Issue 27 ~ April 7, 2025
A SLAVIC BAPTIST MISSION UPDATE
I am writing theses notes from the beautiful state of New Hampshire. There is still banks of snow on the ground and ice on the lakes and rivers. Dolly and I arrived here on Saturday for two meetings. The first meeting (Sunday – Wednesday) is with our friend, Pastor Joel Nason, and the good people of Heritage Baptist Church in Laconia, NH. We were here about three years ago in a Mission Conference and got snowed out!
The second meeting (Thursday-Sunday) is with Pastor Chris Williams and his church family at Community Baptist in Rochester, NH. This is a Bible/Mission Conference. On Saturday I will be speaking at their Sportsman Banquet! When Pastor Chris was installed as pastor three years ago, the church brought us up, and I had the privilege of preaching in that special service. So, we are glad to be back in New England.
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The ongoing war started by Russia over three years ago continues to devastate the people of Ukraine. Derek and Carl, and the guests that they take over to teach at SBI see (firsthand) the effects of war. Humanitarian aid continues to go out on a regular basis from the camp in western Ukraine.
Last week the headlines of The Moscow Times (an independent newspaper) stated, “Russian Markets Reel From Trump Tariffs, Oil Price Collapse.” The article goes on to report that, “The Moscow Exchange was down 8.5% at the end of trading on Friday (April 4) with $23.7 billion in market capitalization wiped out in two days. Russia’s stock market has suffered its worst week in more that two years in response to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs and a drop in global oil prices.” I mention this because everywhere I go people are asking about the war and its effects throughout the world. None of us know the outcome of this war nor the outcome of the decisions being made by world leaders, including our president. It is not my purpose nor place in this newsletter to give any opinion about politics.
It is obvious that we live in an uncertain world today, but we do not have an uncertain God.
He is not only sovereign over our lives, but also over all nations.
WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT HE IS IN CONTROL!
Last night I preached from Psalm 4. King David wrote this Psalm late in life and under great “distress” from Absolom’s rebellion. He asks the question in verse 6, “Who will show us any good?” He gives us good counsel in our time of distress by saying, “… put your trust in the LORD!” He ends this Psalm by reminding us what God did for him in the midst of his distress. God can also do this for us! “Thou hast put gladness in my heart... I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” These are great verses that bring us back to the truth that in the midst of our distress our God will always… always, show us good!
This year we began raising funds for our national pastors who have lost their jobs due to the war. We now support three of them. Without this support they would not be able to feed their families and continue pastoring their churches. All three of these pastors and their churches are in the east where the war is raging. Their names are Nicholey, Efgeny, and Aleic. We are thankful for those who have recently come alongside with financial support for them and their families.
Derek has found two parcels of property outside of Kyiv and, by God’s grace, has purchased the first property. We are getting close to the purchase of the second adjacent parcel. We are presently raising funds for the final purchase and for the renovations of both buildings. They will house the New Hope Baptist Church, an apartment for Pastor Dima and his family, as well as an apartment for visiting preachers. In the future, as God provides, we will be able to have an auditorium that will seat around 200 for the church and also serve as our chapel for Slavic Baptist Institute. In time, we are trusting the Lord that there will be dorms for our students and a dining commons. The work goes on as God continues to open doors in Ukraine.
So, with all these needs, we ask that you continue praying for THE PEACE OF UKRAINE AND THE PROVISIONS FOR SBM & SBI.
As most you know… we have been praying for Derek as he recuperates from torn retina surgery. He believes the doctor will clear him to get back to his schedule in the next few weeks. If you know anything about this delicate surgery, you cannot fly or travel above 1,500 feet until the retina completely reattaches itself to the eye.
It is always good to get phone calls from Pastors that we have been with who begin supporting or increase their present monthly support to Slavic Baptist Mission. We have had two new churches come on board with us this year. In February, I was with Bayview Baptist Church in Laurel, DL to preach in the missions conference and give an SBM update. Pastor Dan Hatfield (the interim pastor) recently called to say they have increased their monthly support by $150.00. I wrote the church and told them what a great help this is to SBM. I could tell when I was with them that God was at work in hearts, especially after the service in which I showed our video.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support for SBM. Thank you for your prayers for Dolly and me as we travel representing SBM. At the foot of this letter is our updated prayer list with some specific prayer requests.
For the sake of His glory and the gospel,
Rick and Dolly Arrowood
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Derek as he recovers from his surgery. He will miss the May session of SBI; however, Carl is going over to lead the session and Pastor Pavlo will be helping him;
- Our summer SBI session in May;
- The two parcels of property in Kyiv;
- For the war to end with peace and democracy returning to Ukraine;
- Summer & Winter Camps;
- Abby Arrowood, our granddaughter, will have another procedure this summer.
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