The Children of Romania
Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come onto me and forbid them not; for such is the kingdom of Heaven.” (Mark 10:14) What an amazing verse! I have had the privilege to meet children on 4 different continents during my 20 plus years of ministry and I am always amazed at their curious minds and playful spirits. The children of Romania are no different.
I have always had a curiosity about the life of a teen-ager in other parts of the world. It seems that Christian teens I have met in new places, have a different level of commitment to their faith than the typical teen I have worked with in the US. I could probably attempt to explain it away, but I know that I would never hit the nail on the head and besides, who wants to take away the mystery and wonder. This especially rings true in Romania.
Part of the motivation for the Glory Gates Quartet to come to Romania the first time was to be an encouragement to Kelly Stark from Orange County, California who runs a ministry called “Isaiah’s House.” Kelly has been rescuing children off the streets of Romania for over 10 years now and she shelters them at Isaiah’s House and overwhelms them with the love of Jesus Christ nurturing them as one of her own. In fact, she has even duplicated herself with children who have grown up under her care and they too are now rescuing children with the same dedication and motivation that God has instilled in Kelly. Social services in Romania have gotten to know Kelly very well as she has adopted some of the children and given them her name, to the point that they now come to her begging her to take in even more children. The conditions in which Kelly lives in the village of Petrosoni, does not stop her from effectively sheltering, nurturing, and lovingly care for each one of them. Her home has been under major renovation for some time now and she is currently utilizing a make shift outdoor kitchen. Funds and volunteers are desperately needed to complete the project. (Feel free to contact me if the Lord leads you to help out Isaiah’s House in any way. You’ll be glad you did!) I wish that you could see the faces of each one of these precious children, feel their hugs and hear their happy laughter. Thank you Lord, for giving that opportunity.
We traveled into the mountains to a camp owned and run by Ben and Maria Medrea. Ben is the brother of Pastor Corneliu from the Bethlehem Christian Center in Hunedoara. What an amazing couple and what an amazing camp! There is a group of autistic and handicapped children at the camp this week along with a devoted staff, which includes a large group of teens who had to take the week off of school to volunteer. I learned that the majority (approximately 80%) of the gospel preaching churches in Romania do not believe that children can be saved. Not Ben and Maria and certainly not Corneliu. Thank God for their vision and their ability to allow God to unfold it in their own lives and ministries! You would not believe the facilities God has provided for this camp in Varmaga; they are truly amazing! I wanted to break out singing songs from the movie “The Sound of Music” when we first arrived. Actually, I was kind of expecting to see Shirley Temple and the Grandfather come strolling down the path of the mountain. The camp can sleep up to 90 people including staff and counselors. Churches from all over Europe are involved in volunteering and raising scholarships. 50% of the children who come to “Casa Harului” or “House of Grace” in English, come from poverty stricken homes, but are never turned away because of their inability to pay. God always provides! However, they only accept about 40% of the children who want to come because they just do not have the room for more at this time. Ben and Maria’s vision that God has given has not been completed as yet and they continue to wait on the Lord and they continue to expand as God provides.
Most of our group is staying in an apartment at the Bethlehem Christian Center. The Shoemakers and Roberta and I are staying in an apartment in town that was recently donated to the center by a Swiss ministry who has closed up shop here. Our meals and trainings have been at the center. Children are in and out all day and evening long. The children of Romania only go to school for 4 hours per day; some in the morning, and some in the afternoon. The center has programs every day of the week including what we commonly refer to as latch key programs; helping the kids with homework and keeping them off the streets. In the evenings the grounds are filled with families who just hang out because it is a safe harbor and has a great reputation for families. The center feeds, bathes, trains and nurtures not only children, but young mothers as well. They too need funds and I can direct you to them if you are so led. We support the center from Paloma in several ways, not only financially, but Roberta takes in all of their US donations, receipting donors and providing the center with the list of donors so that they can properly thank them. Corneliu has mentioned several times this week what a blessing Roberta has been to them.
Children all over the world need to hear the good news of the gospel. After all, they are the future leaders of the church of Jesus Christ. Romanian children need our prayers and our support. Ask God how you might be a part!”

Thanks Pastor Al!

Rich

“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”

Off and Running in Romania

Here we are in the beautiful country of Romania once again! This is my 3rd trip and Roberta’s 2nd trip to this very interesting place on the other side of the world. When I was asked in 2007 to join the Glory Gates Quartet from Orange County, California to preach during their Romanian concert tour, I had no clue as to what I was getting myself into and I really wasn’t sure why God wanted me to go along, but I knew that He did. The more I researched the history of Romania, the more convinced I was that it was the sovereignty of God that was drawing me to participate. I had no clue that the state church of Romania was the Greek Orthodox Church. Having been saved out of the spiritual bondage of Greek Orthodoxy as a child and then watching my parents come out of it later in life, I knew the message the Romanians needed to hear was their need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ rather than the attempt to find favor with God through an institution. So, here I am with another opportunity to proclaim that truth once again and God is blessing as the Romanians Christians bring their friends and family to the concerts and the gospel is preached.

Our trip began in Timisoara, the place the revolution began in 1989, which eventually resulted in Romania’s freedom from communism. Timisoara is a great city with much diversity within its borders mixed with tradition hundreds of years old. The town square with its shops, restaurants, Central Park, the opera house and huge cathedral, all add to its character and charm. A mix of old and new is found throughout the city.

This tour, the Glory Gates Quartet has partnered with a Romanian Southern Gospel Quartet from Arad called “The Impact Quartet.” Their sound is amazing and their youthful energy mixed with the sounds of Southern Gospel sung in Romanian, is a joy to our hearts. What a blessing that God has brought these two teams together to share the good news of the gospel through song! I might also add that hey live up to their name because they really are having an impact on all of our lives.

The first crusade was held at Bethel Baptist Church in Timisoara. There were approximately 600 people and most of them had never heard either of the quartets before. Many of them were there because a friend invited them. It’s amazing how the young people of Romania respond to Southern Gospel music. They love the joy of the music and tell me that they can truly relate to the comfort the lyrics bring. 10 people received Christ as Savior and 3 asked for prayer to get their lives back on track as they attempt to discover the true power that believers have over sin.

Tim and Alice Shoemaker, old friends from our Awana days in Orange County, were paired up with Roberta and I at the home of Dorel and Rodica Racoviccan for the first two nights. Their hospitality was primo and their stories of the grace of God in their lives, was even more amazing. They are gifted, hard working servants of God who blessed our lives richly. I can’t forget to mention that they also had a poodle named “Poufy” who looks just like our cock-a-poo Capo’s little brother. That made our stay with them even more like home. Thank you Dorel and Rodica for allowing us into your home and loving strangers with the love of Christ!

Pastor Al

Thanks again and many blessings!

Rich