There are new challenges and opportunities for the churches and pastors in Romania. We find that we need to change our methods and improve our ways of reaching people for Christ. We need to face the social and economical difficulties and show people a faith that is lived out in caring for others. We need to respond to new moral issues and in all things Christ should be honored. We take the opportunity to express our deep appreciation for all those who pray for us and support the work in Romania, and to share a few things from the lives of the churches we partner with.

The Church in Babadag ministering in the Nursing Home for Seniors
One of the regular ministries of the church in Babadag is to the elderly in the local nursing home. There are 114 people in the nursing home, and Pastor Cornel Mos-Man leads a group that visits them on Wednesdays and Saturdays every week. On Sundays people from the home who wish to take–part in the worship can get a ride to church and have lunch, 28 of the elderly came on June 21″ for a special day of celebration with the church. Pray for this outreach of the church in Babadag. Pray also for their summer outreach to children in the area. The children work takes place outdoors every week in the summer with games, songs and Bible lessons.

Christian Center for children in Campeni area, central Transylvania
In February 2009 Pastor Florin Botar and the church in Ponorel started a new project – a Christian Center for children. Activities include English lessons, as well as games, Christian songs and Bible studies. This outreach started in a public school with twelve children and the number has now increased to thirty. Pastor Florin has planned two Vacation Bible School events in two other villages in the area, Sohodol and Bara de Aries. Pray for this work especially as they are considering planting a church in Baia de Aries.

Leadership Conference in January – Zionsville Presbyterian Church, IN has facilitated for the S’h year consecutively a conference where pastors, elders, missionaries and Christian workers from three cities in the south of Romania – Giurgiu, Alexandria and Fetesti – come together to receive teaching in Scripture and to share and learn about the ministry in every area. Jack Jordan from IN taught from 2 Corinthians about Christian Ministry. Thank you ZPC and Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, IN for investing in growing leaders in the churches you partner with.

The church in Bicaz area
Pastor Beni Handaric ministers in three towns in Bicaz area, north east of Romania, since the early ’90s. Pastor Beni brings together leaders from all three churches to be trained as part of MLI’s Church Based Leadership Development program. This year it feels like a fresh start in the churches as seven people have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.

Family focused ministry – Pastor Viorel Dumitru and the church in Giurgiu have taken a few days in February to minister especially to couples and families. They went on a retreat and had a Romanian couple, a pastor and his wife, who led the retreat looking at the Biblical perspective on marriage as well as discussing medical and social issues. We witness a dangerous threat to family life around the country especially as many choose to work for extended periods of time outside of the country leaving children with relatives or single parented.

Florin Iosub