Remarkable Romania!

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The highlight of May was a wonderful visit to Romania. It was such an encouragement to my soul to see how God is at work in that lovely nation. I spent my time in Giurgiu, in south-eastern Romania (pop. 60,000). Giurgiu is a county seat, situated along the Danube River, just across from Ruse, Bulgaria.  I’m excited to share highlights with you!

With Nicu at the People's Palace, Bucharest

I was first introduced to Nicu Bragadireanu, our ministry partner in the city of Giurgiu, in 2022. The introductions were made by a trio of New Jersey ministry leaders who have known and worked the Romanian church for more than 20 years. Joe Faraldi, Jim Minutella, and Nick Daleo are involved in church planting, church strengthening, and music ministries, and they have a great heart for the Romanian people. I was blessed to join them on this trip and the opportunity to get to know them, and Joe’s wife, Pat.

Nicu is a banker by trade, but he is a church leader by calling and passion. His father and mother have been faithful followers of Jesus their whole lives. They hosted “underground” services at their rural home during the years of Soviet communist domination. When we visited them at the home where Nicu was raised, he told of gatherings of believers that were stopped by the militia, his father interrogated, their Bibles burned, and the people warned to stop gathering. (They continued to meet, nonetheless!)

Current Betel Giurgiu worship center.

Nicu serves as the senior elder of Betel Church Giurgiu, which meets in a house that has been renovated to accommodate the group. Across Romania the evangelical church numbers approximately 2.5% of the total population. Southern Romania, however, is well below 2%. In Giurgiu the number is 0.1%. Nicu’s goal is to reach ten times that amount – to have 1% of the population following Christ!  The challenges are great. Communism fell in 1989. Today, Romania is a free democratic country. But the church battles secularism, materialism, atheism and other competing worldviews.  In addition, the national Orthodox church has fought the evangelical church in its efforts to evangelize and impact their communities.

From the first time I spoke with Nicu three years ago, his vision has been unwavering. He wants to see southern Romania transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. The goal is to have 1% of the population following Christ within ten years (a ten-fold growth rate!). He is committed to making disciples, nurturing leaders, and multiplying congregations. The vision also includes a local training center. God has done marvelous things in the lives of many people, including young believers. The effort has been frustrated, however, by the tendency of most young people to leave for education and opportunities in the capital city of Bucharest. The challenge is the same throughout the world: To convince people to reject the lure of the world’s temporary riches that rot and vanish, to rather seek eternal treasures that never decay. (Matthew 6:20-21)

By God’s grace, Nicu’s vision is becoming reality in dramatic and exciting ways. The Betel church is growing. The city council gave them a building to be transformed into a larger worship center. It is strategically located in a highly populated portion of the city, surrounded by apartment buildings. Last year the congregation took Christmas gift bags to every apartment in the complex. They are reaching out even while the building is being renovated for use. They have added a second floor to the building. The concrete for the podium, baptistry, and children's ministry area has been poured. It is very exciting to see!

For a video of Nicu explaining the vision for Betel Church, click here.  (https://youtu.be/rD85xKNdAVw)

The new building currently.

When the work is completed.

 

The church is also multiplying. Small cities and villages dot the landscape along the Danube south
and west of Giurgiu. New churches have been started in three of those. Elders from the Betel church travel to the villages during the week and on Sundays to hold services. In the village of Vedea, the church currently meets in a converted chicken coup, but they have purchased an abandoned house that is being renovated to serve as a ministry center.

Future Vedea location.

The current Vedea site.

 

In Pietrasani, the process is further advanced, with a worship center already renovated, and on the Sunday we were there, filled to capacity. In fact, people gathered outside the windows to join the service! The back yard of the property is a great spot for community outreach to adults and children through BBQ’s, Vacation Bible School, and various youth events.

 

 

Nicu's dad attends Pietrasani! 

Overflow Worship!

The village of Pietrisu is the smallest, but the most developed congregation. The building there serves as their worship center is also the site of one of the most exciting fulfillments of Nicu’s vision: the Sola Scriptura Bible College. Working with a seminary in Bucharest, Nicu was able to build a curriculum and partnership that will provide a fully recognized diploma for ministry in just 2 years. His hope was that perhaps 6-8 people would join their first class of students this year…but 41 have enrolled! The material is presented by elders from Betel, with occasional lectures by professors from the Seminary. The total cost for a student to complete the 2-year training is $700.

The Pietrisu Building

Students at the Sola Scriptura College

The work of God in Giurgiu is a perfect example of what our Mission Catalyst effort is all about. Through praying, coaching, encouraging, and networking we can help local leaders accomplish the mission of bringing the gospel to least-reached groups in the Euro-Med region.

Snapshots