“Moldova will become a mighty nation!”
“The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.”(Isaiah 60:22,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Europe
Population | 3.28 million
Area | 33,851㎢, Located in Eastern Europe, between Ukraine and Romania.
Capital City | Chisinau (490,000 people)
People Groups | Total 23 groups, Moldovans 81.2% Romanians 4.8%, Ukrainians 4.5%, Gagauz 3.1%, Russians 2.8%, Others 3.6%
Unreached People Groups | 6 (0.3% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Moldovan Romanian
Total Languages | 22
Bible Translations | Completed 20, New Testament 1, Partial 1
Religion | Christianity 75.5% (Protestant 4%, Orthodox 63%), Non-religious 20.6%, Muslim 3.7%, Evangelical 4.6%(150,000 people)
》 About Moldova
Moldova was annexed by Russia in 1812 through the Treaty of Kuresit but continued to be disputed between Russia and Romania. After World War I, it became part of Romania. However, in 1924, the area east of the Dniester River was taken by the Soviet Union and made part of Ukraine as the Moldavian Autonomous Republic. In 1940, after the Soviet Army occupied the region, the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic was established. A sovereignty movement began in 1988, and in 1991 Moldova became independent and joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In 1992, violent clashes occurred after Russian-backed Transnistria declared independence. Moldova has since faced challenges such as debates over unification with Romania, border issues with Ukraine, and continues to pursue EU membership. It is a parliamentary republic, with Maia Sandu serving as President since 2020 and Dorin Recean serving as Prime Minister since February 2023.
Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe and relies heavily on agriculture, including fruits, vegetables, wine, wheat, and tobacco. About 1 million Moldovans work abroad—in Europe, Israel, and Russia—and send money to their families that make up around 15% of the country’s GDP. Moldova imports nearly all of its energy from Russia and Ukraine. The country struggles with widespread corruption, political instability, weak government institutions, dependence on energy imports, economic pressure from Russia, heavy reliance on agricultural exports, and unresolved separatist issues in the Transnistrian region. About 72% of the population lives below the poverty line, and an estimated 60–80% of adults are unemployed. Moldova’s GDP per capita is approximately $7,617.
》 Scripture Focus
| Isaiah 60:15-22(NIV) 15 “Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. 16 You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. 18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. 19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. 21 Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. 22 The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” |
》 Prayer Points
1. About 63% of Moldova’s population is Orthodox, but most are nominal believers who were baptized as infants and rarely attend church. The Orthodox Church strongly opposes unregistered Protestant groups, Muslims, and rival Orthodox branches. In some cases, they even resort to violence to block church planting efforts. Within the Orthodox Church, a renewal movement called the “Lord’s Army” is working to shift toward agape-based ministry. Let us be thankful that evangelicals now number around 150,000, or 4.7% of the population, and continue to grow. Though many are poor, they share the gospel with passion and energy. Out of Moldova’s 1,670 regions, churches have been planted in about 400 villages, totaling around 700 churches. Believers are praying for churches to be planted in the remaining areas. Let us pray that the Church in Moldova, once rejected and despised, will become a joy for generations and a lasting beauty. Let us pray that churches saved by the truth and grace of the cross will be planted throughout the land, and that people will praise, “The Lord is my Savior, my Redeemer, the Almighty of Moldova.”
2. Overseas mission groups such as OM (Operation Mobilization) and the European Baptist Federation have been active in Moldova using creative approaches. OM and the Brethren are teaching the Bible, and SGA is running training programs to raise pastors and church planters. Seminaries from Baptist, Pentecostal, and independent evangelical churches are helping train leaders to be mature and godly. The Moldovan Church has a growing vision for missions and needs support to raise disciples. Each year, short-term mission teams from various countries come to help teach and support local believers. Let us pray that more missionaries will enter Moldova and help nurture and serve until the day comes when “your walls will be called Salvation and your gates Praise.” Let us also pray that Moldova will become a missionary-sending country to the nations, just as God said: “The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.”
3. There are about 10,000 Roma (Gypsies) in Moldova, but very few are evangelical Christians. The 3,400 Jews in the country have not been reached with the gospel. The number of Tatars, Azeris, and Turkic Muslims is also growing, which has caused tension among Orthodox believers. However, some Moldovans and the Gagauz—a Turkic ethnic group who are Orthodox—are sharing the gospel with them. Among the Gagauz, there are even evangelical believers who have a vision to reach out to Muslims in Moldova and across Eurasia. Let us pray that the gospel of the cross, which brings peace and righteousness, will be preached to every ethnic group through these believers and the Moldovan church. Let us pray that God will be glorified in Moldova, that all people will be made righteous, inherit the land, and that a revival will rise that brings honor to the gospel.
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