The group spent time seeing the effective ministry of church planting being established in the villages by former and current students of SGA’s Mission School.
During the Easter meetings each team member was called upon to preach seven or eight times. The trip offered a wonderful opportunity to experience first-hand God’s blessing through the Mission’s partnership with national believers.
The following is a report from Jonathan Wright, one of the team members:
Within five minutes of our arrival at Stansted Airport, the Departure Board flashed up the words ‘Flight Cancelled’. No sooner had the trip to Moldova begun than it looked as if it could be over.
Despite this setback, a plan was set in motion to fly out next day to Iasi, Romania, via Venice! What ensued was an epic trip, punctuated by some great moments, including Peter Mihalchiuk’s beaming smile of welcome, choruses of ‘Five countries in one day’ and truculent border guards.
After dropping Dave Stott off in Balti where he would serve, Tim Smylie and I arrived at 3am in the northern village of Frunza, having travelled for 22 hours.
‘Men on a mission’
Three of the team journeyed on to Ukraine. Derek Maxwell was to have the privilege of handing over a minibus (which SGA had helped to fund) to a group from war-torn Kherson the next day. David Anderson and Trevor Morrow were to remain in Ukraine for the week.
Tim and I settled into life with Sasha and Ulia Polischuik and their many children. Sasha was converted while serving in the Russian army. He returned to Frunza, the village of his birth, with his wife around 30 years ago.
Frunza is a town in decay. A population of 3,500 had been decimated, reduced to 650 due to the closure of the town’s main employer, the citric-acid factory. The factory remains, a ruined hulk on the outskirts of the town which is littered with abandoned homes and patrolled by wild dogs.
Amidst this apparent hopelessness, we saw the impact of the Polischuik family. We heard accounts of people being helped to break out of cycles of alcoholism and abuse, and becoming believers. We listened to stories of neglected children being adopted and restored by the church.
Gifts of food distributed
We travelled to a number of villages where Sasha has planted new churches. We preached simple Gospel messages to groups of mostly unbelievers. We gave out many food parcels from the back of the van.
As we drove along the Ukrainian border we met people who had fled from the war. A particular highlight was a visit to the church in Bogdanesti. There we met a thriving young leadership who had taken on a church previously riven by strife. Sasha had started the work with SGA’s help. Now there was a thriving Gospel community that was self-sufficient.
Jonathan preaching over Easter
As I returned to my day job as a lawyer, I could only reflect on what an incredible privilege it had been to witness such humble service of God.
Jonathan