21 June 2024| Limassol, Cyrpus [Marica Mirilov]
In June 2024, at the picturesque Amathunda beach, by the archaeological site in Limassol, events of historical value for the Adventist church in Cyprus took place. Twenty enthusiastic individuals, ages 10 to 75, stepped in the warm Mediterranean Sea to get baptised. Its significance measures far beyond the 15% membership increase of for the Cyprus Region, but the assurance that God is working in the lives of young and old, and is gathering individuals and families for His Kingdom. The testimony of each one of them is heart-warming.
Ellenique and Jeroen Find New Purpose
The biblical and beloved Cyprus is the second home to Dutch-Cypriot Ellenique van Vliet-Chrysanthou and Jeroen van Vliet, a successful couple in high fashion. For fourteen years they were seeking a true purpose in life and found it in following the biblical truth and serving the Lord. Hand in hand with joy that could not be hidden, they stepped into the sea on 1 June 2024 to get baptised. Among the witnesses to their dedication to God was their Cypriot side of the family.
Ellenique expressed her deepest desire “to reach as many people as possible with the Good News of Jesus so I will see them one day in Heaven, God-willing. I want to be well-equipped with Bible knowledge so that I can answer as many questions as possible. This is what I pray for every day – that God sends people to me who need to hear about Him… For my Adventist brothers and sisters to become aware of the times in which we are living, the end times.” Jeroen added, “I have a deep desire to learn to listen to the Lord, to be able to discern when God is speaking to me, compared to my own voice speaking, so that I may know His will.”
New home – New family
On 15 June, among the 18 baptised that day, there were two more couples. In the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Olga and Iurii Paseniuk found not only their refuge and a new home in Cyprus, but a loving family of God in the Adventist church in Limassol. Iurii, a retired hydro power station engineer, who celebrated his 75th birthday just a couple of days before his baptism, and Olga, a highly esteemed regional culture coordinator in Ukraine, have lived together for 51 years. Olga’s wish is that, “together we receive the power of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis to keep us always close to Christ and to each other.” Yuri also desires peace back home and for people to find peace in Christ.
The Spirit Moved Beyond Expectation!
Bulgarian migrant worker to Cyprus, Sasho Velkov Stoyanov, became very sick due to hard physical labour and long-term substance abuse. His son Mario, who became an Adventist together with wife Yanka a couple of years before, wanted to see his father baptised before he dies. On 15 June Sasho, the father, was well enough to get baptised in the sea. But to Mario’s greatest delight – his mother Anna and dad’s sister Stefka were also baptised. Joining the vibrant Bulgarian Adventist group in Cyprus was a young man, Angel Traichov Dimitrov, who with baptism joined his wife Elizabeth in faith.
Dr Pallavi Morem, a keen Bible student and woman of prayer with a great attitude of serving, of Hindu origin, was immersed together with her teenage son Nivedh. During the worship service Divine Sabbath Manasseh – the husband of Pallavi and the father of Nivedh, was voted by profession of faith to the membership of Limassol church. Their family is a witness that God is calling families to serve Him. They are determined, just like apostle Paul – who once served in mission on Cyprus, that nothing should separate us from the love of God.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor principalities nor powers,
nor things present nor things to come,
nor height nor depth,
nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)
As they came to Cyprus, Ernest Akochere from Cameroon, Cyiza Monique Tumukunde, and Deborah Icyeza from Rwanda, all at different stages on their spiritual journey, looked for an Adventist church to join for worship and fellowship. Through their descision for baptism, they confirmed that they found in Christ a true rock – to shelter them and a family of God where they feel accepted and validated.
When Angels Dance!
There was great rejoicing in heaven for each person committed to God that day. One can imagine angels dancing with joy for the eight Pathfinders that got baptised, each one of them with unique gifts and talents, and a readiness to give up many things for the sake of following Christ.
Stefini Storer for years has blessed the Nicosia church with beautiful music, together with her father Robin, a descendant of the first Seventh-day Adventist in Sri Lanka. Davyd Tyryshkin, who came with his grandmother and aunt to Cyprus from Ukraine to find safety, loves to serve God through music too. Angelo Braguta, although young, is always among the first for mission projects. Rosella Goufioti comes from a Filipina-Cypriot family, where hospitality and care is at the highest level, and she loves to take care of younger children. Ramona Vladimirova has already diligently participated in the Pathfinder Bible Experience twice. Together with her young brother Valentino, the youngest in the group, they are determined to be faithful to God no matter what. Valentino is a talented young footballer, but he made the choice for Christ over his football games on Saturday. Emmanuel Mirilov and Nivedh Morem have proven by their choices and service that they want to be the light and salt to the world.
Words cannot express the spectrum of emotions triggered at the baptismal service. Each person present reflected on their own relationship with God, while rejoicing with those baptised. There were tears of joy and loud ‘amens’ and hallelujahs’ of approval. For Dr Branislav Mirilov, president of the Cyprus Region, this baptism was very touching for many reasons. For twenty people baptised, he is a pastor, but for fifteen-year-old Emmanuel, he is a father. Just before he baptised his son, his worlds could be heard at the shore: “Son, I was not always the best father, but it was my privilege to bring you to this point to give you to the perfect Father.” Indeed, twenty people came to the perfect Father in Cyprus.
[Photos: Lyubomir Vladimirov, Manasseh Morem, Lucian Braguta] Featured Image: The baptisms took place in the Eastern Mediterranean near Limassol.
