Romania Summer Team

‘Going to Romania with SGA this summer was a fantastic experience and it was a wonderful blessing for me to see firsthand what God is doing in this country.’

‘I loved all the children’s clubs in the villages.’

‘It was both a challenge and a blessing to my heart and the Lord’s help and presence were felt throughout the whole trip.’

These were some of the sentiments expressed by members of SGA’s 2011 Mission Trip to Romania. With bags packed and all preparations complete, the group made its journey to Oradea, Romania, full of excitement, enthusiasm and much anticipation. Pastor Cosmin Marc, Missions Pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church coordinated the complete programme, accompanying us throughout the entire mission trip. After arriving at midnight on August 3rd there was little rest before commencing our first busy day of village evangelism. However, we very quickly adjusted to the high temperature, different culture, food etc.

With everybody in the bus and car provided by Emanuel Church, we commenced our journey to Brusturi, a village 65km from Oradea situated in the hills. The road required skilful negotiating! However, we arrived to be greeted by 45 children, a number that grew to 65 over the three days of Holiday Bible Club. Each HBC had a packed 3 ½ hour programme which the children thoroughly enjoyed. The greatest joy was to see children and young people openly responding to the Gospel.

Lunch was served by sisters from the church before we embarked on an afternoon’s visitation. This involved the team singing, testifying, and preaching in a number of homes over the three day period. We were amazed as believers invited family and neighbours to their homes and exposed them to the Gospel in a very direct manner.

The team spent Sunday 7th in Calacea, a village situated approx. 70km from Oradea. The programme commenced at 9am with two Bible study groups, followed by the morning service. After the service we visited a sister in her home to share fellowship around the Lord’s Table. Then it was back to the church for the afternoon service. We returned to Oradea tired but fulfilled as the Lord granted us a good day in His house.

It was back to Calacea on Monday morning for our second HBC. Over the three days numbers grew to 90 children and 30 teens and twenties. Each afternoon we conducted our third HBC in Susag, where Daniel Vlad, whose paintings we used for our Christmas cards, leads the work. Very quickly we changed our programme to facilitate all age groups from young children to senior citizens. Again we proved the Lord’s help as the team first conducted an evangelistic service, followed by a youth meeting and HBC.

This church building was partially funded by SGA several years ago. However, the congregation is entering its third winter with no heating system. Recently Daniel requested funding and thanks to our SGA partners we were in a position to help. We had a shorter journey to the village of Les, where we conducted our final HBC on Thursday and Friday mornings. Again the children really enjoyed their 3 ½ hour programme which involved craft, quizzes, memory verses, games, English songs and Bible stories. It was thrilling to teach these children Bible lessons and see the excitement on their faces. The afternoons were spent visiting the village homes and presenting the Gospel.

It was so encouraging to meet graduates from Oradea School of the Prophets responsible for the work in these villages. I could not help but think of how often we teach students, attend graduations, and say our farewells, seldom hearing from them again. Here I had the opportunity of seeing these former students continuing to serve the Lord effectively in the villages. They are only an example of many other graduates who are quietly impacting communities with the Gospel. It reinforced the value of the Biblical Leadership Training that continues to be the main focus of SGA.

One aspect that deeply impacted the team was the visits to the widows. We visited many who have benefited from SGA funding, providing financial assistance to more than 6500 widows. Several of these ladies in their late 80s and early 90s welcomed us into what were sometimes very basic dwellings. This was a very moving experience for the young folk as they listened to these elderly saints thanking God for all His blessings, despite living in extreme poverty.

On the final Sunday morning the team shared in Emanuel Baptist Church, then in Les for the afternoon service and finally an evening meeting in Nojorid. We praise the Lord for this new development in the village of Nojorid, just 15km from Oradea. The village council has given a plot of land for the erection of a church building. Liviu Naghi, a graduate from the School of the Prophets is in charge of the small group which meets regularly in a home. This is the tenth church planted by Emanuel. SGA is committed to providing funding for this building.

Much too quickly the time arrived to say goodbye to those who had become our friends during the trip. Pastors Peter Vidu and Cosmin Marc expressed their grateful thanks that SGA had considered Romania as a destination for the Mission Trip. ‘This is a new ministry for SGA in Romania,’ Pastor Vidu exclaimed as he warmly invited us to consider a return visit. With a sense of fulfilment that God had used us for His glory we commenced the long journey back home. Tired but feeling spiritually revived, team members had a renewed desire to serve the Lord with all their hearts.