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As this is my last Editorial for Breakthrough I want to take a look back and trace the hand of God upon my life, saving me and calling me into His service. The last and longest period of service has been with SGA which Beth and I joined in 1982.
The ensuing years spanned the communist and post-communist period in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. During that time the Lord brought many wonderful Christians into our lives, with whom it has been a privilege to work at home and abroad. There have been the highs and lows of life but in them all the Lord has been faithful.
Looking forward I am pleased and thankful to the Lord that Council have appointed Derek Maxwell to be my successor as General Director, and John Birnie to take over Derek’s position as Field Director. I believe this is the Lord’s will for SGA as it moves into a new era of ministry with a continuity, which is so important for the stability of the work both at home and abroad.
It has been my privilege to work closely with Derek over the past seven years in his position as Field Director, when he carried out the work with great efficiency. I have always been impressed by his Godly life and his passion and vision for the spread of the Gospel in our fi elds of ministry. Having known John for many years in his pastoral ministry and as a lecturer in the Irish Baptist College, and having worked closely with him in recent years in SGA, I know he is a valuable addition to the management team.
May the Lord bless Derek and Carole and John and Dorothy as they move into their new roles. As you have faithfully supported SGA under my leadership in the past, I ask you to continue to support them in the future.
Until He comes,
William Smylie
Taking on the role of General Director after the dedicated service and spiritual leadership of William, is a huge challenge. God greatly blessed the mission during his years as General Director. William’s desire was always to glorify God and it was a great privilege to serve the Lord with him. Now we are entering a new era, and a year of celebrating God’s faithfulness. For 60 years, the Lord has been answering the prayers of SGA partners and doing the “great and mighty things” that He promised to do in Jeremiah 33:3. This was the verse that Peter Deyneka (SGA founder) claimed as he prayed for the millions of lost souls behind the iron curtain. SGA has followed Peter’s footsteps in fervent prayer and pursuing every opportunity to help believers in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia reach people for Christ. We now look back with grateful thanks for the great and mighty things God has done.
To mark this special milestone we plan a year of celebration commencing with March Conferences across UK and Ireland. Our motto for this anniversary year is “Honouring the past - building for the future.” We have much cause to give thanks for the great and mighty things God has done. You called upon God and He answered, but the future is now before us. The immensity of the task is overwhelming. Millions of souls are still waiting to hear, 1000’s of villages have no evangelical church. We must keep building for the future as we teach from generation to generation. Peter Deyneka longed to train up an army of Bible Christian workers who would be active in soul winning. We continue in this vital ministry of training nationals for the ministry in Central & Eastern Europe and Central Asia. We need your continued support as we build for the future.
Derek Maxwell
