SGA Encountering Hope
Encountering Hope is brought to you by SGA (Slavic Gospel Association). On each episode, you'll hear inspiring stories of pastors and churches serving in very difficult circumstances in Russia, the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. And you'll be blessed by how God is transforming lives and adding to His Kingdom. We pray these stories of the Lord's life-changing power will enrich your life and that you will be encouraged each time you encounter hope.
Founded by Belarusian immigrant to the United States in 1934, SGA is headquartered near Chicago, Illinois.We help reach "forgotten" orphans, widows and families in 10 countries across the former Soviet Union and Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel through an extensive grassroots network of local evangelical missionary pastors and churches. These faithful servants care for physical needs and proclaim the life-transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ.SGA also strengthens indigenous evangelical churches through training for pastors, evangelists, and children's workers.
Through Encountering Hope, you will learn how SGA is sharing the Gospel, equipping the church, and helping the forgotten. For more information, please visit SGA.org
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 7 minutes
- Episodes
- 180
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2024
Episode 180 Sowing Tiny Seeds: Reaping Huge Growth
It’s a surprising truth that often the largest plants spring from the tiniest seeds. That’s what Dima discovered. Listen how a SGA-supported Belarus summer camp had a profound effect on three young, …
Episode 179 Rescued: Dmitri’s Story of Hope
Loneliness can be one of the most difficult trials to endure. Vyacheslav is an SGA-supported pastor who heard of a trapped young man, who felt entirely alone. Alone, but not forgotten … Support the w…
Episode 178 Compassion in Action: SGA’s Mission
Jesus was often moved by empathy to help the distressed and dispirited. So how do we model compassion in action? Nikolai, an SGA-supported missionary pastor, shares how he and his church are putting …
Episode 177 Weary Hope: Light Through the Darkness
For those who have lived in a war zone during a conflict, it’s hard to fully grasp what daily life is like. Today, Pastor Sergei shares his experience of faithfully serving Christ and his people in t…
Episode 176 True Change: Justified through Mercy
In Far East Russia, Oleg discovered true change needed to begin in his hard heart. Then, what was predicted to be his life’s end was instead a new life in Christ! With a new heart for Jesus, Oleg sou…
Episode 175 God’s Wisdom: God’s Work
Human wisdom doesn’t seek a painful path to draw closer to God. Yet this is how God, in His wisdom, reached Olga. She’s just one of the great number of Ukrainians brought to repentance and faith in C…
Episode 174 Faithfulness: Endurance Through Trials
Though Pastor Viktor has endured great loss, he faithfully ministers in a village in Belarus. He’s seen only limited fruit from people who have endured loss too—including the effects of radiation fro…
Episode 173 Busy Lives: Divine Appointments
Pastor Mishakar faces inconvenient, yet divine, appointments often in Central Asia. He encountered a lady on the roadside on one recent ministry trip. And rather than hurry on by, he chose to stop a…
Episode 172 Bold Witness: Simple Obedience
The war in Ukraine has severely impacted the ministries of Pastor Roman’s church. But more people are hearing the Gospel today! It’s simply God’s message, carried along by God’s people, impowered by …
Episode 171 Filtering False Voices: Listening to God
SGA-supported pastor Dmitri is working to share the Gospel with those who are distant from Christ. He shares the story of Elena and how she overcame her struggle to hear God’s voice amidst the world’…
Episode 170 Seeking the Savior: Not the Handyman
SGA-supported missionary pastor Denis ministers to those who are suffering greatly. While his heart aches for them, his goal is their salvation. Listen to Katrina’s story of recognizing her sin and c…
Episode 169 Lost Causes: Found by Christ
From an SGA-supported prison ministry comes the story of Tatyana. To anyone who observed, she might have looked like a “lost cause.” Listen to how, with the healing power of Christ, Tatyana was able …
Episode 168 Katya’s Frantic Cry: God’s Loving Answer
When facing the reality of not feeding her family, Katya saw God’s providence. But she does not see Jesus. Pray with Pastor Yura and his wife Luda who are ministering to Katya in Israel. May the eyes…
Episode 167 Orphan No More: Sevilya’s New Family
Pastor Sergei lives in a predominately Muslim city in Central Asia. He knows first-hand the cost of coming to faith in Jesus. Yet Sergei’s joy in Christ flows to all. This includes one orphan girl na…
Episode 166 A Loving Family: Yura’s Dream
Pastor Valery has met many who have not experienced the sweetness of a loving family. He recently held a VBS in Belarus and encountered a young man named Yura who lived such a life. But God saw Yura …
Episode 165 Saintly Gathering: Where Joy Abounds
Ivan is an SGA-supported pastor in Belarus. His love for Christ and the church drives him to minister to those in his community. He shares how his local church is working hard to keep the hunger for …
Episode 164 Faith Unfolding: Ministry Against Odds
Religious freedom in the former Soviet Union is at a premium. SGA-supported Pastor Nikolai shares how he and his team are working to share the Gospel wherever possible as the weather allows for more …
Episode 163 Youth Rising: Defying Opposition
Maxim is an SGA-supported missionary pastor in Far East Russia. He shares the stories of teens, Yevgeny and Karina, who have a strong desire to know and serve God, even in the midst of great resistan…
Episode 162 Future Club: The Church of Tomorrow
The youth of today are the church of tomorrow. SGA-supported Pastor Nikolai is working to reach unchurched kids. Learn more about “Future Club” and why Gospel-based ministry is so important for today…
Episode 161 Hope Amidst Cancer: Sonya’s Story
God gives us the ability to thrive in times of trial. We are able to rest in His comfort as we navigate life’s challenges. SGA-supported Pastor Alexei shares how one teen showed great faith as she ba…