General Press Release

Author: Michael Gott

Release Date: Upon receiving

From time to time the people of God are given an evangelist with an unusual sense of purpose.  Michael Gott is such a person.  A courageous and authentic spokesman for the Christian faith, Michael Gott initiated a unique international ministry with a daring exploratory visit to the communist world over thirty years ago.  Today that ministry has grown and has swept throughout all the former communist world.

During the summer of 2007 Michael Gott and a volunteer team of over 100 from various states will conduct evangelistic events throughout Ukraine, expecting to have a combined attendance of over 20,000 per event.

It all began with a train journey into the communist bloc while he was a student at Edinburgh University in the late 1960’s.  Contacts made during that initial trip blossomed into a strong friendship and trust relationship with the Baptist leaders throughout Eastern Europe.  Gott says, “This initial visit long ago served to awaken within me a sense of a compelling calling, and I have pursued it fervently and with confidence that it was God’s particular purpose for my life.”

Over succeeding years, Michael Gott and his mission teams have encouraged people of all walks of life to find a personal relationship with Christ and to commit themselves to a vibrant spiritual walk found in Christ alone.

Tens of thousands of Eastern Europeans have come to experience Christ personally over three decades.  In those darker days all this was often done despite communist governmental harassment.  Because of its fearless devotion to the downtrodden believers in the Eastern bloc, this evangelistic ministry has attracted the attention of Christians around the world as a model of effective evangelistic ministry in a hostile environment and as an example of first century Christianity in this twentieth century world.

Rev. Anatoly Sokolov of Moscow said, “Long before it was popular to visit Eastern Europe, when it was dangerous and difficult, Michael Gott was here with us, standing true to Jesus.”  A Romanian Baptist spokesman commented, “We will not forget those who were faithful to us in our time of suffering; Michael Gott is among them.”

The work and witness of Michael Gott is a dramatic testimony to the power of uncompromising Christianity that liberates the lives of people of all walks of life.  That ministry is now at the full force of its impact.