Happy 90th Birthday to John Sergey

Today is John Sergey’s 90th birthday. Just a few minutes ago I called to wish him happy birthday. I first met John and Helen in 1989 when we moved to Oak Park. Back then he was 72 years old, and he and Helen were still traveling to Russia at least once and sometimes twice a year. In the 1930s God called him to minister to the Russian people. Later he founded the World Fellowship of Slavic Evangelical Christians. During the long decades of Communism in Russia, he built up the church through a radio ministry that reached millions of people. He also produced numerous articles and sermons that were translated into Russian and widely distributed. In 1992 Marlene and I had the privilege of going with John and Helen to St. Petersburg for the dedication of the Temple of the Gospel. This picture was taken during that trip. Helen went to be with Jesus several years ago. Even though John’s health has declined, he is still full of vigor and joy in the Lord. Today he declared over the phone, “God has been so good to me! I thank him for his goodness, his grace, his mercy, his faithfulness. It is only by his kindness that I have seen my 90th birthday.” And he continued to testify to me how the Lord has sustained him throughout all the years.

Many years ago John showed me Psalm 92:12-15.

The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the LORD is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

John Sergey is the living embodiment of those verses. On his 90th birthday, he is still bearing fruit for the Lord.