29 June
It is my joy to share some thoughts with you from our ministry during the holidays. The ministry began with quite a challenging experience. The experiences I went through helped me see the goodness of the Lord Jesus in Darius’s life when he was healed
It was on my heart to first visit Alexandra and Darius, but when I arrived at their place, I saw something that was painful for me. Alexandra took the shopping bag I had taken for them and went straight to Darius, her brother, to whom she kept telling to wake up and eat sweets, but there was absolutely no reaction from him. Alexandra did that a few times, with no result.
Then the Holy Spirit encouraged me to get other believers to pray together for Darius, and the Lord touched him and he was healed. When I visited them a second time, I was really glad to see that Jesus had had mercy on him by giving him health and joy – Darius was happy about the teddy bear and the sweets I had taken to him. I was able to talk to them about the birth of Jesus and about the gift we can have in Him.
Another experience that teaches me depend on the Lord in ministry is the following. In one of the visits in the villages I went to see Mr Aurel (photo), to offer him a bag of food items and to share the Gospel with him, that he may know how he could be saved. I had the joy of seeing how the Lord’s truth brings much needed light in people’s lives, so that they may know the way to salvation. The Word of the Lord is a lamp for those who need to discover the truth and to be saved, and we are the bearers of that lamp.
On one of my street mission outings, I had the joy of experiencing this truth that brought much hope in people’s lives. In one of the conversations, I got to know Mr Patru. He seemed quite distant and indifferent to the Word in the beginning, but as I was talking to him, he started to think of the message and to be more involved in the discussion. We talked about the fact that life is passing, that there will be a judgement day when we stand before Jesus, and that we need to repent. I encouraged him to see life from the perspective God gives in the Scriptures, and to consider the promise made to those who choose salvation through Jesus.
In another conversation I approached a young lady and, at the very beginning, I asked her ifshe knew why Jesus came to earth. She answered honestly that she didn’tknow. I immediately thought, “Wow, there still are people in 2026 whoneed to hear the fundamental truth of the Gospel.” I understood that thewords in Romans 10:17 still apply today, “Faith comes from hearing, andhearing through the Word of Christ.”
On my return from ministry, I looked for statistics about Craiova, to better understand the need for sowing the Word of God. There are only 0.66% evangelical Christians, meaning about 2,000 believers out of the 300,000 inhabitants.
Another joy I experience is one on one discipleship. I met Alin a few months ago, in a simple but providential context. We started talking about life, struggles and real questions. I saw in him a sincere desire to understand and accept the biblical perspective, and the Lord has opened a door for discipleship since then. Every time we meet, I am encouraged by his openness and the questions he asks. What remains is for us to pray that truth grows in his life: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
And every step is worth it.
Prayer requests:
1. For the Lord to make his Word grow in the lives of those who heard the Gospel.
2. For those who have accepted one-on-one discipleship, to be ready to follow the Lord with dedication.
2. For those who have accepted one-on-one discipleship, to be ready to follow the Lord with dedication.
