Construction and inauguration of the community center in the village of Egorovca in Moldova

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For over 10 years, a group of young people from Cloppenburg has traveled to Moldova every January to distribute the Christmas packages prepared for the CDH Stephanus charity, to share Jesus Christ as their Savior, and to show them love. In 2015, a strong desire arose to expand the winter missions in Moldova and to launch a mission trip during the summer as well.

Following an inquiry with Brother Peter Borsch, the presiding bishop of Moldova, a new project was launched in a small village of approximately 500 inhabitants, located between Balti and the Romanian border. This village is called Egorovca. The inhabitants of Egorovca are plagued by alcohol, drugs, and violence. Many elderly people live in dilapidated houses. Many women live alone with their children, as many marriages break down. The people in this village need a new lease on life, liberation from addiction, and happiness through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, our goal is to bring them hope and peace.

In the summer of 2015, the first mission group traveled to this village and, together with young people from the town of Balti, organized a mission trip. The first step was to set up a tent for evening church services, to which all the villagers were invited. Many house visits were also made, and food, school supplies, and Bibles were distributed throughout the village. An engaging program of games and songs was prepared for the children, and all 80 village children participated.

Around 9:00 PM each evening, a church service with songs, testimonies, and sermons was held after the villagers had brought their cows in from the fields. Immediately after the first mission trip, a small house was purchased and renovated in the village, and a weekly church service was organized.

The villagers were skeptical of this new Christian movement in their village, as the village had always been considered particularly devout. The local Orthodox church immediately spoke out against this new faith and forbade all villagers from attending the new church. Despite these prohibitions, children and teenagers in particular gratefully embraced the recreational activities offered and quickly became regular attendees of services. Over time, special children's days were introduced, during which hot meals were served to the children after the children's services. This offering proved especially popular in the village.

Every year, a group of young people from Cloppenburg traveled to this village, evangelized, renovated houses, and distributed aid supplies. The church hall filled up, and the services were well attended.

After three years, the first water baptism took place in September 2018. Sister Irina from Egorovca chose Jesus and was able to seal her covenant with God in Balti. Two years later, in 2020, the next water baptism was performed directly in the village of Egorovca. Four young brothers firmly resolved to enter into a covenant with Jesus Christ and promised their faithfulness to Him. This step was not an easy one for these young brothers.

Brother Vasily was one of these four. The evening before his water baptism, his father learned of his decision, got drunk, and tried violently to dissuade his son from taking this step. But Vasily fled the house, spent the night in the church building, and received water baptism the next day. Days later, when his father was sober again, he told him about it and testified to his new life. His mother spoke of him as if he were an angel, a boy she no longer recognized, and asked him to pray for his younger brother so that he, too, might find his way to Jesus Christ.

The church building was becoming increasingly cramped, so in 2018 the decision was made to build a new one in Egorovca. A building plan was drawn up, and all the necessary applications were submitted to the authorities. No one suspected that this process would be so lengthy. The building application was inexplicably lost and had to be resubmitted. Many documents were requested twice, causing the approval process to drag on. Our faith was repeatedly tested, and we gathered for prayer time and time again. After 14 months, all the paperwork and permits were finally in place, and in October 2019, just before the onset of winter, the foundations for the new church building could be poured. Construction of the new church building began in 2020 after the winter.

Unfortunately, we were only able to provide financial support for this construction project from Germany. The planned work sessions had to be cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The construction of the new community center took a good six months, allowing us to celebrate the dedication of the bright new community center in Egorovca in October 2020. In the future, up to 150 people can attend services in this community center, and up to three children's or youth group meetings can be held simultaneously. Invitations were distributed throughout the village, as the dedication service also aimed to call people to repentance and offer them a new life free from addiction.

Approximately 200 people gathered for the dedication ceremony. An orchestra and choir from the city of Balti traveled to attend. Due to strict regulations, the dedication service could only take place outdoors in the courtyard. Despite strict COVID-19 restrictions, several brothers were also able to travel from Germany. Brother Waldemar Maier, Brother Alexander Buchmüller, and Brother Jakob Wassiljew were permitted to make the journey as representatives of the Free Evangelical Christian Church of Cloppenburg to participate in the dedication. The leading brothers of the Moldovan brotherhood, Brother Peter Borsch and Brother Viktor Pawlowski, also traveled to attend the dedication service.

During the church service, the message of God's love was shared with everyone. This church building is intended to serve all the people in the village. Regardless of their origin or beliefs, all villagers are welcome to attend services and experience God's closeness and presence in this building. Jesus loves each and every one of them and is ready to offer a new heart and a life free from addiction, conflict, and dependence. After the closing sermon, a call was made, and by the grace of the Lord, two more villagers decided to follow Jesus.

I would like to mention one incident. Some critical, strictly Orthodox villagers were against the dedication. In an attempt to cause a disturbance, they called the police, claiming that too many people had gathered and that current COVID-19 regulations were not being observed. The police arrived but found no violation, so the service was able to continue. Since preparing food at a celebration is prohibited due to the pandemic, several hundred boxes of hot food and cakes had been prepared beforehand and were then distributed. The dedication concluded with a tour of the new building.

Today, four church services are held each week in this community center. The children and teenagers spend a lot of time there, growing closer to Jesus Christ. Thanks to their children, many parents have become regular churchgoers. Currently, about 50 people attend the services. On holidays, the building is filled to capacity. I ask all readers to pray for this village and this young congregation, that many more villagers may accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and be counted among the saved at our Lord's return.

Jakob Vasilyev
Municipality of Molbergen

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