Historic Baptisms in Cyprus Highlight Steady Church Growth in the Country

In early June, at the picturesque Amathounta beach, near the Archaeological Site of Amathous east of Limassol, Cyprus, events of historical significance for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the region took place. Twenty enthusiastic individuals ages 10 to 75 stepped into the warm Mediterranean Sea to get baptized.

The significance of that event measures far beyond the 15-percent membership increase for the Adventist Church’s Cyprus Region. It also assures 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, regional church leaders said.

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 couple successful 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 June 1 to get baptized. Among the witnesses to their dedication to God was the Cypriot side of their family.

Ellenique expressed her deep 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.”

A New Home and a New Family

On June 15, among the 18 baptized 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 also a loving family of God in the Adventist church in Limassol. Iurii, a retired hydropower 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 been 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.” Iurii also said he desires peace back home and for people to find peace in Christ.

The Spirit Moved beyond Expectations

Sasho Velkov Stoyanov, a Bulgarian migrant worker to Cyprus, became very sick due to hard physical labor and long-term substance abuse. His son Mario, who became a Seventh-day Adventist together with his wife, Yanka, a couple of years earlier, wanted to see his father baptized before he dies. On June 15, Sasho felt well enough to get baptized in the sea. To Mario’s great delight, his mother, Anna, and his father’s sister Stefka were also baptized. Joining the vibrant Bulgarian Adventist group in Cyprus was a young man, Angel Traichov Dimitrov, who with baptism joined his wife, Elizabeth, in the faith.

Pallavi Morem, a physician, keen Bible student, and woman of prayer of Hindu background with a great attitude for service, was immersed together with her teenage son Nivedh. During the worship service on Saturday (Sabbath), Manasseh — the husband of Pallavi and the father of Nivedh — was voted by profession of faith into membership of the Limassol Adventist church. Their family is a witness that God is calling families to serve Him. They are determined, just like the apostle Paul — who once served in mission in Cyprus — that nothing can separate them from the love of God.

As they came to Cyprus, Ernest Akochere from Cameroon and 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 decision 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

Several young people were baptized on that June day. Stefini Storer has blessed the Nicosia church with beautiful music for years, 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 Saturdays. Emmanuel Mirilov and Nivedh Morem have proven by their choices and service that they want to be the light and salt to the world.

There was great rejoicing in heaven for each person committed to God, regional church leaders said. “One can imagine angels dancing with joy for the eight Pathfinders who got baptized this day, each one of them with unique gifts and talents, and a readiness to give up many things for the sake of following Christ.”

“Words cannot express the spectrum of emotions triggered at the baptismal service,” regional church leaders said. “Each person present reflected on their own relationship with God, while rejoicing with those baptized.” Witnesses shared how there were tears of joy and loud “amens” and “hallelujahs” of approval. Cyprus Region president Branislav Mirilov said this baptism were very touching for many reasons. For the twenty people baptized, he is a pastor, but for fifteen-year-old Emmanuel, he is a father. Just before he baptized his son, his words could be heard from 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,” he said.

The original version of this story was posted on the tedNEWS news site.