I got saved because 130 years ago a church just like yours gave to a Missionary going to Russia. I am not Russian, and I did not grow up in Russia, but in 1992 I graduated from high school and took the Russian language as one of my majors in college. In order to learn the Russian language I began to teach Russian immigrants English.

Modern day Baptist missions began in Russia in 1867. Missionaries were sent, they saw people saved, and planted churches. The great great grand kids of the people who accepted Christ continued to try to follow Him as best they knew how, through much persecution. When the country of Russia opened up, many of these folks immigrated to the United States. These were the people to which I began to teach English. They were the legacy of missionary labors many years ago, but the labor was still bearing fruit. They invited me to their church. The very first time I heard the Gospel was in the Russian language. Shortly there after I accepted Christ.

I accepted Christ because a church just like yours gave to a missionary going to Russia over 130 years ago. What would God want to do with the next 130 years. There people who are not even born yet waiting to hear the Gospel from a church just like yours. I can track my salvation directly back to a Missionary. If you go back far enough in your spiritual history you will find a Missionary as well. People do not get saved by accident. They get saved because churches just like yours give to missions. Thank you for your support of missions so that people just like me could hear the Gospel.