The Kirnev Family in Sacramento

In late July 2026, Sacramento welcomed the Kirnev family, a well-known missionary musical group from Chișinău, Moldova. The family consists of Sergey and Maria Kirnev and their seven children. The family ensemble was formed in 2006 and has dedicated its ministry to spreading the gospel in the Middle East and Asia Minor. The family has released several music albums that are available on YouTube.

During their visit, the Kirnev family participated in worship services at several Sacramento churches. One of the central events was a service at Bryte Church. Several members of the family ensemble performed songs, and Sergey Kirnev preached about the importance of evangelism and the responsibility of Christians to share the Good News with those around them. The main message of the service was that spreading the gospel is not only the responsibility of pastors and missionaries. Every Christian is called to be a witness to their faith wherever the Lord has placed them.

The story of the Kirnev family’s ministry demonstrates how music, children’s ministry, assistance to families, street evangelism, and the planting of new local churches can all become part of one great mission.

Today, the family continues to serve in the Middle East and Asia Minor through music, preaching, ministry to children and teenagers, street evangelism, and a variety of creative projects. Their musical group brings together several generations of the Kirnev family. Its current members include family musicians and vocalists who dedicate their professional abilities to their shared Christian ministry. They perform in churches and participate in evangelistic events and creative projects intended to spread the gospel.

For the Kirnev family, music is not merely a professional pursuit. It is also a means of connecting with people of different cultures and ages, sharing the Christian faith with them, and creating opportunities for open conversation.

One of the family’s longest-standing areas of missionary work is Lebanon, where they have served for more than 13 years. The Kirnevs give particular attention to refugees from Syria and Iraq. Much of this work focuses on children and teenagers who have grown up in difficult circumstances and experienced forced displacement. They need not only practical assistance but also the hope offered by the gospel.

Through programs for children and teenagers, music, personal interaction, and other forms of ministry, the team builds relationships with families. According to the Kirnevs, some people from Muslim families have begun to show an interest in the Christian faith, accepted Jesus Christ, and taken steps of faith, including baptism. The family also prays that the Lord will open new doors for ministry in Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

Turkey, historically associated with the region of Asia Minor, holds a special place in the Kirnevs’ international ministry. There, the family group uses musical and other creative projects to spread the gospel and also participates in street evangelism.

The year 2024 marked an important milestone in this ministry, when a Russian-speaking Christian church was planted in Istanbul and a pastor was ordained to continue developing the ministry among the Russian-speaking population. In this way, the family’s music ministry became part of the broader work of building a Christian community and strengthening a local church.

Another area of the Kirnevs’ ministry is southern Bulgaria, where they serve among Muslim communities. Children’s programs play a significant role in this work. Through these programs, relationships are established with families, creating opportunities to speak with people about the Christian faith.

As a result of this ministry, a church was planted and continues to grow and develop. With the support of Christians from several countries, a house of prayer was built in the region and has become a place of worship, prayer, and ongoing ministry.

The Kirnev family asks Christians from different countries to support their ministry in prayer. They pray for new opportunities to share the gospel in the Middle East and Asia Minor; for ministry in Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia; for the continued growth of churches in Turkey and Bulgaria; for children and teenagers; and for those who have yet to hear the gospel for the first time.

A recording of the worship service at Bryte Church is available at this link.

Svetlana Iotko