Ghena:

Ghena Milcev is a husband, father and the Coordinator of Athletes in Action in Moldova. He played professional soccer in Moldova and across Europe, but above all, he is a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ.

Growing up in Moldova, Ghena dreamed what almost every European boy dreams – signing a professional contract. Ghena could dazzle the crowd with his fancy footwork. He could create the illusion that he was everywhere at once. He could breeze through the opposition with effortless grace. Ghena made soccer look easy.

At the age of eight, Ghena Milcev was accepted into the soccer school of Kishinev. “I was in my second year in elementary school and a man asked my class if any of us wanted to play soccer, if we wanted to become a star. I really wanted this and my father enrolled my into the school.”

His natural ability and quickness soon provided a foundation for coaches to build on. He excelled quickly, gaining a starting role and earning honors. As Ghena progressed in his skill, he landed a contract with “Zimbru”. He became the best rookie player and named one of the top ten best players for the season.

“Soccer wasn’t just everything in life to me, soccer was life to me! Most of my free time was spent on the soccer field, or training to become a better player. When I signed my contract, all the goals that I had set for myself were starting to come true.”

Ghena was living his dream to the fullest. The thought that he was missing something never even crossed his mind. His salary was double that of the average Moldovan, he had friends everywhere, and fans practically worshiped him.

Soccer had become more than a game, it had become a lifestyle.” There were always events before and after the games. There were parties and hubs and discos. But I came to a point where he began having problems with my family, my school and my coaches.” Life at the top wasn’t going so well. It was at this crucial point that his friend explain to Ghena how he could find true fulfillment and perspective in life by beginning a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Ghena wanted that relationship with God. Now he has a new outlook.

“It’s not about becoming a soccer star anymore. I realize that through soccer I can share the gospel with other players – especially in this country where few people know about Christ. Getting to the top is one thing, what you do at the top is another thing.”

Dasha:

When I was 12 years old, I began to think about my friends, about myself. I realized that with each
of my friends I was mimicking them. If one was aggressive, I was like that with him, if the other
smoked, I smoked with her, if the third was swearing, I was coping that too. I did not live my life
and in the end I generally understood that living a life as a pursuit for everyone’s acceptance I
literally lost myself, and I did not know at all who am I myself. I began to think that I want a friend who will accept me for who I am. Who will not judge me only by the fact that I am not like him or because I like other things different from him. I knew NOTHING about God. My father was a communist, for him the only god was Stalin and Lenin. Mom never talked about God at all. There was no God in our family. That is why I had no idea about Him and I never heard about what He offers and what kind of God He is.

One summer, a group “5-day club” has arrived in our area. Performing short sets this group shared the whole Gospel in 5 days, each truth per day, starting from creation, ending with the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection. On the last day, a woman came out and talked about how we can accept Christ into our lives as our own Lord and Savior. And when she told that He wants to be a friend with us and that HE ACCEPTS US THE WAY WE ARE. I was surprised that if she read my thoughts, answered my desire to my questions. I did not even hesitate to decide that I want to be friends with Him, I made my dream of Friendship come true. I have made the best friend of my life. Who never let me down, who never turned away from me, even when I turned my back to Him or I betrayed Him. I know that the way my God accepts me, no one will accept and understand me like that. I am grateful for this friendship that has been going on for almost 30 years. I have acquired a treasure that I share with others to this day, and I am sure that whoever acquires this Treasure will never regret It.

Dasha’s Facebook Page

Ghena and Dasha currently lead “Athletes in Action” ministry in Moldova.