Recently, the New Covenant Church ordained Philip Ivanov to assist in the pastorate. He and his wife, Lidia, are ready to work with the leadership, as the church continues to grow physically and spiritually. In 2015 the church started with 17 members, and now the membership has reached 50. In March 2018, three people were baptized and became members of the church. Praise God that opportunities abound to share the Gospel to those people who desire to understand what it means to be a believer in Jesus Christ.
The preparation that Valera is receiving at the New Covenant Church is immensely beneficial for future ministry. Minsk has a population of two million people, and the need for new churches in certain areas is extremely imperative. Therefore, Valera and the church leadership desire to start a new church plant possibly in 2020. Pray that God will direct in this enormous task.
SMS has been praying that God will continue to open up “a door for the word” (Colossians 4:3) and “a door… in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 2:12) in many different cities in the country of Belarus. And God has answered those prayers. “A wide door for effective service has opened… and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9), but God is helping the Christian leadership to overcome difficulties and build the church for His honor and glory. As the missionaries of SMS continue “to report all things that God has done with them,” SMS prays that the “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) will remain wide open for evangelism and edification.