Physical and spiritual poverty exists in Eastern Europe.
Countless families in Eastern Europe live in physical and spiritual poverty, struggling to provide the necessities of life for their loved ones. Few can escape their circumstances remaining trapped in a cycle of poverty which often leads to hopelessness.
Through our national partners, we walk alongside families in Eastern Europe, providing practical help while sharing the spiritual hope found in a relationship with Jesus.
In some regions where we work, less than 2% of the population are Evangelical Christians. Few have heard of Jesus or read the Bible for themselves. We believe the Gospel is the greatest need of all people.
The Eternal Impact
A strong commitment to evangelism is at the core of our mission. As we offer practical help, we share the Gospel and invite people to know Christ by discipling believers, training them for leadership within the church, and helping to plant churches that share the Good News of Jesus in their communities.
Moldova is considered one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe. This small, landlocked territory and its breakaway region, Transnistria, lies between Romania and Ukraine. The weak and unstable economies and high unemployment rates force many citizens to seek employment abroad. Approximately 10% of children in Transnistria rely on state-run orphanages for school and meals because of their families’ financial situations. While the cities are more developed, in many rural villages, people live in homes that are unheated, lacking running water, proper sewers, and other basic necessities. Food security is an issue, and many struggle to provide one meal per day for their families. Less than 5% of Moldovans and only 2% of Transnistrians out of the 3.25 million people living in the region are Evangelical believers. Most of Eastern Europe is culturally tied to the Orthodox church. Christians in this part of the world experience resistance to living out their faith against the tide of tradition and Orthodoxy. The evangelical church in this region has fought to survive amid skepticism and persecution.
Bordering seven countries and the Black Sea, Ukraine has experienced political and economic challenges and has seen a large migration of people within Ukraine and into Europe because of the war. It is one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe. Less than 4% of the 37.9 million people living in Ukraine are Evangelical believers. As a result, most individuals have not read the Bible or heard the hope of the Gospel..
