By Peter Mikhalchuk, Baptists in Edinets District of Moldova
The Delaware Baptist Association has an ongoing partnership with the northern district of Moldova. It began in 2001, at the conclusion of the partnership between the BCM/D and The Baptist Union of Moldova. Moldovan leadership concluded that the most effective way to plant churches in villages and towns would be through offering medical services at new churches and in areas where there were no churches. Delaware Baptist Association (DBA) has hosted annual medical mission trips each October, led by former interim Delaware Director of Missions Mal Utleye. Moldovan Christian doctors and nurses perform the medical tests and treatment and American pastors and laypersons provide medicine, assist as needed, and share the Gospel. The DBA has been instrumental in planting at least one church a year since the partnership began. In 2005, the partnership was extended into Ukraine.
Moldovan Ministry team leader Mal Utleye presented the following letter as a report for the 2011 ministry in Moldova an Ukraine:
Pastor Mal, dear brother and sisters.
I praise our Lord Jesus daily for amazing ministry you had here in Moldova and Ukraine. Many people have called me and asked to send you and the team their greetings and thanks. Like never before this year’s ministry was a big blessing for our churches and missions. The Ukrainian doctors had special portable equipment (ultra sound, EKG machine, and a mini-lab for blood tests) which improved their ability to help people with their physical problems. We had a sufficient amount of money and bought very good quality medicines and, as you know, your team brought some medicine which is difficult to buy here.
Our pastors and missionaries prepared rooms at their House of Prayer and invited people for the clinics and services. In every village we had a special evangelism services. Pastors Mal Utleye and Gayle Clifton preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ricky and Barbara Matney, Robert Johnson and Mary Utleye shared their testimonies. Gayle, Ricky, and Barbara served in the Corjeutsi area of Moldova and Mal, Mary, and Robert in Ukraine and in the Ataci, Moldova area. In some villages the services continued during the clinics, sometimes lasting two to three hours. Throughout the clinics there was warm communication with people as the team answered their questions about America, their churches, and spiritual issues.
More than 1750 people in 37 villages visited our services and clinics. Most of them were not believers. Many heard about Jesus for the first time. It was a big spiritual blessing for us because many people received Jesus and came into our churches. Another advantage to our churches and missions is that our missionaries became closer to unbelievers and now and can have a more personal ministry with them. You can’t image how important this ministry is for us because many people in our culture still have superstitions about Baptists and other evangelicals and are afraid to cross the threshold of a House of Prayer.
This year there was a special blessing for us to have a meeting with our pastors and their wives. This meeting was held in an informal and warm atmosphere. Pastor Mal had a message of encouragement to our brothers, Robert shared his experience in youth ministry and, sister Mary spoke about a wife’s role in a pastor’s family. Even after the final prayer nobody wanted to go home. Everyone felt the present of Holy Spirit there.
Praise the Lord again and again! We thank our Lord daily for every church and everybody who has supported this ministry both financially and with their prayers.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen Ephesians 3:20-21
His servant,
Peter Mikhalchuk
Responsible Brother
Baptists in Edinets District of Moldova
For information about the DBA’s medical mission trips and how you can participate, contact Mal Utleye, mutleye@verizon.net