Hey gang,
Well, an uneventful day today, compared to the first 2 days! Wow! We traveled to Deva and performed a concert at the Holy Trinity Baptist church. It was a wonderful time sharing the gospel in music with Impact Quartet and Pastor Al’s messages. God was truly glorifed tonight.
We are getting to know the Impact Quartet better and better. Man, they are awesome! Much better than us! It’s amazing how they fit right in when singing songs WITH us. They have lots of talent, and they are young!
There was about 1,200 people at the concert and we had a great time. Many people mande commitments to Christ and it’s now up to God to work in the hearts of others who were there and didn’t make the commitment as of yet.
The church served all of us a wonderful dinner in their fellowship hall.
It’s getting late and Bob told me that I need to go to bed now. Hahahaha!
Talk at ya tomorrow!
Rich
This is a blog from Pastor Al Wilsey, GGQ’s speaker on the tour:
“Deva, City of the Citadel
Holy Trinity Church of Deva was the sponsor of our 2nd crusade. It was a bumpy ride from Timisoara to Deva, but the views of the beautiful countryside diminished the effects of the bumps. Deva is known as The City of the Citadel. Built on the top of a volcano, it was strategically placed to defend the valley. It is also home of the world famous Gymnastics Citadel where many gymnastic hopefuls have trained.
When I first came to Deva in 2008, I felt a real connection with the Pastor Russo of Holy Trinity and I was impressed that he had gotten the Greek Catholic Mayor of the city to attend the concert. The Mayor enjoyed the concert so much that he invited a Governor and Senator to attend the next concert in Hunedoara. (I’ll tell you about Hunedoara and the concert hall there in a later blog.) Holy Trinity is in the process of building a medical clinic where they can show the love of Christ to the needy people of the city. The Mayor has even been able to get public funds to help them get started in the project. How cool is that!
Holy Trinity is a fantastic place to hold a concert with its 2 upper balconies and cathedral type ceilings. The acoustics are fantastic! Both quartets were in great voice and the crowd of approximately 1,200 people was filled with young people and young families. I do have to say, that although they really enjoyed the music, they fought tapping their toes and clapping to the beat of the rhythm because they are still caught up in some of the traditions of old. However, how refreshing to know that they are open to all styles of gospel music and they did a great job of filling the worship center with lots of visitors!
I am preaching the same message at all 6 of the crusade concerts this year. John chapter 4 is the text as I share with the Romanians the unusual conversation Jesus had with a Samaritan woman at a well; a conversation that should have never taken place because Jews and Samaritans do not mingle and engage one another in conversation. Jesus knew that He had a divine appointment as he engaged her in this conversation that changed her life and later, the lives of many in her village.
It is exciting to see the Holy Spirit work as I share bits and pieces of my own personal testimony of my conversion from Greek Orthodoxy mixed with the text of John chapter 4. The Lord led me to ask the quartet to lead into my message with “Fill My Cup Lord.” Even though I made this request at the last minute, they obliged and have been singing it with The Impact Quartet accapella. The sound is amazing and a great lead into the message. Thanks Rich for working it in!
I had an unusual conversation after this concert with a young man named Corneliu. He asked me to pray that God would take him to heaven soon because he really was ready and wanting to meet God. Through a pastor friend I met on the 2008 tour, (I will tell you about Siminel in a later blog), I explained to him that although we should be anxious to spend eternity with the Lord, that timing is in the hands of God. I further explained that we will have all of eternity to spend with the Lord worshipping at His feet and basking in His glory but our time here on earth is limited and we have an opportunity to show the world the transforming power of God in our lives. I assured Him that God wanted to use him to do just that. He said that he had never been told that before and even though he is struggling with a terminal illness, (which I did not know when I answered his strange request), he would do his best to be used of God until He does take him home. It amazes me how God can use me in the life of a total stranger and I look forward to meeting him one day in heaven and hearing the rest of the story!
There were about a dozen salvation decisions and a few more rededications again at this concert. The Spirit of God is at work both in our lives and through our lives and it is exciting to be a part of this tour once again! Thank you Paloma Community Church for allowing me this opportunity to share the love of Christ with these dear folks! Now, don’t go away, there is still more to come!
Pastor Al”