‍How did the team to Chișinău come about?

In 2022, following a visit by Mihai Chisari, Clare Presbyterian Church formed a partnership with Imago Dei Biserica Baptistă in Chișinău, Moldova. We began regularly to support their ministry, both prayerfully and financially, but were very keen to visit. Phil Dunn (NI Representative) and I spoke with Mihai about this summer (2024), and I soon had eight members of the church who booked to go, from 27 July to 3 August.

How glad we are that we made the journey! It lifted our partnership to a new level of richness.  And I can say the same about Ahorey Presbyterian Church, where I also minister, which has a partnership with the churches pastored by Antonio de Noia in Italy. A team from Ahorey and Clare visited Italy earlier in the summer, and our hearts were similarly thrilled. It’s a joy and privilege to see both partnerships strengthened.

What was unique about the trip?

Much of our focus was on helping with VBS (Vacation Bible School) ministry to children. One day was spent in the village of Bălțata, while two days were spent in Imago Dei. The enthusiasm of the children, the fellowship of the members who clearly love the church as their home, the opportunity to participate in public worship, pastoral visits, prayer meetings, a congregational meal – these were only some of our experiences. An especially memorable one was our visit to Curchi Monastery. A monk gave us a tour, answered questions about Eastern Orthodoxy, engaged with me regarding various doctrines including justification by faith and the Lord's Supper, and invited us to sing a hymn. To share and then sing the gospel ('Amazing Grace') in this way was a remarkable privilege.

As part of an established church, how did the team find serving in a much younger church?

There was laughter in the church prayer meeting when I shared that while Imago Dei was planted almost seven years ago, Clare was established almost four hundred years ago! To see and feel the pioneering spirit of the believers in Imago Dei was invigorating for us. We were challenged by their commitment to the prayerful ministry of the Word as the church's one strategy for mission – challenged to honour the means of grace ordained by the Holy Spirit and to pray that we might be delivered from the mere traditionalism to which established churches like ours are perhaps especially prone.

How do you hope to build on your links with the church there?

The visit this summer was our first to Moldova, but we intend that it will not be the last. Mihai and I got to know each other much better, and we intend to talk regularly. There is also a shared desire to have Zoom meetings for both churches, possibly during midweek prayer gatherings, and already we are thinking about going to Moldova next summer to serve at the Narnia camp for teenagers. It is our desire more and more to partner with Imago Dei in the gospel.

‍ 

If you’d like to find out how EMF could help your church develop a partnership like this, why not get in contact. We’d be delighted to help!