Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. – Hebrews 13:3

For decades, Christians in Moldova faced severe persecution from the soviet government.  Our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ were harassed, fined, arrested, sentenced to prison, and even killed for their faith.  Believers from different denominations paid a price for following Jesus Christ and for bringing their children to church services.  Today we experience partial freedom in our country, but at the same time, we remember it was not always this way.  We also know brothers and sisters in other countries who are facing persecution.

Cupcini Day of Prayer for Persecuted Church

Our family was one of many who went through persecution during these times.  One instance, the soviet government brought my uncle to the center of the city and intentionally ran over him with a truck killing him.  Another time, schoolteachers came to our home and yelled at my parents for hours just because they took my two brothers and me to church.  Another time, doctors at the hospital would not provide treatment for me because I was a child of a preacher.

This past Sunday, joining with churches worldwide, all of our churches dedicated our Sunday morning service to pray for the persecuted churches in today’s world.  We began all of our church services with worship songs and prayer.  After reporting on the persecution in other countries, everyone formed teams of three to four people and prayed for each country where our brothers and sisters are currently undergoing persecution for the beliefs in Jesus Christ.

World map presentation at the Day of prayer for persecuted church

As suggested by the World Evangelical Alliance, we also prayed for other religions in countries where Christians are currently suffering religious persecution.  We prayed for the Muslim world in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Algeria, and for communist countries such as China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Turkmenistan.  We included Buddhist countries, Burma and Sri Lanka and Hindu countries, Nepal and India.  We also prayed for countries such as Ethiopia, The Philippines, Columbia, and Mexico, where Christians are persecuted for reasons other than religious beliefs.  It was an eye opening experience to actually hear personal testimonies from our church members who been to many of these countries.

We also prayed for the part of Moldova called Transnistria.  The Russian 14^th Army currently controls this area and has attempted to declare a separate new state, but has not been successful.  No other country officially recognizes this area as independent from Moldova.  However, the communist regime is in power there and Christians are not free to share their faith with others.  Please pray with us for this small area of our country that needs the Gospel proclaimed.

Day of Prayer for persecuted Church, Balti City Church of Hope

Most people listened to the report with a notebook and pen in hand.  Now, with people in their home Bible study groups, they will share and pray for persecuted believers around the world.  Therefore, prayer does not stop at the end of Sunday church service, but it continues.  It was a day filled with more prayer than usual during our Sunday morning church services, but it was a great blessing and was very helpful to everybody who attended.

We pray for those all around the world who are suffering persecution.  These are God’s precious children.  We ask that God touches every one of them in a very special way and will pour His peace into their hearts.