by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Journalists with the US-based Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) have reported that, despite opposition from Moscow, a “remarkable” revival is underway in Transnistria, a Russian-controlled part of Moldova in eastern Europe.
Transnistria broke away from Moldova in 1990 but is not recognized as an independent state by the United Nations: it is heavily reliant on Russia politically, economically, and militarily.
In a report published on Tuesday, CBN News’ Senior International Correspondent George Thomas wrote that he had recently traveled to Trinistria to meet with pastor and evangelist Yuariy Semenyuk.
Originally from neighboring Ukraine, Semenyuk moved to Transnistria with his wife and three children in 2000 after sensing God wanted him to share the Gospel with the people of this tiny but volatile country.
“I was targeted by some people from the government, policemen, KGB, and gangsters,” Semenyuk told CBN.
“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. Some of the gangsters became Christian, they became evangelical, their wives became evangelical, so they hated this, so that’s why they tried to stop us,” Semenyuk said.
Now, after years of persecution and harassment, there is a revival in the country. “Every Sunday, hundreds pack the church with many hearing the gospel message for the very first time,” Thomas writes in his report for CBN.
“Baptisms are a regular occurrence, and during the week, the Church of Christ Savior holds several youth programs for different age groups. 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.”
According to Semenyuk, the church’s growth is easily explained: “We love God, we try to be very obedient to His Word and His Spirit, and because we love people, we do whatever is possible to help people.”
Moreover, Semenyuk says, signs and wonders have accompanied the preaching of the Gospel in Transnistria.
“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 told CBN.
“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. We have an unbelievable revival. We are still alive 24 years later on the mission field, we are still alive!”
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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