In a region where faith has endured decades of persecution, the local church is rising stronger than ever—and we get to be part of that story.
Our partnership with New Hope Eurasia spans Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, where churches are not only surviving but thriving in the face of adversity. From empowering pastors who once risked prison for owning a Bible to serving widows, orphans, and families impacted by war, every trip reminds us that God’s mission cannot be stopped.
Together, we’re helping local churches bring hope beyond their walls and into the heart of their communities.
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.”
Matthew 16:18
How It All Began
Our connection with New Hope Eurasia evolved from relationships characterized by a shared passion for the local church.
From Moldova’s Soviet-era history—where owning a Bible could mean ten years in prison and pastors were sometimes sent to live out the rest of their days imprisoned in Siberia—to Romania and Ukraine’s complex religious landscape (communism, atheism, animism, paganism, and Islam to name a few), the Church learned to stand together, protect the Gospel, and persevere under persecution. As Pastor Oleg shared, many believers in Moldova and Romania even see persecution as a refining blessing.
What Happens When We Serve Together
When our teams join New Hope Eurasia, we fold into what God is already doing through its network of local churches—before, during, and after our visit. The local church is the hero; our role is to come alongside.
“We don’t view Church on the Move as a mission partner, but rather a partner in the mission. We want to bless and serve your people as much or more than you do us,” Oleg said.
- Medical Clinics: Health care delivered inside church buildings, especially in marginalized Roma communities, immediately creates a bridge of trust. These clinics are often followed by Ladies’ Nights—evenings of joy, tears, and care. One woman shared, “All the touches I’ve experienced have been abusive… [The medical clinic] was the first time I was touched lovingly.”
- Restoration Camps: Joy, dignity, and practical support for women who have escaped trafficking or lost husbands—now replicated by local churches on their own.
- Kids & Family Outreach: Food distributions, community events, and discipleship pathways that start with children and pull parents in.
- Bible Translation: New Hope Eurasia is working with local churches to translate Scripture into local languages—for the first time in centuries—so communities can encounter God’s Word.
- Church Expansion & Community Trust: Church on the Move teams helped break ground for a new site in a hard-to-reach area. Local authorities—once opposed to the church—now call pastors first when the community has a need.
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
Discipleship Beyond the Outreach
The impact is two-way when we serve together:
- Teams Are Formed by the Field: Church on the Move nurses stepping up in Romania impacted over 1,400 lives in a single week in 2025. A simple “yes” unlocked purpose and reshaped how local churches disciple through service.
- Communities Are Transformed: Medical clinics inside churches, food banks at the door, pastors present in times of crisis—people begin to see the church as their first line of care. The result? Churches without walls, the Church in the marketplace, and Emmanuel brought house to house, even into war zones.
- Next Gen Discipleship: Camps, clubs, and small groups launch pathways that enable children and parents to discover the Gospel together.
- Ongoing Follow-Up: New Hope Eurasia and local churches continue to serve widows, mothers, children, refugees, and the most marginalized long after teams leave—training, empowering, and mobilizing them to keep serving.
Why Missions Matter in Eurasia: A Word from Todd Walker
Todd reminds us that missions isn’t about choosing between local or global—it’s about joining God’s one story. In places like Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, that story is marked by resilience and faith in the face of pressure. “The persecuted church has a depth of devotion that challenges and inspires us,” Todd said, “When we come alongside them, we’re reminded that following Jesus costs something—and that’s a gift to our faith.”
“Sometimes it takes getting out of our comfort zone—even out of our own culture—to experience Him in a new way. It changes us personally.”
—Todd Walker, Church on the Move Missions Director
“We fold into what God is already doing,” he said, “And when we do, transformation happens—not just in the communities we serve, but in us.” He points to stories like the medical clinics, where nurses from Church on the Move helped thousands. “One nurse told me, It reminds me of why I do what I do at home.’ That’s what COTM mission trips do, they renew our purpose in our everyday lives,” Todd said.
Church on the Move views these trips as a discipleship step—journeys that include learning, community, and practice. “It’s not just jumping on a plane to do good things,” Todd said, “It’s actively participating in the mission of God together.” And in Eurasia, that means standing with the persecuted church, serving widows and orphans, and helping local churches bring hope to communities scarred by war and hardship.
Our partnership with New Hope Eurasia is more than humanitarian aid—it’s about standing with the global Church and joining God’s mission to reach the next generation. Whether it’s medical clinics, restoration camps for women at risk, or Christmas outreaches for tens of thousands of children, every effort is rooted in the Gospel and powered by local churches.
As we look ahead to new opportunities to serve—especially in communities scarred by war—we know this truth: God is writing a story of redemption in Eurasia, and we are honored to be a part of it.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”
Ephesians 3:20
How COTM Missions Work (At a Glance)
If you’re interested in joining a Church on the Move mission trip, we’d love to have you! Here’s a quick outline of what you can expect from joining a team:
- Fall: Trips will be unveiled for the upcoming year, and the application season opens.
- New Year: Teams get finalized, and team meetings begin to build relationships and get prepared.
- The Trip: We fold into what our partners are doing—coming alongside, not over.
- Post-trip: A debrief to discern how God moved and identify next steps at home, followed by a celebration with all the trip members to close out the mission season.
