Our Partners | Summit Missions International

Our Partners

Summit Missions International (SMI) is connected with a network of national churches and ministries. Our goal is to bring men, women and children to faith in Christ, build His church and encourage the hopeless.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth saying that he became all things, to all people, that by all means, he might save some. Similarly SMI uses multiple means–projects, programs and ministry partnerships–to introduce people to God’s love and the hope that is found in Christ alone.

Here are some of our partners and projects:

Help Us Help Others

Adventure Camps

Offering teens an intense rafting, camping and sports program centered on Christ

This program was initiated in Transnistria by a local believer. His passion is to see Christ exalted through this project for teenagers.

The Adventure Camps combine physically challenging activities with spiritual development and discipleship. Each group of twelve students has the opportunity to build a raft that they will use to travel down the river for a week. The group stops at various points along the river for team and character building activities and sports (biking, rope-climbing and soccer) and to learn how to love and serve others through community service projects. Camp is set-up along the way with tents, pop-up outdoor showers and bathroom facilities, and a camp kitchen. Daily campfire sessions with spiritual teaching and one-on-one discipleship challenge the participants to contemplate the cross, consider the need for a Savior and to learn how to follow Christ in their daily lives.

Summit Missions partners with the director of the Adventure Camps project by providing tents, bicycles, sports equipment and funding for this growing ministry.

Children’s Summer Bible Clubs

Underwriting Bible Clubs to teach children the Good News and raise the visibility and credibility of formerly persecuted churches within their communities

Summit Missions has been involved in children’s ministry since 1994. SMI began the Bible Club ministry and hosted the first club in one village in Moldova. Since it’s small beginnings, this ministry has grown through the years to several communities and even into other countries.

The church-based program now has over 2000 children that attend the clubs with more than 30 churches hosting clubs throughout the summer months. When the week-long clubs are finished, church leaders are encouraged to keep in contact with the children and invite them and their families to Sunday programs.

SMI has transferred this ministry to national leadership but continues to provide full sponsorship of the Bible Club program to include teacher training, materials, craft supplies, along with lunches and snacks for the children that attend the clubs.

This SMI partnership is under the capable in-country leadership of Lena Seletskaya, a retired school teacher and longtime friend of our mission.

Children of the Street | Feeding & Tutoring Program

Providing funds to feed poor children physical and spiritual food

In 2004 Summit Missions shipped a steel structure that would be erected at the church site at Grigoriopol, a town in Transnistria (Moldova). Our summer short-term team and men from the church worked together to construct the building. As children came and asked Nikolai Tanasov, pastor of the church, for bread, his heart was burdened to begin a feeding program to reach out to the poor children in his community. Thus “Children of the Street” was born–giving physical food and spiritual food to children in need.

The children that attend this program come from difficult home lives. This program gives children a safe place to come and receive a hot meal (for some, their only meal that day). The children also receive help with homework , are given counsel when needed, enjoy crafts, sports, games, occasional field trips, and participate in daily Bible lessons. Each child has their own Bible that they read and study each day. According to one program worker, “this is better than Sunday School because the children are here daily, not just once a week.”

SMI provides significant funding and supplies to ensure this ministry continues. We are pleased to partner with Pastor Tanasov who currently resides in the USA and with his co-workers in Girgoriopol.

We are committed to supporting this program. We believe that the future of the country is within the hearts of children.

Church Planting | The Antioch Movement

Supporting the training of pastors and Christian leaders to reach their communities for Christ

The Antioch Movement training is designed for local pastors and Christian leaders to catch the vision of reaching every man, woman and child in their area with the Gospel. This begins in their neighborhood and progresses to their region, their nation and to the ends of the earth.

Summit Missions has partnered in this endeavor since 2009 when it was first initiated in Moldova. Imagine the impact of four million men, women and children in Moldova hearing a clear presentation of the Good News of God’s love and Christ’s payment for their sin. This is the goal of the Antioch Movement.

The first training session was held in Chisinau, Moldova in November of 2011. It was so well received that it was repeated with other pastors in February 2012. In April 2018, SMI sponsored and Antioch Movement training conference for Pastors and Christian Leaders in Chisinau, Moldova to identify potential church planters and to share the vision of a center for training and church planting in Moldova. This new training center will provide regular training courses, mentoring and support for church planters and pastors.

We appreciate the leadership of Rustam Ibragimov and Pavel Tian. As partners, we share their passion and vision for church planting. Jesus said, “I will build my church, ” and we are grateful to have a part in this movement.

Everything English | English Clubs

Conversing and interacting with high school and university students to give them an opportunity to gain better English speaking skills, while building relationships to share the Gospel

In the Summer of 2010 Summit Missions held its first English Club in Moldova. Although English is taught in the schools, many of the students do not have much opportunity to speak it conversationally or to interact with an American English speaker. These clubs are designed to give students plenty of opportunity to converse and improve their English speaking skills. The casual, social atmosphere provides a great place to build relationships with non-believers over refreshments, games and activities in addition to the language lessons. We partner with CRU, churches and other ministries to host these clubs. The ultimate goal is to provide a platform to share the Gospel and connect students to those in the local church.

If you speak English and would like to spend a week or two pouring your life and God’s love into young people, please consider working with us in English Clubs. We provide the training and materials needed to participate in this program.

The Gospel Through Construction Projects

Providing materials and labor to encourage believers and testify to God’s love through construction projects

Using building skills is a wonderful way to bless believers in other lands. Our construction and remodeling projects have included building three churches, a Sunday School addition, remodeling rooms at an orphanage, and countless projects for the foster families of Help the Children.

Different styles of equipment, crude or antiquated tools, language barriers, the inaccessibility of supplies, uncooperative weather, and working within the short-term time restraints all combine to make the construction ministry challenging. These situations can certainly stretch your faith and revitalize your prayer life.

Joel Barrett, the Summit Missions construction coordinator, has traveled to Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, using his skills to bless others and to serve God. Consider this a personal invitation from Joel to travel with SMI and use your hands in labor for the Lord.

Help The Children | Foster Care and Transitional Care Programs

Partnering with in-country foster care and transitional care programs for at-risk children and teens

Summit Missions is a strategic partner with an organization called Help the Children (HTC) which places at-risk children into Christian homes in Transnistria (Moldova). These children are supported by sponsors in the USA and other countries. HTC also provides a Transitional Care program for orphans who have finished high school, offering them life skills training, mentoring and development in a group home environment. This training prepares them for the transition into society from orphanage life, helping them become stable and successful in their future.

Summit Missions has partnered with HTC since its inception and represents their interests in the United States. We provide home improvement and repair assistance to selected foster families with the greatest need.

Sponsor A Child

Mission Exposure | Short-Term Mission Opportunities

Put hands and feet to your faith serving others and experiencing life in a new culture for 10-14 days

Short-term teams participate in various activities that support the work of our ministry partners. Some of the teams have worked at orphanages, helped lead and teach training conferences, constructed buildings and remodeled facilities, taught English, worked with sports ministry training and outreaches, children’s ministries, women’s ministry events, community outreaches and many other projects. Each trip is different but the goals of every trip are the same–to do the work with long-term vision. We want to build on the foundation that was laid from the work done by our previous teams in order to see God’s kingdom grow. This short-term work with long-term results is possible because of the partnerships Summit Missions has with national churches and leaders in the regions where SMI serves.

Short-Term Trips

National and Local Church Partnerships

Providing and facilitating opportunities for national churches and North American churches to partner to advance the kingdom of God

Summit Missions partners with several churches in Moldova and Ukraine. Our desire is to mobilize people and resources to assist national church partners. We can help through encouragement, prayer, training and providing needed resources. SMI believes God wants to accomplish His will through the church. SMI partners with pastors to raise the visibility of their local churches by encouraging Christian leaders and through the participation and support of their work.

New Life Moldova | University Ministry

Providing special programs, studies and outreaches for university students and the community

After graduating from Donetsk Christian College in Ukraine, Igor and Christina were involved in a church in Transnistria (Moldova). It was during this time that they met someone from New Life Ministry (CRU) and heard how God was changing the lives of Moldavian students. They were excited to hear this because it was God’s answer to their prayers.

In 2005 the couple began serving on staff with CRU and spent four years ministering at the Chisinau academy for Economy. In 2009 they moved to Tiraspol where they currently live with their children and work with students from the local university and throughout Moldova.

SMI is pleased to provide financial support, resources and programs that enhance their ministries. Their emphasis on evangelism, discipleship and church planting are foundational to our partnership.

Not Bread Alone | People Providing Practical Help

Mobilizing volunteers to provide basic supplies for assistance to people in need and distress

Summit Missions International receives donated goods (clothing, shoes, toys and household goods) from individuals, companies and other missions. Our faithful volunteers sort, package and place the donated goods on pallets for shipping. The pallets of items are loaded into 40-foot containers and shipped overseas. The container normally arrives at its destination in 8 weeks. After clearing customs, ministry partners in Moldova help distribute the goods to orphanages, the elderly, widows and single parent families, hospitals, clinics and village churches.

The donated items also supply the Thrift Store Project–providing jobs to the marginalized in Moldova.

Shipping Assistance

Get Involved by Volunteering

Please consider becoming a SMI volunteer. There are various ways you can serve–sorting goods, cleaning and polishing shoes, loading containers, grounds keeping and more. Please contact our offices at 330-896-9300 with any questions about volunteering.

Regular Volunteer Hours:
Tuesdays 9:30 AM-12:00 PM
Wednesdays 9:00-11:30 AM
(Wednesdays at 11:30 all volunteers are invited to join together for a potluck lunch, devotional and time of prayer)

SMI offices and warehouse are closed for major holidays.

Please note that children under 12 years old are not permitted to volunteer due to safety issues. Volunteers 12-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Group Volunteer Opportunities

Is your church group, business or other organization looking for a service project? We welcome groups to come and work together on a special project.

We have had groups serve on various projects. Here are some of the types of projects your group could work on together:

Sorting and packaging donations
Community clothing drives
Warehouse and grounds clean-up
Assembly of Smile Boxes, women’s ministry gift packages, prison ministry care packages, or kids backpack care packages
School & Craft supplies donation drives

To arrange a project and service day, please call our offices at 330-893-9300.

Youth groups are welcome, but please note that children under 12 years old are not permitted due to safety issues. Volunteers 12-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

The Least of These | Orphan Ministries

Sharing the love of God with forgotten children through various acts of kindness

Thrift Store Project | Business as Missions

Providing affordable products for resale, employing the marginalized, and helping to fund local ministry

Summit Missions partners with a national Christian businessman in Transnistria (Moldova) who has been a long-time friend and associate. In 2009 he initiated his first thrift store. Despite the high unemployment rates in the country the project has grown and numerous thrift stores have now been opened. The thrift stores are sustainable and provide employment to the marginalized and low-priced products to an economically depressed community. Some of the profits from the thrift stores support Summit Missions’ partner organization, Help the Children.

SMI helps the Thrift Store Project by providing administrative and logistical support and serves as a warehouse and distribution center for their products. Summit Missions also processes goods at the SMI warehouse and ships them overseas. Most of the goods go to the thrift stores while some of the goods are distributed to those in need–orphans, handicapped, partnering ministries, along with hospitals and clinics.

Turkmenistan Project | New Central Asian Outreach

Helping a house church planter reach people with the Gospel

Walk Out The Word | Evangelism and Special Outreaches

Sponsoring a variety of outreaches focused on evangelism