Our next team arrives this week
This week our latest layperson team arrives in Romania. They will be joining our Associate Pastor, Eric Paashaus, his wife Magda and their three children to work with the Romanian churches headed by Pastor Rudy Costea, Magda’s father. Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, Eric and Magda have been preaching and coordinating ministry there since June. They will all return together in another 10 days. Their report to the church will be September 23rd. Save that date.
We sent them off with prayer
It was a very special moment in both services as congregation members gathered around Mark and Eva Boswell and Shaun and Lea Harrington to pray for them and send them off in a manner similar to the way Paul and Barnabas were sent off by the church in Acts in Acts 13. I was especially touched in second service, as children and teens came forward to assist in the prayer. In fact, two of the teens joined with the adults in praying aloud for the team. Our intercession is so important, especially since this team has been sent for an emphasis upon outreach and evangelism. By personalities, gifts and experiences we believe they will be able to witness to Jesus’ life changing power. We are praying for the Holy Spirit to speak through them.
Our ministry focuses on towns and villages
The city that is the center of their ministry is Sighisoara which is in the Transylvania area. Pastor Rudy and his wife Eugenia also supervise ministry in several surrounding villages and towns. Some have church buildings and some do not. We have already been helping to support teachers at the school in one such village, Apold. During this trip, we hope to be a blessing to more outlying villages through VBS ministry and church planting. Another donor has given a substantial gift to assist in church planting. Pastor Eric has also been coordinating with the Nazarene missionaries to establish a cooperative venture for the training of new pastors. This is sorely needed as most of the current pastors under Pastor Rudy are older. We are praising God for what has already been accomplished and what we believe will yet be accomplished for his kingdom through this team.