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Since the early 1990s, NPC has had a close relationship with the Bethany (Vifania) Baptist Church in Belts, Moldova, and with the College of Theology and Education (an evangelical seminary) in Moldova’s capital Chisenau. Bethany Baptist is approximately the same size as NPC,. It ministers to its members in many ways and has a very active evangelism program that reaches out to the city of Belts (180,000 population) and to many of the neighboring communities in the countryside.
The church grew so much in the 1990s that by 2002, there grew up five congregations where there earlier was one. One part uses the original building, and one part moved into a new, larger sanctuary completed in 2001. Both these congregations have services in Russian and Moldovan (Romania) twice on Sunday and also during the week. The other three are farther away.
NPC has also had a variety of contacts with the College of Theology and Education, which was founded in 1994 by one of Bethany’s former pastors, Valeriu Ghiletchi. The College of Theology and Education (earlier known as the Trinity Theological Institute), is the first Protestant seminary for pastors and lay leaders in Moldova. The seminary is located in Moldova's capital Chisenau and began its first classes in the fall of 1994. The seminary annually trains 20-30 pastors and missionaries in residence and an additional 70 pastors and 150 laymen in an extension program
Most recently, NPC has been focusing its involvement with Moldova to deal with leadership development of young people, strengthening of young marriages, and outreach to teenagers. In this regard, much of NPC’s current work in Moldova is pursued in conjunction with New Hope International, a ministry with a strong outreach among families and young people. NPC and New Hope, which expanded its operations into Moldova from Romania in the early 2000s, are discussing ways in which NPC partners in Moldova can be effectively served by cooperation with New Hope staff. NPC is exploring ways that it can enrich both its relationship with Moldova and with New Hope.
Reverend Valeriu Ghiletchi is the Founder and former Dean of the College of Theology
and Education in Chisenau. Ghiletchi was a member of the Moldovan Parliament
in 1999-2000, then was Bishop of the Baptist Church, the highest authority of
the Baptist Church in Moldova. Ghiletchi held that post until 2010, when he was
elected to the Parliament again. Ghiletchi is still involved with the College
and is one of NPC's principal points of contact in Moldova. Ghiletchi has visited
NPC numerous times.
The main building of the College of Theology
and Education.
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