Mark Burns 5/21/26 Mark Burns 5/21/26

Moldova Trip / Financial Update

My trip to Moldova was great. During the first week it was a sweet time connecting with Hakan and getting ready for the pastors. During the pastors’ visit everything ran smoothly and the invitation to partner with the cultural center was recieved well.

Moldova Trip

My trip to Moldova was great. During the first week, it was a sweet time connecting with Hakan and getting ready for the pastors. During the pastors’ visit, everything ran smoothly, and the invitation to partner with the cultural center was received well.

Working with Hakan is really fun. We support each other well with logistics and hosting. Turkish hospitality really came out as we hosted the pastors together, and even when we interact with people living in Moldova.

Every time I visit, Hakan introduces me to the people he has been connecting with, Christians and not yet Christians. It is an honor to listen to the believers in Moldova; their faith is so encouraging and challenging to my own (here is a story of one of those believers).

Interacting with the “not yet” Christian Turks in Moldova is fun. They are so eager to talk with someone in Turkish. Sharing my faith with them is easy, and they listen with an interest that is deeper than Turks in Turkey. Multiple times, people in Moldova ask Hakan and I how we met and how long we have been friends. God has truly blessed me with a brother like Jesus speaks about in Mark 10:29-30.

'Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. ‘ Mark 10:29-30

I’m so grateful for Ironwood Church’s support of the Turkish Cultural Center in Moldova and for Luke’s work to invite pastors to partner with the center. Pastors from 9 states came, and everyone was engaging and receptive. Hakan was honored that they would come all that way and that they would consider partnering with him. Everyone had great conversations, and even though the long travel, they were refreshed. For myself, it was affirming to be used by God in translation and hospitality. About half of the pastors have said that they want to partner with the cultural center, but we are still waiting for the support to come in. Please continue to pray for God to lead and provide.

Thank you so much for your prayers during this trip. (Here is a blog about unexpected interactions during the trip.)

Blessings,

Mark

My Barnaba Ministry Financial Update

Current giving is 70% of the $11,000/monthly budget goal.

70% covers

personal wage (currently, all ministry expenses come out of my personal wage)
travel to Turkey/Moldova 3 times a year (twice with Kathryn), done the cheapest way
Advertisement and communication expenses
Ministry meetings

What the remaining 30% would cover

stateside travel (to churches and ministry meetings)
full personal wage
tech (computer, microphone, camera)
travel in a more sustainable way

Ways to support

give regularly to help reach 100% of the budget goal
give $2000 to fund a computer
give $1000 to fund video podcasting equipment