I have books to read, too many at times.
It seems for everyone I buy five are on
the shelf that need to be read.
Twice
Born Russian: The Captivating
Story of Peter Deyneka, Sr. has been on my
shelf for five years. Wow – that’s
too long! So, I said to self, “It
is time to read this book I picked-up during the 2007 Shepherd’s Conference in
California.” So, it went with me
on my vacation to Maui.
What gripped my heart through reading about the life of
Peter Deyneka? God used an
ordinary man, available to God, to do the extraordinary. Only God can do that. How?
When Peter was 15 years old his parents sent him from
Belarus to the United States with the goal that he would work to earn enough
wages to send back to Russia to support his parents and siblings. Upon arriving in America, Peter was
confronted with the Gospel message and the good news that Jesus Christ died on
the cross for His sins. “But God
demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us” (Romans 5:8).
The message of the Gospel proclaimed by Dr. Paul Radar at Moody Memorial
Church in Chicago changed Peter’s life.
In 1920, at the age of 21, God drew Peter to himself. From then on, all he wanted to do was
to tell everyone he could, including his fellow Russian countrymen, about the
good news of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life through Him.
In 1922, Peter pursued additional Bible training and
attended St. Paul Bible College in Minnesota. It was not easy to attend Bible
school when Peter’s primary language was Russian. In fact, he wanted to quit. A professor enlisted a few of Peter’s friends to help
him learn English. With their assistance, he learned the language and excelled
in his classes. During Peter’s
first year in school, he led 65 people to Christ through a street evangelism
ministry.
Peter desired to return to Russia to share the Gospel with
his fellow countrymen. In the early 1920’s, Russia faced one of its greatest
challenges as a country: severe
drought and starvation. Approximately 5 million people died. A letter from Peter’s family, the first
one he received since arriving in the United States five years later, brought
the news that three brothers and two sisters perished due to starvation. The news devastated him. He could hardly eat or sleep, and spent
entire nights in prayer for his family.
Peter sent home as much money as he could and prayed for an
opportunity to return to his country as a missionary. He wrote long letters that included Scripture and gospel
tracts as he urged his family to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. He prayed he would be able to return to
Russia to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. His prayers were answered when a number of people gave him
financial gifts to purchase a boat ticket to return to Russia in 1925.
Upon returning home, Peter learned that the starvation had
killed everyone in his family except for his youngest brother and mother. People in his village were intrigued to
hear about Peter’s new faith in Jesus Christ and religion in America. Villagers surrounded the meager home he
lived in and pleaded to know more about his faith. He came out to see them and offered a prayer of
thanksgiving for safe journey back home to Russia. This was the first time most of the villagers had heard
someone pray. Many asked if they
could learn to pray like he did. He then began to preach the Word. This was the first time anyone had
heard the gospel preached before.
He started a 7 PM and ended at midnight. The villagers wanted him to go on but his brother chased
them out. They returned a
sunrise to hear more.
Peter began to preach in other villages and many who came to
hear him walked for over 20 miles and were not satisfied unless the meeting
lasted for at least three hours.
Peter saw how spiritually hungry they were and this fueled his
compassion for the people and proclaiming the gospel.
Opposition to the gospel came from an unexpected source –
his mother and brother. Peter
remained firm in the faith and preached the gospel.
Through God working in Peter’s life
Slavic Gospel Association was established to launch more missionaries to proclaim the gospel
throughout the world.
During his
season of service for the Lord the Gospel was preached in more than 22
countries around the world, with more than 140 missionaries preaching in 20
languages.
Peter was a man of prayer and lived the example of his
motto, “Much prayer – much power.”
I have books to read, too many at times. It seems for everyone I buy five are on
the shelf that need to be read. Twice
Born Russian: The Captivating
Story of Peter Deyneka, Sr. has been on my
shelf for five years. Wow – that’s
too long! So, I said to self, “It
is time to read this book I picked-up during the 2007 Shepherd’s Conference in
California.” So, it went with me
on my vacation to Maui. 
