Dear Friends, 

Just a few weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio, four of our staff members had a beautiful opportunity to connect with so many young people who have a deep interest in the Lord’s work and who want to dedicate their lives to it. Being at this recent GYC conference was a unique experience for us, as the ministry booth was divided into two sections, representing our two entities: Streams of Light International and Streams of Light Training Institute. 

Our team was thrilled to connect with dozens of young people who are now prayerfully considering dedicating their lives to mission and to reaching the big cities. Thank you to those who stopped by our booth to say Hello, pick up copies of our new daily devotional Mission Onward, and attend our exclusive meeting about Streams of Light Training Institute. For both arms of this ministry, we are witnessing the Lord blessing us with powerful divine appointments.

Just before attending the GYC convention, our VP of Operations, Johnny Henderson, led a small group of dedicated missionaries on a mini mission trip in Columbus, Ohio. In just a couple days, 4,500 books were distributed, and many requested Bible studies. On Christmas Day, volunteers revisited families who had signed up for Bible studies to sing and pray with them. Special efforts like these are more frequently happening among churches taking up the work of reaching every home in their communities. 

In recently being reminded of the quote below, I was impressed to continue to pray that this work would multiply quickly:  

“We carry too light a burden in behalf of souls unsaved. There never was a time when the world needed us more than it needs us now. All about us are cities unwarned. Souls are perishing, and what are we doing? We need to have a burden for these souls, such as many of us have never experienced.” Ministry to the Cities, pg. 26

Friends, can you sense the urgency? If there was ever a time to dedicate time, energy, and finances into the work, now is the time. There are unmet needs that only you can meet and unreached souls that only you can reach. How is God calling you to redeem the time? Allow me to share how God is bringing laborers into His harvest and meeting needs in very practical and hands-on ways. 

As I write this letter, we are just about to welcome volunteers on campus for the Oak Haven Renovation Mission Trip. In one week’s time, four of our campus buildings will be prepared for our students to join us for our 10-month Pioneer Missionary Course beginning in March. We are grateful to the skilled and faithful workers who are answering this call to serve.

Just recently on 3ABN Today, a special program aired titled, “Answer the Call: Streams of Light Missionary Training.” In this program, SOLI’s board chair, Jay Gallimore, together with Johnny Henderson and myself were privileged to share about the Pioneer Missionary Course. The application deadline of February 15th is rapidly approaching, and we appreciate each individual who has shared about this opportunity with the mission-minded young people they know. Truly, this Pioneer Missionary Course will be a launching point for greater efforts to reach the large cities with the three angels’ messages. I want to invite you to watch this program, and I have more invitations as well.  

As mentioned last month, we are planning a special Dedication Weekend from March 7-9, 2025, and I want to personally invite you to join us. This event is a special dedication of the campus, our students, and our staff. Programming will run from Friday evening to Sunday mid-morning. More information about our weekend program will be available on our website soon.

Now, for those who cannot commit to our 10-month training program, we have a growing list of mission opportunities. Looking further ahead to March 16-20, 2025, we’re partnering with ASI Southern Union Chapter, the Georgia-Cumberland Conference, local Adventist churches, and Wildwood Lifestyle Center to distribute up to 50,000 copies of The Great Controversy and health magazines across Chattanooga, Tennessee. More information is available on our website about this opportunity. A mission trip to the country of Liechtenstein and to the city of Birmingham is also being planned for June 2025. More missions to follow later in this calendar year. We hope you can join us for one of these outreach efforts, each of them truly a mission like no other. 

Friends, my encouragement and challenge for all of us is this: Let us purpose, from this day forward, to spend more quality time with Jesus. Let us draw closer to Him, do more for Him, and do it better. Let us determine to hold on to His hand until He blesses us with His Spirit, for it is only through His Spirit that we can finish the work.

Looking ahead, we see a year full of marvelous possibilities and great challenges, and it may very well be the busiest year in our ministry’s history. Martin Luther is quoted as saying, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours of the day in prayer.” Similarly, the Bible describes the experience of Jesus, even amid a packed schedule and great sacrifice: “He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). This is our goal in 2025. 

Prayer is heaven’s ordained means of success in the battle with sin and the development of Christian character. The divine influences that come in answer to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the petitioner all that he or she seeks. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike spirit, for wisdom and strength to do His work—whatever God has promised, we may ask, and the promise is: “Ye shall receive.” The Acts of the Apostles, p. 563-564

Let’s follow heaven’s formula for success. In doing so, we will be able to fulfill God’s dream for each one of us.

Together in Mission,

 

Oleg Lotca
President, Streams of Light International