Since coming to faith at the age of 12, Marina Tapcova’s desire has been to reach young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Originally from Moldova, Marina attended the SGA Mission School in Balti before moving to Khakassia, C Russia to serve the Lord.
MARINA, WHAT IS YOUR MAIN MINISTRY?
My ministry is to bring the Gospel to children and their families. I go to places where there are no churches, gather the children for activities, visit their families and tell them about Jesus. Since last year, God has called me to teach Christian teenagers. Often this part of the church remains unnoticed and uninvolved in Christian service. Although they often desire to serve, they have no experience or even know how to be involved. We provide them with training in evangelism and communication and I take them with me to the villages where I visit.
HAVE THE DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA IMPACTED YOUR MINISTRY?
God controls everything and nothing happens without His will. The families with whom I work are connected to this situation. Some have sons, husbands, brothers who were mobilized into the army, while others have had to bury them. Very often they ask questions that are difficult to answer. In every family we pray and ask God for peace.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN MINISTRY?
When other Christians support me and get involved. That’s why I constantly keep praying that God will ‘send out labourers into His field’. Every year I understand how huge this ‘field’ is. Only God has the power to move Christians to serve. Diana, one my girls, has started to go on mission trips on her own and I see how God works in her life.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
To stay awake, to stay strong in Christ. Something is constantly happening, or circumstances arise that knock me down. Again and again, I come to the conclusion that without God I cannot continue this ministry.
Pray for God to give wisdom in communicating with teenagers, and for their spiritual growth.
Pray for preparations for summer camps and mission trips. All the organizational issues require a lot of wisdom.
Pray that God will grow the seeds of faith in the hearts of the children and their families and give fruits of repentance.