I remember my parents calling us together for prayer. Mr. Deyneka just finished sharing his vision with my folks about reaching the Slavic people with the Gospel, and he was establishing the Russian Gospel Association, which later became the Slavic Gospel Association.
Mr. Deyneka, my father and mother, along with my brother Alex and I, all got down on our knees around the kitchen table for prayer. There were fervent prayers offered to God that day, asking God's leading and blessing on this venture of a Gospel work among the Slavic people. Mr. and Mrs. Deyneka believed in prayer, and the mission was built on prayer.
My mother and Mrs. Deyneka became strong partners in intercessory prayer and to the end of their days on earth, spent many hours on their knees praying for God's leading and blessing on the mission.
God not only used Mr. Deyneka in leading the ministry of SGA, but also used him in challenging many young people to commit their lives to serve the Lord. Both Rose and I are two of the many who were called by the Lord through Brother Deyneka to service among the Slavic people.
It was also through the urging of Peter Deyneka and Dr. Paul Freed, founder and president of Trans World Radio that we started daily Russian radio programs in August of 1958, beamed to the Soviet Union. At that time we were given on full-time loan, which lasted 27 years. Altogether, 33 of the 58 years of our missionary service were devoted to the radio ministry.
Now, 75 years after the founding of the Slavic Gospel Association, we look back with grateful hearts for the many years of ministry we have had with and through the SGA.
My cousin Ruth (Deyneka) Erdel, Rose and I thank God that we, as relatives, are able to continue in the ministry to which God had called us in our youth. We are carrying out the vision that was given to a man named Peter, called by God to reach the Slavic people with the message of God's love and grace.
By God's grace, as long as He gives us good health, open doors, and financial support, we long to continue in this vital work, which is now under the leadership of Dr. Bob Provost. Dr. Provost loves the Slavic people and they love him. We urge you to uphold Dr. Provost in your prayers as he carries out the many responsibilities in continuing the ministry of Slavic Gospel Association.
Are we planning to retire? No! This word is not in our vocabulary! In Joshua 13:1 we read: Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed...So, as long as there is work to be done and as long as the Lord wants to use us, the commitment we made to Him many years ago still stands!
Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for your financial support that continues to make our ministry possible. We are in this work together as team members, each doing his part to reach many Slavic people with the Gospel as possible.
May the Lord continue to bless you, encourage you and supply your every need.
Your co-workers in the Gospel,
Nick and Rose Leonovich.
