Peter Slobodian was born in Ukraine to Catholic parents.  His father emigrated to Argentina in 1930, where he was saved reading a Ukrainian New Testament he had bought.  Seeing a better life in Argentina, Peter's father decided to bring his family there rather than return to Ukraine as planned.  He brought Peter's mother and three younger siblings to Argentina in 1936, and the family earned enough money to send for Peter in 1938.

When Peter came to Argentina, he found out that his father was a Christian.  His father required him to read the Bible and go to church.  However, Peter had no interest in religion; and when he left home to go to school, he stopped attending church.   One day Peter reluctantly found himself and a friend in a meeting held by a Russian missionary rather than at the dance they had planned to attend.  After listening to the next evening's sermon on John 14:27, Peter was under great conviction and he went forward at the invitation.  There he accepted Christ as his personal Savior.

His life changed completely.  Peter was so happy that he brought other friends to those meetings so they could hear the gospel also.  Soon he was baptized and joined the local church.  God not only saved Peter but also called him to preach.  At the age of 20, Peter began a three-year term studying at the Russian Bible Institute in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.

Mary Slobodian was born in Brazil to Baptist White Russian parents.   She was saved as a teenager during a time of family devotions led by her visiting uncle and aunt who were missionaries in Argentina.  After their visit, Mary went back with them to Argentina to study at the Russian Bible Institute where they were teaching.   She met Peter after her first year in school; and they were married after her graduation two years later.

Following their marriage and graduation from the Bible Institute, Peter started a church in Saenz Pena, Chaco, Argentina.  During the next six years, Peter continued to lead in the establishment of new churches among the many Slavic people who lived in Argentina.

Recognizing their need for further training, in 1957 the Slobodians came by faith to the United States in order to study.  They both learned the English language while earning their bachelor's degrees at Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.   While studying there, Peter established two Slavic churches among those who had immigrated to that area.  Through this experience of working in the mission field in the United States and seeing first-hand the great need and opportunity here, the Lord led the Slobodians to continue reaching the ethnic people of this country rather than to return to their missionary work in Argentina as they originally planned.

Upon graduating from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Peter and Mary moved to Chicago, a city well known for its high population of many different nationalities, including the Slavic nationalities that the Slobodians desired to reach for Christ.  After establishing a Slavic church in the Chicago area, Peter realized that the huge Spanish population of the city was also in need of sound, fundamental, Bible-preaching churches.  He could not ignore the fact that God had prepared him to work with Spanish people as well as his own people because he had learned the Spanish language while living in Argentina.  He then began working to establish Spanish- speaking churches.

In September of 1997, Peter organized Baptist Global Mission (BGM).   BGM is a unique mission which now continues with Peter's radio ministry.   Peter's priority remains to reach his own Slavic-speaking people all around the world with the truth of God's Word.  He firmly believes that the future of the fundamental movement in the CIS depends on Biblical education of the nationals.  BGM is highly involved with the teaching and training of national missionaries and pastors in Bible schools.  BGM also provides Bibles and Christian literature wherever possible.   BGM is headquartered in Fort Collins, CO.

In addition to organizing and pastoring churches in Argentina, Minneapolis, and Chicago, Peter has traveled extensively as an evangelist in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Canada, the USA and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, i.e. the former Soviet Union).  The Slobodians have also traveled to Israel, Greece, Turkey, and several East European countries.

The Slobodians' formal education did not end when they left Minneapolis.  Having studied in Europe, South America, and the United States, Peter now holds three diplomas and five earned degrees, including a Ph.D. and a Th.D.  He masters several modern languages and the Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek.   Mary has studied in Brazil, Argentina, and the United States and holds two diplomas and two earned degrees, including a Ph.D.

The Slobodians have three children.  Anna, born in Argentina, is married to Dr. Rick Shrader.  Rick founded Aletheia Baptist Ministries, which is a sub-ministry of BGM.   Through this publication and Bible Conferencing ministry, Rick assists Peter in the educational department teaching in the Bible schools in the CIS.  They have four children:  Rebekah (b. 5/4/76), Michael (b. 9/12/77), Rachel (b. 8/9/83), and Matthew (b. 12/30/84).  Samuel, also born in Argentina, married Amy J. Lindner.  Sam is President of BIEM (Baptist International Evangelistic Ministries), which is now headquartered in Indianapolis, IN.  They have five children:  Sarah (b. 8/12/80), Susan (b. 8/29/82), Steven (b. 6/17/84), Sharon (b. 8/12/86), and Stephanie (b. 3/2/89).  Deborah, born in the United States, is married to Stanley R. Rea and they live in Lockport, IL.  Deborah and Stan assist at BGM in many areas as they are able.  They have two children:  Roscoe Peter (b. 2/22/96), and Silas Anthony (b. 12/26/98).

Peter and Mary currently reside in Brownsburg, IN where they are able to work closely with their daughter, Anna, and her husband, Rick.  They praise the Lord for the many blessings He has bestowed upon them throughout their lives, and for the ministry God has entrusted to them.