In 1934, Russian emigré Peter Deyneka formed the Slavic Gospel Association (SGA), a missionary effort aimed at his homeland. In 1975, Deyneka’s son, Peter, Jr., took the helm and has been nationally recognized as a leader of Soviet missions for nearly 17 years in the position. Last month, however, the Deyneka family’s six-decade association with SGA came to an end when Peter, Jr., and his wife, Anita, announced they were retiring from SGA in order to form a new organization, Peter Deyneka USSR Ministries.
According to the Deynekas, the new ministry will focus primarily on networking, “linking key Western organizations and individuals to Soviet churches and parachurch organizations for the purpose of nationwide evangelization.” Denied visas to the USSR for 13 years because of their Christian work, the couple now hopes to move to Moscow with their two children, possibly as soon as next month.
Deyneka acknowledged to CHRISTIANITY TODAY that his action was taken in part because of management changes within SGA and differences between himself and the SGA board. In June, the board voted unanimously to change Deyneka’s title from president to president emeritus and directed him to spend virtually all of his time in fund raising and public relations for SGA within the United States.
“My vision for the scope and future of ministries to the USSR was becoming different from that of the board,” Deyneka said, adding that his heart “was still in ministry.”
SGA board chairman Evon Hedley said management changes were needed because the organization has grown so rapidly within recent years. The ministry, which included only 10 workers in 1975 when Peter, Jr., became president, currently employs 110 workers at its headquarters in Wheaton, Illinois. Its work includes literature production and distribution, radio evangelism, and pastoral training in the Soviet Union.
“We regret that [Deyneka] has made this step.… We wish him godspeed,” Hedley said, adding that the move will in no way affect the focus or ministry of SGA.
Ministry spokesman Dwight Gibson admitted that with the departure of the high-profile Deynekas, SGA could face the possibility of a loss of donations, but said SGA has never been “a personality-based organization.”
Anita Deyneka downplayed the significance of their departure. “Our commitment has always been to the evangelization of the Soviet Union, not just to an organization,” she said. “We feel Peter’s father would be very pleased at the fact that we are moving to the Soviet Union, which is something he had always hoped he could do.”
