“Church for the world” Training Conference in Cupcini

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Matthew 5:14

We had a very encouraging and refreshing time training our 70 leaders from all over Moldova at the “Church for the World” Conference in Cupcini, Northern Moldova, which was conducted on September 27th.

We had pastors with their families, as well as lay people, who traveled for several hours by public transportation to attend the conference. The main speakers were Trevin Wax from Tennessee and Brian Chocrane from Arkansas. The teaching was translated into Russian and Romanian languages because attendees spoke different languages. At the same time, we felt unity in Christ in spite of the language barriers. Many participants asked us to organize more events like this one in the future.

Baptism in Briceni

It was a special blessing to baptize new believers at an outdoor baptismal service on the lake in the city of Briceni. It was our first baptismal service in this city, and many people came to attend this New Testament baptism for the first time in their life. God touched the heart of every person that attended and even the hearts of the guards of the lake as well as the hearts of the police that came to see what was going on at the lake. We had a worship service at the shore. We sang hymns and preached about the meaning of baptism. Then seven people were baptized and each gave his personal testimony about how he first heard about Jesus and how he came to the decision to be baptized and join the local church. After the baptism, everyone who was baptized was applauded with much joy and support from the whole congregation.

The second part of the service was the Lord’s Supper for the church and new believers when we thanked God for sending His only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Many non-Christian relatives and friends along with family members of the new believers attended the service and heard the Gospel preached.

At the end of the service we presented a Bible study book, a welcome greeting card and flowers to each new believer welcoming them into God’s family.

Everyone who was baptized had a story to tell. Elena is a professor at local Technical school and heard the Gospel when our Student ministry teams went to witness to her students. Dima had a classmate from our church that told him about Jesus. Tatiana heard about the Lord in Sunday school. Corina was saved at our Summer English camp. Dina heard about the Lord from her mother who was recently saved. Galina and Maria heard about God from our team that visited their home. Right before the day of the baptism, Maria fell down and broke her left arm. We suggested she get baptized next time, but she was determined to get baptized this time. She wrapped her arm in a cast with a plastic bag, secured it with scotch tape and was baptized, becoming an outstanding testimony for everyone.

All of these new believers serve God in local churches and are helping others to come to the Lord and be saved.