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Moldova is a small landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with a picturesque countryside of hills, forests and vineyards, it is bordered by Romania and Ukraine. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe with a range of socio-economic problems. Currently five per cent of the population are refugees from Ukraine.
Our Director in Moldova is Pastor Victor Antoci, who leads the Pentecostal Church in Nisporeni and oversees ten other churches in nearby rural villages, which have been planted from Nisporeni. Many people in this region are living in very poor housing and often struggling to afford the basics of life. There are a lot of problems caused by alcohol addiction and elderly people are often without family support due to economic migration.
We are able to send practical aid such as clothing, bedding, shoes, toys and games equipment, shoebox gifts and medical supplies to help.
Pastor Victor (pictured below, helping an elderly lady with her new coat), and teams from the churches that he leads regularly visit a number of disabled and elderly people, who survive on a very low pension. They take hot meals, as well as aid sent from the UK, and help in other practical ways. The churches all know their local communities well and make sure that help gets to the people most in need. They are also providing ongoing support for refugees from Ukraine, some of whom are pictured above selecting clothing and bedding from the Storehouse at Nisporeni. The teams share the good news of Jesus and pray with those they are supporting practically, they ask for prayer for hearts open to the Gospel.
Trustee Rose Foulds is our Moldova Co-ordinator and has instigated the ‘Storehouse’ project, whereby the churches have a room stocked with clothes, bedding, shoes, toiletries, nappies etc. so aid is ready for church members to distribute, or for local people and Ukrainian refugees to visit and select the aid they need. Rose,(pictured above right, at Cioresti Storehouse in orange cardigan) says “It’s always wonderful to visit Moldova and for supporters to see all that God is doing.”
The church at Nisporeni ministers to children through a daily after school club, this is a safe place for children whilst their parents are at work, where they learn about Jesus’ love for them, have a nutritious meal and enjoy games and craft. Sunday schools run at all the churches and over the summer children’s camps (below left) take place in a number of villages. Hundreds children and teenagers have great fun with sports and activities, and have time to think about God through Bible teaching, prayer and worship.
The UK Vision Mission Team, led by optician Peter Booth (pictured), have visited Moldova, seeing nearly 3,000 patients over two ten day visits. They were based at Nisporeni church and had day visits to other villages including Losova, Vornicheni and Calimanesti. The church families were pleased to welcome lots of people who wouldn’t normally come into the church, there was a great atmosphere as neighbours chatted and people tried out their new glasses reading Bibles.
Other evangelism projects are in place visiting schools, and holding special outreach events throughout the year. After a particularly well attended Mother’s Day event, Pastor Victor said, “On the Sunday there were so many people at church that we did not have enough chairs for many of them! We thank the Lord for this opportunity to help so many needy people and proclaim the gospel. Pray that the seed sown will bear fruit, we thank you for all your support.“
