Dear Friends of MLI,

The last very important command our Lord gave to His disciples and to all of us before He ascended to heaven is the command to make disciples. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matt. 28:19). Sadly enough the church as a whole does not do a good job obeying it. It is a very strong feeling today in the Christian mission world that the greatest need of the world today is the need for making disciples. For some years I have had a very strong desire to invest these years of my life in making disciples and training leaders. I started about two and a half years ago with seven men and now there are over 150 people involved in this program. These are present and future church and community leaders all over Romania. I was pleasantly surprised to see the desire of many to grow in spiritual maturity. This program is a team effort and is diverse in the methods of training; from one to one mentoring, to small groups study, intensive training and conferences. The year 2009 was a very good year; the program was implemented in a new area of the country- east Romania, so now the number of regions where the study is going on is five. The leaders for the new area are Pastor Tifrea and Pastor Handaric. Regarding the importance of these studies for the people who are involved, the best would be to let them talk about it:

For sure MLI studies are an unmerited blessing from God, for us. By far these are the best studies I/we ever did, including the Seminar studies. As the area Pastor and leader I see the very positive impact these studies have had on our lives. It helped us to consolidate and clarify our doctrinal believes, to deepen our walk with the Lord and to prepare us better for serving the Lord and others. I see without any doubt people serving better, others that never served before are beginning to serve and be involved. These studies helped also our family life, prayer life; we know each other better and the fellowship between us is warmer. We are very satisfied with these studies and are thankful to God and to everyone who helps us. We are very thankful to brother Eugen for thinking about us and our area, an area where very few people come to help! Thank you very much!
Pastor Cigher Sorin

Studying the Bible through bible study groups is great, the best I may say. It truly helped us a lot to grow in our faith, to strengthen our relationship and to increase our ability to serve. It is our vision to make disciples and these studies help us a lot. The studies are accessible to all of us, are well structured and very efficient. I also graduated from the Seminary in Bucharest, but these studies prepared me much better for ministry than the Seminary did. Thank you so much for your love and dedication in helping us grow in our faith.
Pastor Iosif Pop – Fetesti

Since we started BEE studies the relationships between us are much better and that can be seen in the whole environment of the church. These studies help us to listen better, serve better and be able to minister more efficiently. It is not right to leave the voice of this world to direct our lives; we have to teach others from the Word of God how to be dedicated Christian mothers, wives and servants of the Lord. Through these studies you help us do that. Thank you so much!
Elida Pop – Fetesti

BEE study motivated each one of us to a deeper relationship with our Lord; in general each time when we meet we shared things from our personal time with God and that is very motivating to us. BEE studies do not stop at the theological level but are very much oriented to the practical, ministry level and that we find very helpful. I think brother Eugen did a great job when he chose this study for us. I/ we are very happy about these studies and are thankful to all who help us do them.
Pastor Valentin Fat – Timisoara

Bible study groups are a tremendous blessing for the people involved and also for the whole church and community. In my churches the BEE bible study groups are the engine for all the church ministries. It is a great difference between those who are involved in studies and those who are not; the difference has to do not only with the biblical knowledge, but also with the enthusiasm and the vision they have for ministry. Since we started such training in the church there are ladies involved at the community level in ministry, there are missionaries who are working in other small churches and evangelists who do a better job preaching. I/we are very thankful to God and to all the people who are helping us to be able to study the Word of God.
Pastor Florin Iosub – Carpinis

BEE training brought to our church a lot of enthusiasm. Everyone involved is ready to accept the challenge of such a study and the impact in their lives is so clear. I see them growing month after month; they grow in their family life, prayer life, teaching and preaching the word of God. I am so thankful to all those who made possible these studies for us.  May the Lord richly bless you!
Pastor Viorel Dumitru – Giurgiu

First of all let me say how thankful I am to God and to all of you who made these studies possible for us. I am deeply moved that you thought about us, people from these very poor parts of Romania. I look at all these studies as a blessing from God.
Iulian Stoian – Missionary at Slobozia

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Most of the training takes place in small groups, but larger gatherings helps to know each other better, to build up relationships and friendships! The first event was a conference organized at the end of January 2009 by Zionsville Presbyterian Church for the pastors and missionaries MLI works with, from south Romania; MLI was part of it! During the month of May 2009 I had the first session of intensive training at Alpinis – MLI retreat center. The study was about the parables of our Lord in the Gospels. Kenny Woodhull was the main speaker. The study was very useful as some of the participants said:

For me the MLI intensive training session at Alpinis, meant a spiritual enrichment.  I learned why the Lord used so much the parables, how to study, interpret and apply them.  This time opened for me new horizons regarding my relationship with God and His people. It really was a time of spiritual growth for me and I thank you so much for making it possible for me. There are not too many people who are willing to invest in the young generation as you do. Thank you so much!  Ovidiu Jurca (Intensive training -May 2009)

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At the beginning of September we had our annual Pastor’s Family Retreat, over 45 couples came and it was a great time of fellowship, spiritual and physical refreshment and celebrating God’s goodness. The speakers were Mr. Sam Polson- Senior Pastor at West Park Church in Knoxville, a long time supporter and friend, also Jeff & July Sanders from the same church. Jeff is the Mobilization Pastor and July leads the women ministry. Here are some of thoughts from the participants:

This was a wonderful time, a time we had been expecting for a year, our souls looked forward very much for a time like this. During these days we were better prepared to serve God and serve others.  Thank you so much; May the Lord bless you!
Pastor Florin & Magda Botar

For both of us it was a very fruitful and encouraging experience. We were renewed in spirit and body and we did find the answers for some of the decisions regarding the future. This conference showed us we do not have to be discouraged because everything is possible to those who believe.  Thank you so much from the depth of our hearts!
Pastor Teofil & Monica Tifrea

Thank you so much for the invitation to be part at MLI family conference! It was for both of us a wonderful time; the teaching was exactly what we needed. God knows our struggles and our hearts. My wife was so blessed by Julie’s teaching, she is a special lady! Thank you so much!
Pastor Mircea & Cristina Ursu

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The end of September and almost the whole month of October I had the second session of intensive training and about fifteen people for the first marketplace seminar. All of these people were professionals, business people and four young pastors. The speaker for the marketplace seminar was Prof. Paul Stevens from Regent College, Vancouver BC, and Kenny Woodhull; for Church Based Leadership the speaker was Dr. Ed Scearce, Senior Pastor of Grace Church, Normal IL. Ed visited Romania even during communism; he is a long time friend of Romania.

I am overwhelmed by your love! Thank you so much for thinking about us and investing in us! It is amazing what you do, and I do not know anyone else who does these kinds of things in Romania.

The study in Ephesians was great and your love is overwhelming. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Florin Tudorache

This study in Ephesians is a new challenge for me to change some of the priorities of my life so God would get the glory in all I am and I do. Thank you so much for these excellent days!
Pastor Adrian Neagu

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The study is going well, at this moment there are about 15 pastors involved in studying it and teaching it in five different areas of Romania. We are making good progress in advancing with our studies even though most of the people involved are working. The courses we have studied up to now are: Galatians & Romans; Christian Life; Overview of the Old Testament; Overview of the New Testament; Creative Partnership; Calm My Anxious Heart, Spiritual Mothering , Evangelism & Discipleship and Living By the Book.

I thank you all so much for your support in prayer and for your generosity. I am overwhelmed by your dedication; truly you are an encouragement and an example for me. I am thankful to God for each one of you and I am looking forward to continuing our work together for His glory. Without your involvement we cannot do what we are doing. I love you all in the Lord and I thank you for your friendship and partnership in ministry!

Your partner in Romania,
Pastor Eugen Groza