Our Ministry in Moldova

Simple Way of Discipleship

2012-01-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

Together we can change the world, One life at a time

2012-01-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

So often seeing so many problems in people’s lives around us we tend to think that we can’t help all of them. When that happens our mind and soul start to lean to the hopeless position. We are losing our focus.
God wants our mind to be concentrated at the Hope and Faith pose. This is when we still see so many troubles around us but we get the power of His Spirit and get His joy of reminding ourselves that we can change one life at a time.

2011-12-24T00:57:00.000-08:00

I would like to share with you a Christmas story that helps us to see what kind of life we are called to live in His Kingdom. The Christianity is not a religion. It is the real life with Christ that produces fruits through His power.

Christmas At The Gas Station

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go." "Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty, "Stew ... made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken."

George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead. "You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ........" George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked. "None for me," said the officer. "Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pee shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week ..."

George handed the gun to the cop. Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."

"Shut up and drink your coffee." the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.

"That guy work here?," the wounded cop continued. "Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said, "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George.
You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry.
The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.
The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists.
The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied,
"Happy Birthday, Lord."

Author Unknown

2011-12-09T01:26:00.001-08:00

We have had a great ministry time yesterday at the Valea Satului village where we are planting the church. We could share God's truth and also shared food bags with two old needy ladies afrer the meetings. Please, pray for more homes to be opened for gatherings and more people to become the followers of Christ.

The Gospel Demands Radical Sacrifice

2011-03-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Fun in Church Planting Family Camp

2010-11-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

On July 1-6 2010 we had a Church Planting Family Camp. There were about 180 people. We had the opportunity to share and teach our vision for church multiplication to many pastors and leaders. The leaders were invited with their families. We had lots of kids. There were family olimpic games at the last day of the camp. It was fun!!!

Stas and our son David try hard to do their best!

Church Planting Family Camp - conference for women

2010-07-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

During the Church Planting Family Camp Aia led two sessions for women. The group was of about 35 women. Most of them were missionary's and pastor's wives, so it was a privilage to speak to them.

Women were divided in several groups. During the session one of the tasks for the women was to read the Bible verses, discuss them in the group and write their comments. In the picture above - one of the discussion groups.

Graduation of students from Asia

2010-05-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

The graduation time of some our church members that now are going back to their homeland in Central Asia countries.

On the picture above is a family from Uzbekistan with their son David that was born in Moldova during their years of education. Shoira - the young woman was influenced by the ministry with women that Aia was leading. Presently she is leading a group for women in Uzbekistan.

Another couple that got married in a few weeks after the graduation. The young lady - Djama is from Daghestan - muslim region of Russia and the young man - Denis from Uzbekistan. They met in Moldova. They were members of our Church for two years. Djama was also a part of a women Bible study group in our church.

Baptism in the day of wedding

2010-05-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

I think the young man named Valera will remember the day of May 22-2010 for all his life. This day he got baptized and several hours later got married.

We usually have the baptism service during the summer in the lake or during the cold season in the bath. Valera became a part of our Church in September 2009, so it was too cold to be baptized in the lake and he is too tall to be baptized in the bath.

The baptism was in the Church building in Floreshti (a district in the North of Moldova close to Valera’s village).

Halleluiah, here is a one more member of the Body of Christ!

We all pray for God to be glorified in Valera’s life.

Wedding in the North of Moldova

2010-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

On May 22 – 2010 we had the first wedding of this year. I am saying the first, because beginning with this date we have weddings 3 weeks one after another.

The first couple: Valera and Vika (short form for Viktoria). Valera (the bridegroom) is from the North part of

Moldova

. The group of members of Fountain of Truth church went there to celebrate the wedding. It was a very special day for Valera. That day he was baptized (pictures in a different post named “Baptism in the day of wedding”) and later got married.

Stas was leading the wedding ceremony. Many people including the parents of the bridegroom were not Christians, so it was a good opportunity for them to hear the Word of God. It was the first Christian wedding at their town.

We all prayed for the Lord to bless this beautiful young couple.

After the wedding ceremony everybody had some fun. On the picture above: bride and bridegroom share responsibilities in the family. In the real life that may be not so funny J, but in the wedding day they can do it with smiles.

On the picture above: the task for the couple is to say lovely words to one another with every tooth stick taken of the orange.

On the picture above: the group from our church.

Sunday Worship service in the park

2010-05-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Last winter in Moldova was very cold and long. Only in the beginning of May we had a warm weather. Everybody wanted to go outside. So we decided to have the Sunday worship service in the Park.

we sing the songs of worship to our Lord

we share meal together

we pray and talk about "what does mean God's love for me personally?" Everybody had the opportunity to share. It was a great time!

Asian Missionary Service

2010-04-18T06:01:00.000-07:00

In the middle of April 2010 we had an Asian service. Many Asian students from Kishinev Theological College are members of our Church during their years of education. They invited some other students from Asia and organized an Asian missionary service. There were presented Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Karakalpakistan, Kazakhstan, Dagestan. They brought their flags and some national costumes and even had one for Stas. They had national caps - tiubiteica for all the members of Praise and Worship team.
Students presented slideshows of the country with their national costumes, foods, views.

Then they sang songs of worship in their native language. On the picture above: student from Kyrgyzstan singing a song and playing the national musical instrument.

One girl presented a traditional dance.

After every country presentation the Church prayed for the certain Country. In some of them such as Uzbekistan, Karakalpakistan (it's an region in Uzbekistan) Christianity is forbidden by law and people get in the jail if they are spreading the Gospel or even have a Bible study in their house.

It was such a great service! In the end we had a big meal all together. Students prepared plauve (national Asian food). It was a very special time.

In the picture above: Stas in the national costume with a plate of national Asian food, Iura- Russian student from Kazakhstan, Victor – member of our Church (leader of a House Church meetings in one house)

Our family (Stas is in a national Kyrgyz hat)

Baptism service during the prayer night marathon

2010-03-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

In the beginning of the March 2010 we had a monthly "prayer night marathon" that lasts from 8.00 P.M. till 6.00 A.M of the next day. During this time we had a baptism service and a communion.

The baptism was in the bathroom. Dima (the young man that was baptised) is pritty high (in this case - long :)) so it was not easy for him to fit in the water.

Not many of us could get in the bathroom to watch the baptism :), but we all were very excited!
(the date on the picture is not correct- it actually was on 06 March 2010)

We also had a communion - remembering of Jesus's secrifice for us and then we enjoyed a good meal toghether.

The "prayer night marathon" is usually in the GOJM office (an appartment in a 16 flores building) and we try to sing not very laud. But sometimes we joke that the neighbors are awake with us in the prayer.

Changed life

2010-02-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

Recently I’ve heard that like it was a list of the “7 wonders of the World” now people are looking for “7 wonders of God”. For this many people send pictures of the beautiful nature, but I think that the most beautiful and great wonder of the Lord is the changed life of a person that comes to know God!

In the picture above from left to right: Vova and his wife Snejana and Aia Boroznets

Snejana has been a member of our Church for about 10 years. For many years she was praying and was asking us to support her in the prayer for her husband.

Vova always was very kind and good man, he was ready to help people – literary- even in the middle of the night. So he thought that everybody else may need Lord but not him, he thought – he is Ok.

About two years ago Stas began to visit Vova at work (he owns an auto service). In the beginning Vova just checked the car, soon after that they began to communicate more and more.

In a while Vova started to came to the Church service on Sunday. Snejana shared that he wakes up very early every morning and reads his Bible, he sees now that he really needs Lord. In February 2010 Vova and Snejana opened the doors of their house for the “house church" meetings every week.

See God’s WONDER?!

In the picture Vova and Snejana on the "Prayer night Marathon" - March 2010

My family

2010-01-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

God blessed me with a wonderful family!
My wife Aia, son David and daughter Isabel

We have been married for almost 10 years.

On the picture David and Isabel look at the pictures in their Bibles.

David usually listenes the audio Bible before his day nap, so sometimes when he hears a phrase that is related to what he listened, he could quote huge passages from the Bible.

When someone asks Isabel whom she wants to be after school. She answers that she wants to be a Mom!

Life Transformation Groups

2010-01-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

Every week we have the meetings of small groups that we call "Life Transformation Groups". This is a time for Bible study, prayer and fellowship. Every member of a group is a potential leader for the next group at his place. We consider it as a great opportunity for growing disciples and sending them on the field. On the picture above you can see the group praying together.

Education

2010-01-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

In 2002 Stas graduated from the Moldova Bible Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Someone said if you stop learning, you will soon stop teaching. He is blessed with the opportunity to continue his education. Since May 2003 he is studying in TCM International Institute www.tcmi.org/. It is located in

Austria

, but most of the classes can be taken in

Moldova

Ukraine

. In 2008 he completed the MA program. Presently he is continuing his education, being admitted into Master of Divinity degree program.

On two pictures above class for MD program in

Austria

in May 2008

On two pictures above class for MD program in

Austria

in September 2009

Time of fellowship

2010-01-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

We invited people from the church for the New Year celebration to our house. In Moldova this celebration usually lasts all night long.

It was a great time. We worshiped God with songs, prayers and testimonies. We had a lot of fun playing games.

I can’t really explain it, but when we have time of worship and fellowship it encourages people to use their gifts in the Church and participate in ministry.

Winter in Moldova

2009-12-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

It makes me smile when I hear about the Global warming. This winter we have so much snow! I can't remember something like this.

Kids enjoy the snow! (It's because they don't have to clean it every day :)

Moldovan roads in the winter

Me and my dog Balu

Ministering to Pastors

2009-10-25T04:38:00.000-07:00

During the fall in partnership with World Team we organized meetings with pastors and leaders from different regions of

Moldova

(Comrat, Vulcaneshti, Gura Bicului, Telitsa, Cojushna, Thansnistria etc.) Also at the end of November we invited a group of 15 leaders to the conference about Simple Discipleship in Odessa (Ukraine).

The goal of this ministy is to encourage Pastors and leaders of how to be effective in Church Planting by using the simple principles of Discileship (not sophisticated by rules, traditions and forms).

On the picture above there are pastors and leaders from Telitsa, Gura Bicului, Bender (Transnistria), Stas Boroznets (GOJM), Jeff Owens (World Team). The meeting was in Gura Bicului village.

On the picture above (from left to right): Jeff Owens (World Team), Oleg Contsoff (Kishinau), Stas Boroznets (GOJM), Radion Velchev (GOJM), Serghei (Pastor of Charismatic Church in Comrat), Andrey Tanasov (GOJM), Serghei Tomaili (Comrat), Stephan Anghelchev (Pastor Vulcaneshti). The meeting was in Comrat (South of Moldova).

Prayer marathon

2009-10-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Every month we have a "prayer marathon". It's a prayer meeting from 8 P.M. till 6 A.M.
We pray for our country and for personal needs, we thank the Lord for His great work in our lifes. It's a time of fellowship, worship and unity.

Thanksgiving Day

2009-10-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving Day Celebration at the “Fountain of Truth” Church

Every time when we have any celebration, everybody is invited to participate in the worship service. Some want to sing, some tell Christian poetry, some share testimony. All people bring cookies, cakes, candies. At the end of the worship service we have tea and great meal together.

On the picture above: Lord’s supper. When we all share meal together.

On the picture above girls present the song in sign language

Isabel was the youngest participant of the Celebration service program. She prepared a verse about how grateful she is that God blessed her family. The very last moment she changed her mind, just smiled and went away from the stage.

Project with the team from Castle Hills Church

2009-07-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

A team from Castle Hills Church came in July 2009 to work with GOJM in Ungheni and in Chisinau.

In Ungheni they worked with Vadim Beleavschi (GOJM missionary) and the Church he is ministering in. They organized a sports project.

In Chisinau the project was a combination of sports and children’s program.

On two pictures above: children’s program with Gospel presentation (location: next to “Fountain of Truth” Church building).

Good lunch at "Celentano" pizza with the team.

Isabel seems to like couch Fred.

Church Planting Campaign

2009-07-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Church Planting Campaign in July 2009 was organized in Gura Bicului village. There was a small congregation of Christians.

The team was devided on small groups. In each group was an American with the interpreter and one member of the local church. They did evanghelism in a certain area and invited people in the evening to join the Bible study group at local church member's house. It proved to be very effective because people usually don't want to come to the Church building, but they agree to come to somebody's house, especially when they know the person. During the Bible study new people felt free to ask questions, share personal needs and give testimonies.

The team lived in school classrooms.

During the Campaign was Stas's Birthday. He was presented a cake.

Lunch with Moldovan borsh!

The last day in Gura Bicului was a free day for the team. Everybody had a nice time of rest at the Nistru river .

Baptism service

2009-06-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

In June 2009 we had a baptism service.
It was a little different than usually. In the baptism participated not only the new beliver and the pastor, but also the person who led the new beliver to the Lord or participated actively in one's spiritual life. So it was a great event for the new beliver, the person who led him to the Lord and a joy for the whole Church.

Some fishersmen watched the baptism and even took some pictures.

We sang songs and prayed

We had a delicious barbecue

We spent at the lake the whole day. It was a nice time when it's good for brothers and sisters to be together.