1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Tutor Dixon Podcast. 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 2: Today, we have sort of an interesting conversation, especially with 3 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 2: what's happening on the world stage with Russia and Ukraine. 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,159 Speaker 2: We actually have Michael Johnson with us today. He is 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 2: the president of Slavic Gospel Association, a US based evangelical 6 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 2: organization on a mission to rescue thousands of orphaned teens 7 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: in the former Soviet Union. These teenagers are under threat 8 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 2: of being forced into terrible things like prostitution and slavery 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 2: and even organized crime. And Michael and his team at 10 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 2: SGA are on what they call a race against evil 11 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 2: because about eighty seven percent of these teens who leave 12 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 2: orphanages in the former Soviet Union countries of Eastern Europe, 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 2: they'll end up in prostitution, criminal gang, slave labor, or 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 2: even worse, commits suicide if they have no other options. So, Michael, 15 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 2: thank you so much for joining me today. 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 3: You're very welcome. 17 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 2: It's good what you're doing. I'm so glad you are 18 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: because what you're doing I'm reading about. Not only are 19 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: you doing this in Eastern Europe, but in Ukraine, it's 20 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: in a war zone. 21 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: So tell us a little bit about what that's been 22 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: like well. 23 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 3: First, I'd like to give you a little background on 24 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 3: the ministry. Back in the early twentieth century, there was 25 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 3: a man named Peter Danica who was born in Belarus 26 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 3: and as he grew up, his family was confronted with 27 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 3: a lot of problems, one being a famine, and so 28 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 3: his parents put him on a ship and sent him 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 3: to the United States so that he could secure employment 30 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 3: and send money back so they could survive. He ended 31 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 3: up in Chicago and he was saved through the ministry 32 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 3: of the Moody Church. When the Bible School became a pastor. 33 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 3: Then in nineteen thirty four, when the persecution ramped up 34 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 3: throughout those countries against the Christians, he established this ministry. 35 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 3: Its main goal was the covert distribution of Bibles and 36 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 3: Christian literature in those countries. And then we were heavily 37 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 3: involved in the development of a Russian language radio ministry 38 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 3: that we broadcasts in and around and through the Iron 39 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 3: Curtain in partnership with HCJB, Transworld Radio and FUBC. So 40 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 3: our passion has always been the proclamation of the Gospel 41 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 3: and whatever we possible in those particular countries as well 42 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 3: as the Slavic populations in Israel. So when the wall 43 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 3: came down, things changed and new opportunities began to arise. 44 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 3: Many Western organizations sent their missionaries over into those countries 45 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 3: to minister, and they had a great impact. But our 46 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 3: strategy was a bit different. We connected with the largest 47 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 3: group of evangelical churches in those countries, which would be 48 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 3: the Baptist churches. They were established back in the early 49 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 3: eighteen hundreds. They were persecuted for many years, they emerged 50 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 3: from the dark years, and they're wonderfully committed pastors and 51 00:02:55,880 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 3: churches that have a passion to reach their countries for Christ. 52 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 3: So basically, we're an equipping ministry. We exist to serve 53 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: and equip those churches to train their pastors and proper 54 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 3: and sound theology, then to secure sponsors to send him 55 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 3: out into previously unreached towns and villages so they can 56 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 3: preach the Gospel and plant new Bible churches. And then 57 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 3: we equip them with resources to meet both physical and 58 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 3: spiritual needs of the people in their communities so that 59 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,399 Speaker 3: more might hear, more might respond, and more might come 60 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 3: to faith in Christ. 61 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: So how does that has that changed the culture there 62 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: and what kind of culture have your people seen that 63 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 2: has been shocking. I read one story where there was 64 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: a little boy that had come home from school and 65 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 2: excited to tell his mom about soccer, and the mom 66 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 2: was the one who ended up beating him and saying, 67 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: I wish I didn't have to deal with him. 68 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: Seems like that's I mean, that seems like a. 69 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: Very different culture than what we see in America. 70 00:03:55,000 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, it is a different culture. I mean, find 71 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 3: a lot of substance abuse with the families in those countries, 72 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 3: and obviously the children have to suffer the brunt of that. 73 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 3: So for us, you know, our ministry is all about 74 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 3: equipping the nationals to go in and build meet and 75 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 3: build relationships with these families, do whatever they can to 76 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 3: lead them to faith in Christ, and then minister to 77 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 3: the children, whether they be within abusive families or children 78 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 3: growing up in these state run orphanages. And you quoted 79 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 3: the statistic that we share with you. You know, anywhere 80 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 3: from eighty seven to ninety seven percent of those kids 81 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 3: when they leave those orphanages in their eighteenth birthday are lost. 82 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 3: They have no hope. You know, they usually end up 83 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 3: in you know, criminal situations or alcoholism or substance abuse, 84 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,119 Speaker 3: and as you mentioned, suicide. So we have an open 85 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 3: door through our church partners throughout those countries. We're connected 86 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 3: to six thousand Baptist Evangelical churches throughout those countries. These 87 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 3: are people who have had significant ministries in those orphanages, 88 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 3: and with funds and resources, they can expand that ministry 89 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 3: in a way that they can reach more children. 90 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 2: So the numbers that I read are about seven hundred 91 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: thousand orphans and abandoned children. And you know, I think 92 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: that number sounds outrageous to me, and yet it's probably 93 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: a similar number in states in the United States. But 94 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 2: I mean, how is that is that from substance abuse 95 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: in the United States? A lot of it is substance 96 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 2: abuse or abuse in general. Is that the same there? 97 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, that would be very similar, similar circumstances, because you know, 98 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 3: they're just these people that a lot of these are 99 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 3: poor families. And again when you combine that with the 100 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 3: rates of alcoholism, particularly given the fact that vodka is 101 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 3: quite prevalent over there, it creates a very explosive situation. 102 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 3: And so so for me, you know, it was about 103 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 3: twenty five years ago I was in Siberia in and 104 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 3: around the city of krosni Arsk, and I was traveling 105 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 3: with the church leaders, the Baptist church leaders throughout that 106 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 3: region and we were visiting various ministry points, you know, 107 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 3: church planting, humanitarian aid distribution, all that. But then we 108 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 3: began to see that those churches had an open door 109 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 3: to go into the state run orphanages to minister to 110 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 3: the children in those orphanages. And the reason was is 111 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 3: because the orphanage directors saw the positive impact that these 112 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 3: Christians had on the children. And so when we would 113 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 3: pull up, you know, the kids would be looking out 114 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 3: the window saying, hey, the Christians are here. The Christians 115 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 3: are here, the Christians are here, and they're all excited 116 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 3: about it, you know, because you know, we drop off 117 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 3: gifts and whatnot. You know, we would bring joy, Yeah, 118 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 3: bring joy. We invite them the summer camp, we would 119 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 3: do Christmas gift distributions, we would do all kinds of things. 120 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 3: And that allowed those church workers to build relationships with 121 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 3: the kids and then see what it really means to 122 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 3: be a Christian. And so the ministry had a tremendous impact. 123 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 3: We expanded it to many of the other countries in 124 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: the former Soviet Union, and so many of those kids responded. 125 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 3: Many of those kids came to faith in Christ. So 126 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 3: when on their eighteenth birthday they let them out of 127 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 3: the orphanages, they were embraced and welcomed into local churches. 128 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 3: So they had a chance at a life that is 129 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 3: not necessarily focused on criminality, but a life that is 130 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 3: based upon the pursuit of God and spiritual things. 131 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 2: Why is it's so different in those countries than in 132 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: the US. I mean, obviously we don't have the orphanage 133 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: system anymore, but it seems as though these kids were 134 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 2: coming out and just being lured into this lifestyle of sex, 135 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 2: trafficking or criminality. 136 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 3: Like you said, yeah, yeah, well, and that's true. I'm 137 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 3: not quite sure how I would characterize the difference between 138 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 3: our country and theirs. I think that's a universal problem, 139 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 3: but there is there's a large presence in many of 140 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 3: the orphanages that we that we deploy workers to where 141 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 3: there's a battle for the heart and soul of the children. 142 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 3: Because at the same time, the russ from mafia are 143 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 3: in their building relationships with the kids. You know, they'll 144 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 3: do like martial arts programs or whatever to build relationships 145 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 3: with them because basically they're grooming them for a life 146 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 3: of crime. And so what the churches and the church 147 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 3: workers are doing is to help these children understand who 148 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 3: God is and what it means to be a Christian's 149 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 3: so it's just it's it's a very it's a very 150 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 3: difficult situation. And the Russian mafia is many times successful 151 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 3: because of what they promised the children once they get out, 152 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 3: but as we all know, they're deployed into a life 153 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 3: of evilness, whereas the Christians are drawing the kids into 154 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 3: a life that is based upon the pursuit of a 155 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 3: relationship with Christ. 156 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: How dangerous is it for these Christians to be out there? 157 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 2: I mean when you're talking about the Russian mafia, that 158 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 2: sounds like they don't probably want to give these kids up. 159 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 3: That's correct, Yeah, they Well, it takes a lot of 160 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 3: prayer for God's protection. We have seen problem where where 161 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 3: the Christians have been confronted with getting beaten up and 162 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 3: all that, but they just keep going back. I mean, 163 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 3: these are brave people and they're courageous people, and they're 164 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 3: doing what God has called them to do. 165 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 2: So they so these there's a story of one of 166 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 2: these kids who was in there and groomed. And to 167 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: get into a little bit of graphic detail, I guess 168 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: these these mafia or criminal elements, they come in and 169 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 2: they convince these kids to the boys to traffic the girls. 170 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 2: And there's a story of one young man who had 171 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 2: this situation and and one day was like I've got 172 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 2: I've got to do something to make this right. See 173 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: now a part of your organization or have you seen 174 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:48,079 Speaker 2: things like that happening? 175 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, we've seen like we've seen things like that happening. 176 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 3: But again, we don't send missionaries over there. We equip 177 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 3: the national church workers to do the work. It's a 178 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 3: highly coordinated ministry. We have administrative offices in Moscow, we 179 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 3: have administrative offices in Kiev and Minsk, so we can 180 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 3: get resources, we can get we can get financial support 181 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 3: to these people as they continue to build their ministries. 182 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 2: And so well support there by the government for Christianity 183 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 2: there is. 184 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 3: It depends on the country in Russia. Yeah, the Russians 185 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 3: recognize the good work that is being done by these 186 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 3: evangelical churches, so they will allow it to continue to 187 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 3: take place. And I think that we have a good 188 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 3: reputation over there because of the humanitarian aspect of what 189 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 3: we do. So when it comes to the war, for example, 190 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 3: in Russian Ukraine, we were heavily involved in uh the 191 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 3: the the the distribution of humanitarian aid through the churches 192 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 3: to the people and the families that were impacted as 193 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 3: a result of the war on both sides of the conflict. 194 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 3: So so that is being recognized. Even though even though 195 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 3: in the case of Russia and Ukraine and the main 196 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 3: national religion would be the Orthodox religion, the Baptists are 197 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 3: being recognized for the good work that they do and 198 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 3: we're a significant part of that because we've been doing 199 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 3: it for so long. So yeah, we we have a 200 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 3: we have a certain level of freedom to be able 201 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 3: to go in and you know, and it's it's about word. Indeed, 202 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 3: if we can help to meet through the churches the 203 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 3: physical needs of the people they are, particularly those people 204 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 3: that are in distress, there is an opportunity for them 205 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 3: when they asked the question what you doing here, to 206 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 3: give them a clear presentation of the Gospel. Many of 207 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 3: people have come to faith in Christ. There is a 208 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 3: revival that is taking place in Ukraine right now in 209 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 3: the midst of this because of the acts of good 210 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 3: works of the Christians in Ukraine. 211 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 2: Right now, let's take a quick commercial break. We'll continue 212 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 2: next on the Tutor Dixon podcast. For people who don't know, 213 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 2: the Eastern European countries have for a long time been 214 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 2: leading toward more and more atheism. I know that the 215 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 2: Czech Republic has almost no Christianity. It's the most atheist 216 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 2: country in Europe right now, I believe, and I think 217 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 2: it's been a struggle to get the support for Christianity. 218 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 2: But there's like this, there are people who have been saying, oh, 219 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 2: but in Russia, they really want to bring back the family, 220 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 2: they really want to bring back those values, and it's 221 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 2: hard for Americans to go how is that when Putin 222 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 2: is so willing to go to war and willing to 223 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 2: kill the people in Ukraine, and he's really taking the 224 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 2: young men out of the household and allowing them to 225 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 2: go to war and die as well. How How how 226 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 2: do you navigate that the value system at the same 227 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 2: time having these leaders that are just going throwing men 228 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 2: into this brutal war. 229 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, for us, there are a lot of politics, 230 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 3: politics involved in what you just you know, laid out obviously, 231 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 3: and and so we've been working in those countries for 232 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 3: so long that we have an established ministry whose focus 233 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 3: is solely on the church. Jesus said, for in this 234 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 3: is saying it's true one, so is in another reefs, 235 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 3: I sent you to reap that for which you have 236 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 3: now labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into 237 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 3: their labor. So we basically view ourselves as an organization 238 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 3: that is entering into labor of these churches that are 239 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 3: putting themselves out there to minister to these people who 240 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 3: are a tremendous amount of distress and and a tremendous 241 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 3: amount of uncertainty about what's going to happen in the 242 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 3: future as a result of this war. And as we 243 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 3: see as we looked at the you know, the situation 244 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 3: unfolding in the last two or three days, with the 245 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 3: meetings and the summits and all that, I'm still not 246 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 3: sure how much longer this war is going to his 247 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 3: war is going to last because of Pudent's determination. 248 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: But what an interesting time to see a revival in Ukraine. 249 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 3: Yes, it really is, it really is, And and it's 250 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 3: like when the war started, you know, there was a 251 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 3: big push of people who were looking to escape from Ukraine, 252 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 3: and so the Baptist Evangelical churches kind of set up 253 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 3: a underground railroad, if you will, and people are making them, 254 00:15:55,880 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 3: making their way across the country of you traying to 255 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 3: exit into Eastern Europe, and all along the way there 256 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 3: were churches that were there, you know, you know, every 257 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 3: step of the way, just on their roots, that would 258 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 3: just take them in. They would spend the night, they 259 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 3: would minister to them, they would give them money if 260 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 3: they needed help with gas to keep them going so 261 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 3: that they could leave the country. You know, the Church 262 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 3: has been there all along to help these people. And 263 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 3: we saw the same thing with the Baptist churches in 264 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 3: Israel in light of the most recent conflicts there as well. 265 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 2: There must be some beauty in seeing God work through 266 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 2: such darkness, which obviously I think that we see that 267 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 2: throughout our lives and even in our darkest times. That's 268 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 2: when I think we rely on God the most and 269 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 2: we can feel God's presence the most if we are 270 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 2: willing to be open to that and see that. But 271 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 2: what is it like when you see someone who hasn't 272 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 2: known the Lord and gets to see in the darkest 273 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 2: times the Lord bringing that joy? 274 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 3: Well, again, because we're an equipping ministry. We get to 275 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:12,160 Speaker 3: see that through the testimonies that we get back from uh, 276 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 3: you know, from the from the churches and the workers, 277 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 3: and and the testimonies are just incredible. I mean these again, 278 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 3: most of these countries are atheistic countries. They were told 279 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 3: that God doesn't exist and the object of their worship 280 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 3: needs to be the State, not God, but the State. 281 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 2: And so. 282 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 3: I have I have preached in a number of those 283 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 3: churches over there, and particularly when you get down to 284 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 3: Siberia and some of the rural areas, I'd just be 285 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 3: sharing the Gospel, and and before I would stand up 286 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 3: with the pulpit, the pastor would say, you're gonna preesse 287 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 3: the gospel. I said, yes, I am going to prese 288 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 3: the Gospel, and obviously I'd do it through the interpreter. 289 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 3: And he said, were you're going to have to be 290 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 3: prepared for the repenters. I said, okay, what do you 291 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 3: mean by that? He said, you'll see. So, I mean 292 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 3: this is just like Jonathan Edwards, like the Revival. You know, 293 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 3: I'm preaching the Gospel and these people would just you know, 294 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 3: get up from the pews and come down in tears. 295 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 3: And confess their sins before the churches except Christ's Savior. 296 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 3: We'd all sing a song praising God for a for 297 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 3: a new Christian and they would sit down and two 298 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 3: or three minutes later, the same thing would happen with 299 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 3: another person. I mean, you can just see God, you 300 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 3: can just see God's hand and in uh in what's 301 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 3: going on over there. 302 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 2: We had a missionary visit our church from Eastern Europe 303 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: and he and I was talking to my pastor about 304 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 2: it last weekend and he was saying, you know, when 305 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 2: when he came to our church, he was talking about 306 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 2: how you could actually see that there was demon possession. 307 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: And he said, I think that in the United. 308 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:56,719 Speaker 2: States, we don't see that as much because the demons 309 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 2: don't have to work us hard. 310 00:18:58,080 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: Here. 311 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 2: We have medications, people are are zoned out, you know, 312 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 2: there's just you have so much that you can step 313 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 2: away from God. But that in Eastern Europe it's a 314 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: different type of ministry there and that you see things 315 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 2: like that, and I think it's I think that's a 316 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 2: really beautiful message for young people, especially you're young people 317 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 2: in Christ even if you are if you are young 318 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 2: in faith, that is a message that like that emotion 319 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 2: is true. 320 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: You can't fake that, No. 321 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 3: You can't. No, absolutely not, absolutely not. And again, I 322 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 3: mean you know these most of the older people, they 323 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 3: grew up in atheism, and. 324 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: Was it always that was the history. 325 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 3: That well, No, I mean Russia and those countries they 326 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 3: adopted Orthodox Christianity back in the tenth century, and for 327 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 3: the most part that was their national religion for many, 328 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 3: many years. And and again, as I mentioned, the Baptist 329 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 3: churches were established in the early eighteen hundreds when German 330 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 3: Men and that missionaries came into Georgia and Ukraine and 331 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 3: began to evangelize the peasant populations. Many of the the 332 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 3: attempts at reformed died over the years, but for some reason, 333 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 3: the Lord allowed that particular movement to bear fruit throughout 334 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 3: the eighteen hundreds. And it wasn't until let's see, when 335 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 3: Stalin came in and he decided to eradicate those countries 336 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 3: of all religion. And that's when the persecution started, and 337 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 3: the persecution ran through twenty five years ago. 338 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 2: To the ability to kind of speak about the truth 339 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,719 Speaker 2: and to speak about the Lord is I'm sure there 340 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 2: are a lot of people that still have fear. 341 00:20:58,040 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 3: In some of those countries, like in some of the 342 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 3: Muslim countries, they are fearful because many of them will 343 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 3: end up in jail as a result of it. And 344 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 3: a lot of those Baptist pastors that we sponsor, they'll 345 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 3: hold summer camps and then the government will come in 346 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 3: and beat up the pastor. But they'll just come back 347 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 3: and keep doing it, you know. 348 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 2: So so yeah, there is you provide what you help 349 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 2: to provide what they need, so that even in those cases. 350 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 2: I mean that to me is just shocking because I 351 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 2: think that we are so spoiled here and we don't 352 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 2: know that we're spoiled. And because we're spoiled, I think 353 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 2: that's a risk that we take, is that we give 354 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 2: a little bit away. And that seems to be what happened. 355 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 2: I mean, that's kind of the story of history, right. 356 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 2: You can see this happen, and now. 357 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: We're trying to clow it back. 358 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 2: And yet the government would come in and beat up 359 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 2: the pastor. 360 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, they would send the thugs in 361 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 3: to beat up the pastor in some of those countries. 362 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 1: Let's take a quick commercial break. We'll continue next on 363 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: the Tutor Dixon Podcast. 364 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 2: When you talk about like the mafia and that kind 365 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 2: of thing is that is that at all intertwined with 366 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 2: the government, where if they don't like something, they just 367 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:09,959 Speaker 2: that's what they do. 368 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 3: You know, in terms of the connection between the mafia 369 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 3: and the government, obviously there probably is some level of 370 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 3: connection because you know, that's how the mafia continues to exist. 371 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 3: But yeah, it's a difficult question to answer. I'm not 372 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 3: quite sure how to answer that question. There is some 373 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 3: connection there, yeah, from what I can tell. 374 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 2: So what can people do to support what you're doing 375 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 2: and and support what the work is that's being done there. 376 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 3: Well, the first thing is our our founder had wrote 377 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 3: a book and his saying was always much prayer, much power, 378 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 3: little prayer, little power, No prayer, no power. So we 379 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,120 Speaker 3: can continue to pray for the churches and the Christians 380 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 3: over there, that God would open doors and that many 381 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 3: people would come to faith in Christ. So so for us, 382 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 3: you know, we offer a variety of different ways that people, 383 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 3: based upon their passions, can plug in. And you know, 384 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 3: we're the we're the largest provider of sound theological training 385 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 3: throughout those countries. We have we we've had a partnership 386 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 3: for many years with John MacArthur who many people know 387 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 3: has recently passed away. And you know a lot of 388 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 3: the foundations of the doctrine that we that we promote 389 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 3: is would be along the lines of what he teaches, 390 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 3: and in particular his focus on proper hermeneutics and a 391 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 3: proper and the ability to proper, properly understand God's word 392 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 3: if you're going to be out there preaching it. So 393 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 3: training is important, and then sending an evangelism is important. 394 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 3: So if people want to want to sponsor a national 395 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 3: church planting missionary, we for opportunities to do that. We 396 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 3: send great reports back and then we equip them with 397 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 3: funds to minister to, particularly families and children. So this 398 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 3: year we sponsored ninety thousand children to attend Christian Summer Camp. 399 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:22,199 Speaker 3: Over the years, through our Orphans Reborn program, we've ministered 400 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 3: to over eighty three thousand children. We do a lot 401 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 3: of humanitarian aid distribution through those churches so that they 402 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 3: can meet people in their times of need, and we 403 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 3: get great reports back from that. We have a Christmas 404 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 3: program that was built around the work of the churches 405 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 3: at Christmas time called Emmanuel's Child and they view that 406 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 3: as their most effective tool in drawing families in at 407 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 3: Christmas times so that they can hear and respond to 408 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 3: the gospel. So it's kind of a holistic program, if 409 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:59,360 Speaker 3: you will. We minister to them, you know, Christmas time, 410 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 3: many of them come to faith in Christ. We offer 411 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 3: summer camp to the families and the kids. We you know, 412 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:10,359 Speaker 3: meet their physical needs when when the need arises. And 413 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:16,640 Speaker 3: then we train the pastors so that they so that 414 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 3: they can build a strong doctrinal and theological foundation around 415 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:22,240 Speaker 3: their faith. 416 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 2: And where should they go to learn more about SGA 417 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 2: and how they can financially support or support in some 418 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 2: other way. 419 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, So our website is SGA dot org. Okay, and 420 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 3: so I'm just I thanks so much for giving the 421 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 3: opportunity to share the good things that God is doing 422 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 3: in those countries, because right now everybody's just hearing the 423 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 3: bad things. So we need to pray that God will 424 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,680 Speaker 3: God's will will continue to manifest itself. 425 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: It is so beautiful to hear these stories of I mean, 426 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: and we've seen videos. 427 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 2: We've been fortunate at our church to have videos of 428 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:01,439 Speaker 2: these young people that have said, I mean, exactly what 429 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 2: you were saying. It was so dark, life was so dark. 430 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 2: I didn't see any future. And I walked in these 431 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 2: doors and I felt a different kind of love, and 432 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:13,239 Speaker 2: that to me is so amazing because it really is 433 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 2: unlike any love you'll ever know. Absolutely, absolutely well, Michael Johnson, 434 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 2: thank you so much for sharing it with us today. 435 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:23,199 Speaker 2: Thank you very much, absolutely, and thank you all for 436 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: joining us on the Tutor Dixon podcast. 437 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 1: For this episode and others. 438 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,679 Speaker 2: Go to the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you 439 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:32,360 Speaker 2: get your podcasts, or watch it on rumble in YouTube 440 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 2: at Tutor Dixon. Thank you so much, and I have 441 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 2: a blessed day.