TIRASPOL, Transnistria – A remarkable Christian revival is underway in a Russian-controlled part of Moldova, despite Moscow’s heavy hand. Very few foreign journalists are allowed in, but CBN News gained rare access to the Transnistria region.
Getting here is no easy feat. We began the 5,000-mile journey from the U.S. East Coast, stopping first in the tiny former Soviet republic of Moldova’s capital Chisinau. From there, we drove north along Ukraine’s southwestern border, where Moscow has recently stirred up political turmoil.
We made our way through several Russian checkpoints to Transnistria’s capital Tiraspol where a huge statue of Lenin still adorns the town square.
The Lord put a burden on Yuriy Semenyuk’s heart to move his family to this volatile region.
“In my heart, I really love people, that is my passion to serve people. I love God and I wanted to do something for Him all my life. And after a while, God told me, ‘Yuriy, I need you in one place that name is Transnistria’,” the pastor of Church of Christ Savior tells us.
Revival
In 2000, Pastor Yuriy, his wife, and 3 children decided to move from their home country in neighboring Ukraine to Transnistria. The first seven years of ministry as a missionary family were not easy.
“I was targeted by some people from the government, policemen, KGB, and gangsters. The worst of course was from the gangsters because they tried to kill me, they tried to kidnap my children. Once I was kidnapped, but praise God, God let me escape,” he recalls.
But a new dawn came, and now his church, Church of Christ Savior today is the largest congregation in Transnistria. “We have an unbelievable revival,” he says. “We are still alive 24 years later on the mission field, we are still alive!”
Each Sunday, hundreds pack the church with many hearing the gospel message for the very first time. Semenyuk says the secret to the church’s growth is simple: “We love God, we try to be very obedient to His Word and to His Spirit, and because we love people, we do whatever is possible to help people.”
Baptisms are a regular occurrence, and during the week, Church of Christ Savior holds several youth programs for different age groups.
Rallies
Parents also get their ministry time. And when folks can’t get to church, members often hit the streets of Tiraspol and neighboring cities, holding evangelistic rallies.
Semenyuk says the church often reports signs, wonders, and miracles following the preaching of the gospel.
“For example, it can be cancer, and the cancer disappears. Or somebody has a problem with their vision and God fixes their vision. Deaf people can hear,” he describes. “I believe all this power is in the gospel and all these miracles happen because people preach the gospel and God equips us for the gospel, to preach the gospel and make disciples.”
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