SVETLY, Moldova – Across Eastern Europe, a demographic shift sees young people increasingly leaving their hometowns in search of economic stability and opportunity. However, in the small village of Svetly, located just outside Chișinău, one couple’s decision to remain and invest in their community is sparking a quiet but significant revival.
As dawn breaks over Svetly, the aroma of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee drifts through the village, a scent noticeably absent in many other rural Moldovan settlements. Inside a modest bakery, Denis and Luba Griciuk are already at work, transforming a once-fading community into a beacon of hope.
“We want to do something good, something special,” Luba Griciuk told CBN News, her voice thick with emotion. “We want the people here to be motivated, to see that it’s possible to work and serve God without going abroad, to provide for your family right here, in your own community.”
Fifteen years ago, the Griciuks stood at a crossroads. Newly married and ambitious, they initially contemplated joining the wave of Moldovans seeking better prospects elsewhere. “We were ordinary Christians, the kind of people who simply understood that you’re supposed to go to church on Sundays, listen to whatever is being preached, and feel comfortable sitting through that Sunday service,” Denis Griciuk explained.
The reality of Svetly, however, presented a stark challenge. Marked by poverty and limited employment opportunities, their dreams felt increasingly distant. Like many of their peers, they began preparations to leave Moldova. “We had opportunities to leave. We were invited to move to the States. We also had the option to go to Turkey, with very good conditions,” Denis said.
Svetly was experiencing a slow decline, mirroring the broader trend of rural depopulation across Eastern Europe. Young people were departing for countries like the United States, Turkey, and various European nations, convinced that a future could not be built at home.
This trajectory shifted during a pivotal weekend encounter. The couple connected with Alex Belev, a leader with Mission Eurasia, through the organization’s School Without Walls initiative. This program focuses on equipping local believers with ministry skills without requiring them to leave their communities.
“What set them apart was their deep thirst to understand how to carry out ministry, how to raise new disciples, how to serve wherever God sent them,” Belev said.
The training emphasized Biblical principles, servant leadership, and practical ministry skills, delivered not in a traditional classroom setting, but through real-life application. “We are here to raise new generations of church leaders, so that ministry does not stop here and now, but continues over time across generations,” Belev explained.
During that weekend, the Griciuks reported receiving a new vision: to stay and rebuild. “It gave us opportunities to learn, to discover new things, to put our Christianity into action, not just to be passive Christians,” Denis said. “We realized that we can be useful right where we are, that we can do something, not just be ordinary people, of which You’ll see plenty around.”
Instead of emigrating, Denis and Luba, with support from Mission Eurasia, established a small bakery. This later expanded to include a café, now known as Colos Coffee, offering premium coffee and fresh pastries in a village previously lacking such amenities.
However, Colos Coffee is more than just a commercial enterprise. Each day, Denis and Luba quietly provide free meals to elderly residents and families struggling financially. Alongside the food, they offer conversation, encouragement, and prayer.
“We have the opportunity to talk with them, share a little about God, and plant a seed that we believe may one day bear fruit,” Denis said.
The café also provides employment for young adults who had previously considered leaving Svetly, including 22-year-old Maria Gamarnic. “I had lived in Ukraine, Russia, and Poland, convinced there were no opportunities for me in Svetly,” she said. “When I returned, it was only meant to be for a short while. Then I heard about the coffee shop and decided to stay.”
As their vision grew, so did their awareness of the community’s broader needs. They subsequently launched a bicycle repair shop, providing affordable transportation solutions for children and families. Used bicycles are refurbished and distributed to those in need.
“I see how Denis pours his soul into this day and night, and Luba as well, on weekends and weekdays alike, they devote an extraordinary amount of time to their ministry,” said Alexander Stoleicov, who oversees the bicycle shop.
Recognizing the challenges posed by aging vehicles and costly repairs, they also opened a car repair shop, employing Luba’s father, a mechanic with decades of experience. “I’ve been a mechanic since 1979,” he said. “We help with whatever we can.”
Each initiative has created jobs, provided essential services, and bolstered the local economy.
Central to their efforts is a modest building in Svetly that serves as a community center for children. Dozens of children gather there each afternoon for homework assistance, meals, games, and Bible lessons. The center prioritizes children from vulnerable backgrounds – those raised by single parents, grandparents, or in unstable home environments.
“We work with children from difficult families, those left without parents,” Denis explained. “Grandparents often can’t manage their upbringing, education, and development on their own.”
Volunteers, including Swiss missionary Damaris Blessing, provide English language instruction and mentorship. “I care deeply about children, and I want them to know about Jesus,” Blessing said.
What began with a single act of faith has expanded into five distinct ministries, creating dozens of jobs and positively impacting countless lives. Alex Belev believes the impact extends far beyond Svetly. “They didn’t just make life in Svetly better through the bakery, the cafe, the workshop, the car shop, and the school for children,” Belev said. “They created a community that raises up other disciples who go on mission wherever there is need.”
In a village once considered beyond redemption, the Griciuks chose to believe in a different future. “God gave us this opportunity,” Denis said. “We received the training, we learned the skills, and we decided it would be wrong to bury this talent, to keep it to ourselves.”
Fifteen years later, their decision continues to resonate throughout Svetly, one cup of coffee, one repaired bicycle, one child at a time.
