Give Now for the Gospel in Eurasia
The Opinca Family
Daniil and Yana represent First Priority Global (FPG) as Regional Ambassadors in one of the most unreached regions of the world, Eurasia.
First Priority’s vision is to reach the next generation. How? By equipping a generation of Christians to be messengers and ministers of the Gosple of Jesus Christ. Whoever wins the next generation, wins!
Daniil and Yana we’re both raised as Pastor’s kids, Daniil in Moldova and Yana in Ukraine. They met after Daniil began to be mentored by Yana’s father. They began their marriage and minsitry together in 2022 in Chisinau, Moldova where they served in local church youth ministry and emerged as significant leaders in a global christian sports movement. Daniil and Yana began partnering with FPG in 2023 when they hosted a First Priority training in Moldova and Russian aligned segment of Moldova called Transnistria. They fell in love with the vision of First Priority and aligned with it’s mission or make young people leaders and ministers. This is not something they had ever seen done in this region. So they launched First Priority teen clubs in their city and began multiply it across their region. Over the last 2 years they has hosted and trained leaders in Poland, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Khazakstan. Not even the oppression and violence from Russia can stop them.
Eurasia is a unique part of the world greatly shaped by Communist revolutions of the USSR which has left only remnants of the Church and an entire generation of young people who have never heard about Jesus or believe it’s a fairytale. This region is riddled with war, failing economies, and persecution. Daniil and Yana are called by God to change that.
Serving and Equipping the Church
First Priority is a strategy for the local church, but many churches in this region have never experience or even seen healthy youth ministry. Starting in early 2024, the First Priority strategy began to be implemented by local churches. What we saw was an explosion of new young leaders. Teenagers planning, sharing testimonies, and leading outreaches.
Hook Week is a part of the FISH strategy—an intentional week each month when First Priority groups share the gospel. In our training, we ask a simple question: what’s the number one reason a young person comes to Christ? The answer is… because someone told them. For lost teens to come to know Jesus, someone must share the message, that’s the goal of Hook week.
Take this month’s Hook Week in Moldova as an example. A First Priority team set up a table in a busy city park, inviting passersby to “Trade the Bad for the Good.” People came up to the table, wrote down their challenges and struggles on a piece of paper, and tossed it into a box—a symbolic release. In exchange, they picked up a slip from another box with a Bible verse, offering encouragement and hope.
As these exchanges unfolded, team members started conversations, using “The Four” bracelets to share the gospel message. Over 100 people heard the gospel that day, in a moment of connection and hope that reminded them of God’s love and grace.
Raising a New Generation of Leaders
First Priority is very relevant to young leaders like Daniil and Yana. Many leaders have left because of the war, crisis, economic and education opportunties and uncertainty. We need a new generation of young leaders! First Priority is a plan for every community to reach their young people, so we need identify and mentor leaders in every community.
In 2024, Daniil has trained over 300 leaders from 8 countries.
Going Out to an Unreached, UnChurched Generation.
In Eurasia, more than 3,800 cities remain untouched by the Gospel. Unlike in America and Africa, where First Priority reaches youth primarily through schools, legal restrictions and persecution make this nearly impossible in Eurasia. But reaching the next generation still means going where young people are.
One of the most exciting strategies to overcome these barriers has been combining the First Priority club model with sports clubs and camps, such as ultimate frisbee, floorball, and multisport clubs. These settings provide a natural and engaging space to connect with young people, build relationships, and share faith in a way that meets them in their world.
