As I read those words, they rang true in my own heart.  Satan is, indeed, deeply entrenched in this village.  His evil power has bound the Ukrainian people of Balki in unbelief, alcoholism, and the darkness of sin.  We see it around us every day.  Yet, God has called us and opened an opportunity to invade this territory in Jesus’ name and shine salvation’s light in the darkness!  

  How we need that “interceding group of believers” to agree with us in prayer as we step into this uncharted territory!   Now, more than ever before, we sense our need for our prayer supporters in America to stand on the front lines of this battle with us and pray down the gates of hell!    

  In a society where many seem impervious to the desperate need of their souls, the Lord often gives us reminders that there are those out there, waiting to be touched, who are open and hungry for salvation.

  A few weeks ago, a couple of men from the gas company stopped by our home to do the annual inspection.  During their inspection, we invited them to sit down and drink some tea and have some cookies.  We provided them with some Christian literature and calendars as gifts and they were genuinely grateful.

  On Sunday, after the morning Easter service, I was surprised to see one of those men walk up after the service and ask to speak with me.  His name was Sergei, and that church service was the first time he had ever heard the gospel.  He told me of his troubled and violent past and asked, “How can I be free of the guilt and the torment from my past?”  

  Once again, I urged him to see that the thing of primary importance was to be reconciled with God and to have his sins forgiven and his conscience cleansed through faith in Christ.  “I’ve never believed in God,” he said.  “But, after hearing what you preached today, I want to.  How?  How can I believe?”  

  I told Sergei that faith comes by hearing, and encouraged him to read God’s Word with an open heart and to come back to church so that he could hear the Word of God and communicate with believers.  He told me that he would do so and I assured him that I would pray for him.

  As I think of our ministry center, and the thousands of people in our village, I know that there are other “Sergeis”  out there; others whom God is preparing and convicting so that they will be ready to respond to His good news of forgiveness and salvation.  I don’t know who they are, but God does!  

  Please help us to pray that God will lead us to those souls and that, in faith and the authority of Jesus’ name, we will “invade the Devil’s territory and set the captives free!”