Georgia Baptists have a missions partnership with the Eastern European nation of Moldova. Formerly a part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. The country is landlocked with Romania on the west and surrounded by Ukraine on the north, east and south. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a communist as its president in 2001.

Moldovans are working hard to strengthen the social, political and economic infrastructure of the nation, but progress continues to be slow. The country, which is about the size of Maryland, has a population of 4.4 million people and has only 350 churches. Many towns and villages are without an evangelical witness.

Larry and Dianne Martin have been to Moldova, seen the need, experienced the hunger of the people for the truth of God and have said “yes” to God’s call to go and serve as missionaries to this country where Georgia Baptists have a partnership. Larry Martin is pastor of Morningside Baptist Church in Lincolnton, but has had a keen interest in missions for most of his Christian life.

The Martins are presently in the International Mission Board screening process. They have already received medical approval, and are scheduled to go to Richmond, Va. the first week of August to meet with IMB personnel. Their goal is to get on the field as soon as possible so they can serve as mission strategy coordinators and thus enhance the Georgia-Moldova partnership.

The Morningside pastor went on his first overseas mission trip in early September 2004 with GBC Missions Volunteers Specialist Mike Gravette. He explained, “Ever since I surrendered to the ministry, I have had a desire to be involved in mission work as much as possible. When I went to Moldova, God brought the desire to the surface and I knew God wanted Dianne and me to serve Him in Moldova.”

Martin continued, “During that week in Moldova, I felt at home there and did not want to see the visit end. It seemed that everywhere I went that week, I could hear ‘come over here and help us.’ I came back home excited about the possibility. After talking to Dianne and praying for continued direction, she agreed that we needed to pursue the call to serve in Moldova.”

 

A call confirmed

Although Dianne was open to the idea of serving wherever God called, she had never been on an international mission trip and her husband felt that she needed to experience Moldova. In May 2005 she accompanied her husband, Gravette and Doug Couch, GBC specialist in Youth Ministries, to this partnership mission country. Larry remarked, “The people loved Dianne, and told her that she had a Moldovan woman’s smile.”

As a result of this recent short-term trip, Dianne knew that God was confirming His call to them to serve in Moldova. Larry bubbled with enthusiasm as he emphasized, “We are excited about becoming immersed in another culture. Moldova is a place you must experience. The people are loving and appreciative.

The food is really good. The countryside is beautiful, but what grips our hearts more than anything else is the great need for the saving grace of Christ throughout the country and the positive reception of the people towards the gospel.

“God is doing a mighty work of grace in Moldova,” Martin added. “Dianne and I want to join Him in His work there. Many hundreds of villages and hundreds of thousands of people still have no Christian witness. We want to be used of God to tell them about Jesus Christ and His redeeming love.”

Eric Martin, a senior writer with the International Mission Board, recently confirmed that 90 percent of current missionary appointments are made from those who have some kind of short-term missionary experience. Some are products of the 2-year Journeyman program. Some have had experience with the International Service Corps and some have worked in the Master’s Program, but many more have come out of short term mission experiences like that of Larry and Dianne Martin.

The Martins have two children. Troy Martin and his wife, Tammy, live in Summerville and are both correctional officers. Amanda Martin Bailey and her husband, Justin, are students at Southern Seminary preparing to become career missionaries.

Larry Martin exhorts, “I would encourage Georgia Baptists who have not been on a mission trip to Moldova to prayerfully consider doing so.”

The Georgia Baptist Convention partnership with Moldova continues through 2008.