God said to the Prophet Habakkuk: “Write the vision … for the vision is yet for an appointed time.” (Habakkuk 2:2-3)
40 Years ago God gave me a vision to reach the people in the Soviet Union with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But He first sent me to Bolivia, South America. (Click here to see Walter preaching in Mexico City in 1984) It was there I met Missionary Evangelists Tony and Marge Abram and a year later I was able to visit with them, the Soviet Union for the first time. It was a time when the Gospel could not be preached freely. For almost 2 decades God sent me to many nations but the yearning remained to return to the Soviet Union. In 1991 I was invited by Evangelist Morris Cerullo to participate in a Crusade and School of Ministry in Moscow. It was there that I heard the cry of the pastors – help us evangelize Moscow and other cities of the Soviet Union. At first I could not understand this in light of the well known ministries who were coming there. But, then I realized that there were only a handful of churches that were already full and there was no place to bring new believers.
Walter with Evangelist Tony Abram in Bolivia Salvation and Healing Crusades
Things began to move rapidly. About this time, we were invited to move to New York and work with the churches there as well as to coordinate overseas outreaches. As we were in the process of moving the Soviet Union collapsed and the religious freedom many of us were praying for finally came. We began to take pastors to the former Soviet Union and began to evangelize Moscow and surrounding areas. We held the crusades in large auditoriums and brought people to Christ. We then presented them with a pastor who was selected by the local leaders to lead the new congregation. We provided support and some basic equipment to get them on their way.
We began to do the same in Kiev, St. Petersburg, Kharkov, Kherson, Odessa, and other cities. There was an evangelism explosion as we saw thousands respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make a commitment to follow Him. We began to plant new churches where there were no churches or very few. Pastors in America and Canada were asked to get involved in this great harvest and church planting effort.
Bolivia Salvation and Healing Crusades
In 1993 we moved back to California and established Global Vision Ministries and continued what we already started. While attending a missions conference in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, God gave me a vision to plant 300 new churches. This seemed impossible in light of the circumstances; the cost factor, the size of our ministry, the lack of resources. I said to God: “I know we can’t do this in our strength or ability but God, I believe You can make it happen.” As we continued the church planting effort, the resources were stretched to a maximum and soon there was a shortage of leaders who could be pastors in these new churches. The Bishop of the Union of Evangelical Churches in Ukraine urged that we start training new leaders in short term Bible Schools in order to raise up new pastors, evangelists and missionaries. He even offered his offices in Kiev for the first school. We had a great group of students from all over Ukraine, some of whom had already been in ministry but lacked formal training.
We soon expanded the schools to St. Petersburg, Russia, and other cities. Church planting began to multiply and the vision was not only fulfilled but greatly surpassed. Over 500 churches were planted. Graduates are planting more churches. Churches are planting other churches. A number of the churches are celebrating their 20th anniversary.
As I write this letter, there Bible Schools in progress in St. Petersburg, Russia and Zaporizhia, Ukraine. In a few days we will start another school in Donetsk Region of Ukraine and continue in Novosibirsk, Russia. God has blessed us with a wonderful team of teachers from the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, The Netherlands, Taiwan, Bahamas, South Africa, Japan, as well as great local teachers from Russia, Ukraine and Armenia. They sacrificially serve and support these schools. These schools require a lot of coordination, prayer and finances.
Walter with Evangelist Tony Abram in Bolivia Salvation and Healing Crusades
Please pray and ask God how you could be involved in this great harvest. God’s rewards are shared by those who sow, those who water and those who reap. We are all workers together with Christ. It is His kingdom we are advancing.
We thank God for the victory over every obstacle the enemy has attempted to place in our way. The Bible states: “No weapon formed against us shall prosper…” Please agree and stand with us.
Your prayers are needed as never before! Please let us know you are praying.