For this month in Moldova, Akal Esh is on mission to find new potential ministry contacts for the World Race. We call it Unsung Hero month because we are highlighting ministries that are furthering God’s Kingdom with needs of both physical and financial support and prayer. We have spent our first week in Chisinau (Kis-sin-now), the capital of Moldova, calling, emailing and meeting up with local contacts here. We’ve have been beyond blessed with reaching out and meeting several ministries through an International Christian Fellowship church. All of them have been eager to share their hearts, their wisdom and knowledge of culture.
Today we had the opportunity to meet with the pastor of KBC Ministries, Eugene, from a connection my uncle (a missionary himself from Chengdu, China) had through a mutual missionary friend. Talking over an actual McDonald’s cup of coffee, we learned all about the KBC (Kishinev Bible Church) and how it was started by American Missionaries affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ in 1993. Eugene shared with us the dynamic ministries they have to offer, anywhere from hosting seminary schools, to prison ministries, to urban youth camps and sports events, to medical missions and humanitarian projects. The ministries are led by Eugene’s staff at KBC with the help from very close ties to churches in the United States who send out various teams to support the projects.
Through one of their ministries, Project 127, KBC Ministries’ goal is to reach “social orphan” kids on the streets, to bring them into a safe camp environment, to minister the gospel and to disciple them in hopes of keeping them protected from the hot target that they are for sex and salve trafficking. Moldova is the third highest country in Europe that is known for manipulating youth into job opportunities in other countries only to be forced into trafficking. Project 127, which comes from James 1:27, desires to see these teenagers connected with the local church to send them out into the world to make more disciples.
KBC has several manual labor opportunities and current projects they are working on as well from building playgrounds in nearby towns to renovating a previous soviet union owned summer camp. They also support the local community of the church with home visits by distributing food to the elderly, veterans and the disadvantaged. Through this social work ministry, they reach over 120 people on a consistent basis.
If you would like to learn more about Eugene and the several other ministries KBC Ministries offers and ways to get involved you can visit their website, Joshuaway.net.
Continue to keep Eugene and all of our future contacts in your prayers!
Much Love,
Kirst
History and Geography
Moldova, sandwiched between the Ukraine and Romania, is the smallest and the most densely populated of the former Soviet republics. Moldova used to be part of Romania before being swallowed up into the Soviet Union in 1940.
After it became independent in 1991, lots of people expected that it would be reunited with Romania, but the population voted against it.
The Transnistrian region in the east of Moldova is fighting to separate and become an independent country.
The official language is Moldovan (which is similar to Romanian), although Russian is widely spoken. There are five languages spoken in Moldova.
Religion
Eastern Orthodox 70.3%, Unaffiliated 15.2%, Catholic 5.8%, Evangelical 3.3%, Protestant 3.2%
The traditional Orthodox church holds a strong level of control and influence, which can make it difficult for evangelical Christians. Preaching and church planting in some more traditional villages is often opposed with violence. Pray that Christians leaders would have grace and wisdom when things are tough.
The number of Protestant churches is growing and their vision for evangelism and missions is increasing.
Economy
Moldova’s economy is largely based on agriculture. Moldovan soil is very fertile. The economy is growing at a slow pace, making it the poorest country in Europe.
72% of Moldovans live below poverty level.
60-80% of the men in Moldova are unemployed; thus, approximately a million Moldovans migrated across Europe and Asia in search for means to provide for their families.
About 60% of men have a serious alcohol problem.
Average income per person is $1000-1200 per year which is 4.5% average US citizen’s income.
