Florida Conference Organize First Official Slavic Mission Group

Laura Dancek

Bible worker and Slavic leader Alexey Novosolev (center) presents the mission group’s name on a T-shirt during their organization ceremony at Port Charlotte Church.

Georgy Rodriguez

Members of Three Angels Slavic Mission Group pose with their certificate of organization. The mission group is hosted by the mother church, Port Charlotte Church, and senior pastor Ben Shurtliff and associate pastor Gavin Forbes.

Ted Stringer

Founding member Viktor Poperechnyy (right) addresses the congregation with translator Anatoly Gubceac.

Ted Stringer

History was made on September 6, 2025, as Three Angels Slavic became the first Slavic mission group organized within Florida Conference. Hosted by its mother church, Port Charlotte, Fla., Church, the milestone moment was marked by the presentation of a certificate of recognition from Walter Castro, Florida Conference ministerial associate for church planting and volunteer lay pastors.

The congregation chose its name to reflect the group’s mission to share the everlasting Gospel with Slavic neighbors, including Ukrainians, Russians, and Moldovans. Many of the congregation’s more than 70 members have relocated to Port Charlotte due to the war in Ukraine.

For Viktor Poperechnyy, the journey of Three Angels Slavic began with his family’s move to Florida. He recalls overhearing his mother tell a realtor they needed to find a home with a big living room and dining room, explaining that she wanted space to host Friday evening services. In February 2021, the group held its first Friday night Vespers at her home.

The group began meeting on Sabbath mornings in the Port Charlotte Church’s library, but their membership grew steadily. “We soon met one other Slavic family, and then another, and then another,” said Poperechnyy. “Before long, we outgrew the library and moved to a larger room, and not long after, we outgrew that space, too!” They now meet in the church’s grand hall, allowing them more room to expand.

With so much growth came the need for leadership, guidance, and organization. Shortly after making this a matter of prayer, Alexey Novosolev arrived from Russia. With vast experience in both pastoring and teaching, Novosolev became the group’s Bible worker and Slavic leader, and has guided them in spiritual growth and practical outreach. Under his leadership, the group has hosted seminars for newly arrived immigrants on topics such as legal assistance, tax preparation, and marriage enrichment.

Poperechnyy and other members are grateful for how the Lord has led their congregation, even expressing that God has gone above and beyond their prayer requests. He adds, “We feel blessed to be the very first recognized Slavic group in Florida Conference, and can’t wait to see how the Lord will continue to grow us.”

Florida | November 2025