A Week of Contrasts

This past week Naty and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary and as we both reflect on the past five years we are very grateful for our Lord's provision and providence in our lives over the past five years. This week has been a great example of His providence once again. It started last Wednesday as Naty and I were preparing to leave for a few days of vacation and rest. We had not taken any time away from the ministry in over a year so we planned to go to Bulgaria for four days to rest. Wednesday evening we receivd a call from the United States telling us that my dad was having heart problems and that he was going to have to have immediate open heart surgery to correct the problems. Obviously this caused us great concern. We went ahead and left for Bulgaria on Thursday not knowing specifically what would happen. As a result of the news we had received it may be obvious that rest was hard to come by. We finally received word very early Friday morning (approximately 3 or 4 in the morning) that my dad had made it through surgery and that he was doing well after 4 bi-passes. We had not slept well for two days, but because of our short time away we were able to rest and regain our strength. Once again God showed just how much He is in control of our lives. We praise Him for my dad's successful surgery, we also praise Him for the way He always provides for us in a timely way.

Naty and I in Bulgaria
celebrating our 5th anniversary

Last Naty and I wanted to write to thank many of you who we know have been praying for my dad during his time of trial over this past week. We can report that he seems to be recovering from his quadruple bi-pass surgery well according to the doctors. It is a great encouragement to us and my family that there are some many of you who were willing to pray for us during this time, we thank you!

Last We Need Your Help

As you know Naty and I started this blog a few months ago to help assist you in better understanding the comings and goings of the ministry here in Romania and Moldova. We do hope that this has been helpful to you. Therefore, we would enjoy having your feedback. If you would be willing to take a moment and send us a quick email to inform us of the usefulness of this blog it would help us in knowing if you would like for this formate of communication to continue as it currently is configured. In addition, if you have any suggestions as to how it may be better as well, that would be appreciated as well. Please send your feedback to williamtully@hotmail.com. Thank your for your input, each of you are a blessing.

Please Pray With Us!

The New Building

There are those times when God allows tests in our lives where we must make choices that will show whether we will trust God in all circumstances or whether we will trust him in the difficult times as well. Currently the International Church is learning this lesson first hand. Recently we were informed that the church has a financial obligation to the local government concerning the new building that we were unaware of until a week ago. This has caused the church to be in the difficult place of having to make a decision as to how we will meet this obligation. We have asked the church here to pray for a few things. First, that God will give the pastor and elders wisdom to make the correct decision. Second, that God will help each of us who consider the International Church our church home to do our part to give to meet this obligation. Third, that God will work to provide all that is needed so that the work of the International Church may move forward for many years to come.

Naty and I wanted to share this with you as well so that you might commit this issue to prayer along with us. Each of you through the years have made great sacrifices to help make this work in Bucharest and in the south of Moldova possible. Each sacrifice is significant and we are grateful for how God has used you. What we ask is that you might pray for us and the church during this challenging time. We know that this circumstance did not surprise God and we believe that He has a larger purpose for us as a body as well. We want to learn the lesson He is teaching us well and come through the test stronger and more prepared to serve the purposes of our great God. That is why we ask you to pray along with us.

As always, Naty and I thank God for each of you and trust that during these difficult times that your needs are being met. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 God bless you all for your faithfulness to us and your brothers and sisters here in Bucharest and in Moldova.

Sunday Worship

More New Opportunities

This past week marked the beginning of many new ministries in the church in Bucharest. We started for the first time a children's church program that is an addition to our children's Sunday school. This new effort allows many of the parents in our church the opportunity to worship without the concern for what their children are doing while they are in the worship service. Additionally, we are beginning our first community outreach program through 'English as a Second Language Classes'. We are trusting that God will give us many opportunities to develop relationships with many of those who are attending these classes. The reason is many of those attending do not know Christ nor do they attend the church. Our hope is that God will allow us over time to develop the type of relationships with them that will open doors to share the gospel. Please pray that God will bless these outreach efforts into our community.

Children's Church

Others from the International
Community In Bucharest

Naty and I wanted to take a moment and share with you our home in Bucharest. Many have asked about where we live and we thought a few photo's might help you get a better understanding of our apartment here. As always, thank you for your generous sacrifices that make this work here in Romania and Moldova possible! You have been a great blessing through the years and we pray that God is blessing each of you for your more than generous sacrifices on behalf of Naty and I and those we have been called to serve here.

New Opportunities

This last week was full of new opportunities. It started when Naty and I were invited to join the Japanese International School for their annual festival. This was a great time as we were able to join a few members from our church for this celebration. In addition, there have been several women from this community that have been investigating who Christ is during our weekly ministry to the women of our community. While we were at the celebration we had an opportunity to encourage many of them. We thank God for the Japanese community and we pray that God will continue to work in it to bring men and women to faith in Christ.

Naty with the Takagi's; A family from
the International Church

As I mentioned, we had a weekend of many firsts. Another first was the beginning of Jonathan Moore-Crispin's term with the International Church. God has led this young man to our church from the United Kingdom to serve the fellowship here in Bucharest as our Assistant Pastor. This past Sunday this finally became official. The following are photo's from our time of worship this past Sunday as we celebrated this special event.

The elders and I praying for Jonathan
as he comes on staff of the church



The Sermon on Sunday

Children's Sunday School

The New School Year Begins

Yesterday at the International Church we had a great day. We hosted our annual 'Welcome Back Barbecue' to welcome back to Bucharest many who had been away and many of those who visited. We estimated that there were as many as 100 in attendance. We trust if God is willing, that many of those who visited for the first time yesterday will return in the future to either worship with us or learn more of what it means to become a believer in Jesus Christ. We ask you to pray for those who visited. Pray that God will bring them back to the church and that those who do not know Christ will come to a place where they put their trust in Christ for forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

The following is an introductory video that the church in Bucharest uses to introduce visitors to the church. I thought you might enjoy seeing it. We hope it will give you a better understanding of what God is doing at the International Church.

As We Conclude The Summer ...

It is amazing to think that the summer is almost over. Children are returning to school and many of our church members who have been away visiting their homes in different lands are returning to Bucharest. So in keeping with this time of year Sunday the International Church will be hosting our annual "Welcome Back Barbecue". We ask you to please keep this time in prayer as many visitors will be visiting the church for the first time. We trust if God is willing, that we will be able to develop some new relationships that will open the door for the gospel.

This past Sunday afternoon we were honored to be asked to join a local church in Moldova for the baptism of several new believers. It was exciting to see what God is doing in the lives of these new believers. The following should give some sense of what being baptized in Moldova is like.

Another Summer In The Books

We wish you could have been here to see. The camps were a resounding success once again. In all three camps or bible schools we saw somewhere between 400 - 500 children and teenagers attend. We were very encouraged by the nature of each as well. Many of those who knew Christ were challenged in their faith. There were also those who came to know Christ for the first time. God has blessed far above and beyond what any of us are deserving of, HE IS GOOD!

Kids Camp 2009



Teens Camp 2009

Camp Life

A Special Message For You

"Thank You!"

Going To Moldova

In the morning we will be traveling to Moldova for a week of youth camps. We want to specifically ask each of you to be keeping this time in prayer. We ask you to pray for the following:

1. Please pray for the current political climate in Moldova. Currently there is a move by some in government in Moldova to completely outlaw the use of or participation in any sort of religious camping experience. We ask you to pray that the Spirit of God will prevail upon the hearts of the leaders of the country to keep this from happening.

2. Please pray for the hearts of the young people who are attending the camps. Pray that Holy Spirit will illuminate their eyes to the truth of the gospel and that those who have not trusted Christ yet, will do so.

3. Please pray for some challenging situations with some families in Moldova that Naty and I are dealing with. Pray that God will give those involved the desire to do right and to work to restore relationships that have been broken.

Once we return from Moldova we will give you a full report about how the camps went. As always we thank you for your participation in the work here and we continue to pray that our Lord is blessing each of you richly.

The Long Days of Summer

Yesterday was a wonderful day of worship at the International Church here in Bucharest. We have been encouraged by the willingness of the congregation to continue to attend even during these days when most tend to leave and vacation. Last evening approximately half the church gathered together at an elders home for a time of fellowship and barbecue. It was a great time. We are beginning to see some great things happen through events like this. During the barbecue one family invited some friends from Canada who are working in Bucharest for the next few years. This opened the door to the development of a new friendship with this family. We are praying that God will allow this relationship to continue to grow so that we might be able to invite them to the church and to hear about Christ. Also a dear lady from Japan who attends our church has been praying for her husbands conversion for several years now. We have been very encouraged recently as he has begun to start to attend the worship services and last evening he joined all of us for our time of fellowship. We trust, if it is the Lord's timing, that he is close to giving his heart to Christ. Please pray for him.

Last, this coming week we are going to Moldova to assist with summer camps for teens. Please keep this time in prayer. Every summer this is an important time of teaching and evangelism as many young people put their faith in Christ. In addition, with the tense political climate in Moldova their are many who would like to keep such events from even taking place. So we ask you to pray for everyone's protection as well. With God's help we believe we could have another camping season to celebrate with many putting their trust in Christ. Thanks again for your part in what God is doing in Romania and Moldova, each of you are a real blessing!

Please Keep In Prayer!

Over the last few days the Lord has tested us a bit. A few years back the Lord blessed the ministry here with a car so that it would make our travel from Romania to Moldova easier. A week ago we had to take the car into the shop for what appeared to be routine maintenance. Just today we found out the cost to repair what is the problem. It will cost approximately $2,000 by the time it is completely repaired. We want to ask you to pray with us that the Lord will completely supply all that is needed so that we might be able to continue to use the car as a tool for the ministry.

We thank you in advance for your willingness to sacrificially stand with us in what God is doing here. You are a big blessing, and we continually pray that God is blessing each of your lives richly!

The Beginning

This is a new form of communication that Naty and I are going to try to keep up so as to help you stay informed about what is happening here in Romania & Moldova. Please let us know what you think.

This past week wasn't much of a change from any other week. On the other hand, we see the membership of the church in Bucharest making the sort of changes that are necessary for the church to ultimately grow and become the type of church that God can bless.

Earlier in the month we were privileged to once again be part of Vacation Bible School and other activities for children in Moldova. God was good, and once again we saw Him bless in ways we could not have imagined. See the attached video!