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. 

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.”