Men & Ministry In The Summer

Over the first five months of 2010 we have been striving to establish a more effective and growing men's ministry at the International Church. We have been encouraged recently by some of the strides we have seen this ministry make. Recently we have seen a larger group of men more committed to coming together regularly to encourage one another in their walks with Christ (Hebrews 10:24). Over the time we have seen this type of ministry impact many men in a positive way. One such individual is our brother Ali from Tunisia. He came to us after accepting Christ out of an Islamic background. We praise God for the opportunity to impact those like Ali. We ask you to pray along with us that God will bless these efforts as they continue. We hope to have many more opportunities to impact other men like Ali.

(Although an older picture)
These are some of the men effected by the church since we have been here

Bill praying for Ali as he moves on to his next stage in life

Soon the summer season will be upon us. We are praying about all the possibilities for ministry this summer here in Romania and in Moldova. As in years past we hope to be able to conduct camps and bible schools for children and young people in Moldova. We are praying that God will supply all the necessary resources to see this happen. In addition, we are praying about the possibility of having a bible school this summer here at the church in Bucharest as well. We want to be able to have a greater impact and influence upon our community here in the city and we believe reaching the children will help us open the doors to their families as well. Pray that God will give us wisdom how to proceed and that He will provide all that we need as we endeavor to make a greater impact in our community this summer.

Some of the children who will be part of VBS at the church

VBS in Moldova last summer

One summer camp from last year in Moldova

World Missions & Children

About a week ago Naty and were honored to go to Balaton, Hungary to represent the International Baptist Convention at the Annual Meeting for European Baptist Mission. While we were there we had the opportunity to see first hand how some of the resources for the church here in Bucharest are being used to reach out to people with the gospel all around the world. We were excited to meet many brothers and sisters who are reaching their countrymen in places like Cuba, Mozambique and India, as well as many other countries. When we return home to Bucharest we were excited to report what God is doing through EBM to the church and we pray that God will continue to develop a heart for missions in the congregation here in Romania.

Naty & I with the General Secretary of EBM, Christof Hause

Enjoying Dinner With Brothers & Sisters at The Conference

As the weather has changed outside we have been able to do so much more with the children who are attending the after school program. As you know we have taken the on past field trips, but now that the weather allows we are able to simple things like take them to the park. This might not seem like much, but simple things like this help us build repore with their parents. As our relationship with them grows, so does our opportunity to share with them more about Christ. Please continue to pray for these sort of opportunities.

Naty With The Children at The Park

The Children Having A Good Time at The Park

Women & Children's Ministry Traveling

Over the last few weeks we have been blessed by the women of our church as many of them had the opportunity to travel to Madrid, Spain for the annual International Baptist Conventions Woman' s Conference. There were some challenges as they returned to Bucharest because of the problem's the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano has been causing throughout Europe. Yet, ultimately the Lord worked it out for all to return safely with just a few hours of delay. We praise God for the encouragement that our women received and we praise God for the renewed zeal they returned with concerning the possibilities toward ministry here in Bucharest. Pray that God will continue to bless our women as they continue to reach out to other women in our community.

The women who attended the conference in Madrid

Experience some of the worship from the conference

The After School Program at the church continues to grow. As more families trust us with their children we are seeking ways to make their experience as rewarding as possible. This past week the leadership of the after school took the children to a local petting zoo. The children loved this experience and the parents seemed pleased as well. We trust as we are able to do more things like this that we will be able to continue to develop greater in roads into each family that will open the doors wider for the gospel. Please pray for each of these families from our community. Pray that God will open their eyes to the hope we have found in Christ.

The children from the after school at the petting zoo

Spring In Full Motion

A few weeks ago Naty and I had the opportunity to attend the annual International Baptist Convention's pastors conference. This years conference was held in Portugal. While we were there we had the opportunity to get with other pastors and leaders from around the convention and discuss the work that God is doing. One of these conversations directly involved the work of missions in Moldova. The convention is already supporting church planters in Moldova and now some of the pastors from the convention are wanting to periodically travel to Moldova to assist this work. We are grateful for this partnership and we trust the Lord will produce fruit for His glory in the Republic of Moldova.

Bill & Naty at the pastors conference in Portugal

Once we returned to Bucharest work here has moved along rather quickly as there were many things that needed to be done before Easter in our church and all around the city. We have had two great Sundays as we celebrated the Lord's entry into Jerusalem and His resurrection. During these services we have been blessed with many visitors. We had visitors from Belgium, Ghana and even one of the teachers from the public school near us that has chosen to partner with us in community ministry has began to attend worship as well. We are excited and trusting the Lord to continue the work He is doing in our community. Please continue to pray for our relationship with this public school in our community. Pray that God would protect it from outside influences and that God would use it to expose many to the hope they can find in the gospel. Last, please pray that God would work in the hearts of those who have visited who have heard the gospel for the first time over the last few weeks. Pray that He would bring repentance and change to their lives and to our community.

The Children listening to the story of the resurrection

Easter Sunday's Worship Service

A little fun for the children Easter Sunday

We want to thank each of you once again,

the work God has called us too would not be

possible without you, thank you!

Spring Bringing New Opportunities

Recently a local public school in our community came to our church and asked us to partner with them in helping their children. They expressed that they wanted our help in teaching them principles of character. They agreed if we would help them that they would open the door for us to share the gospel with the children regularly. Please pray for this new opportunity in our community. Pray that God will open hearts to the gospel amongst the children and amongst the families the children are from.

Our First Character Training At The School

Recently the church started a special time of worship on the 1st Saturday evening of each month. These special times are hosted by our contemporary worship team and a guest speaker that we invite. The primary purpose of these times is to reach out to the International University Students in our city. We are hoping with the Lord's blessing to open new inroads into this community through this monthly event.

Saturday Night Worship

This past weekend we had the privilege to take the church 100 miles north into the mountains for a church wide weekend retreat. More than 2/3rds of the church came away with us for this great time of fellowship, worship and relaxation. We were thrilled by the spirit of unity that we witnessed the Lord developing amongst the congregation. This was a blessing for all who attended. Many commented about how they were encouraged by this time. We trust with the Lord's help to be able to do this sort of thing again in the future.

The Church Together In The Mountains


The Church Together In The Mountains On Sunday

The View From The Retreat Center

Listen As The Church Worships On The Retreat

Ministry & Family In February

This past month both Naty and I celebrated our birthday's. This past Saturday, many in the church surprised me with a party / luncheon to celebrate my birthday. This was really quite a surprise as the ladies of the church planned this time of fellowship without my knowledge. We both are very encouraged to see how the members of the church do so enjoy spending time together.

Naty With The Birthday Cake

The Church Enjoying The Party

Our small group bible studies have been growing as well. Currently they have just finished a study on fellowship within the church and soon they will move into a new study. Please continue to pray that God will bless this work and that more people will be drawn to it so they to can continue their growth in Christ.

Our Current Small Group Bible Study

The Long Days of Winter

As seems to be the case many places around the world, we are currently receiving one of our most severe winters to date. It has made things rather challenging for the church. As most of you know a year ago the Lord blessed the church with a new building, but we do not have a lot of parking. What parking we do have is public and located on the main roads to and from the church. Therefore, with all the snow we have received it has made parking very difficult. Yet, with all these challenges we are excited to report that God has still been blessing the work as we had 108 in worship on Sunday, our largest attendance in a normal worship service apart from Christmas or Easter. God has continued to show his faithfulness and we are very grateful for His blessings.

The Men of The Church Helping With Snow Removal

We are grateful for the continued growth of our after school program. Over 75% of the families who now have children in our program are unbelievers. As they bring their children to attend each day many parents ask questions about who we are and the nature of the church. This has been opening doors for us to share the love of Christ with those who do not know Him in our community. We are praying that God would continue to bless this as we continue to reach out to these families.

Some of The Children of The After School With Naty

Joyful To Be Part of What Christ Is Doing

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to attend a church planting conference in Frankfurt, Germany. This was a great chance to learn more about what God is doing in different parts of the world and to learn how we can partner in that here in Romania. As a result once I returned to Romania I had the opportunity to meet with a Romanian gentleman who is interested in starting a church here in Bucharest. We are currently as a church praying about the possibility of partnering with this gentleman in this endeavor. Please pray that God would guide our steps as we move forward.

Church Planting Conference in Frankfurt, Germany

As you have probably read in prior postings on this blog God has given us many unique opportunities to reach out to our community. This past week we were privileged to be part of seeing a new outreach started on Monday's in the church. We started a music class for children and their mothers. The initial response has been very good. We are praying God will bless this effort to reach others in our community.

The Recently Started Music Class

Reaching Out To All

Since the beginning of the New Year the church here in Bucharest has reinforced its efforts to reach out to all ages and groups in our city. As a result, soon we hope to be starting a humanitarian aid closet and a ministry that will reach out to the aged, sick and dying in our community as well. While we strive to continue to reach out in new ways we are just as excited about the continued growth of other forms of outreach in our fellowship as well. We have witnessed the woman's ministry of the church continuing to grow. This is an exciting development because more than half of those who attend are those who do not know Christ. This gives us a direct opportunity to share the gospel with them. Please pray for these women who attend and for our sisters who have the opportunity to share with them.

The weekly Woman's Meeting at the church

We have also witnessed the continued growth of our children's ministry. We have been delighted to see how it has grown on Sunday's, but we have also seen it grow during the week as well. Approximately four months ago the mothers of our church started a group on Tuesday mornings called the "Little Fishes Playgroup". Many mothers with little ones have come. This is a great opportunity for many of them to spend time with other mothers in the same stage in life, while giving themselves and their children an opportunity to learn more about Christ and how much He loves them. We have been encouraged by how the Lord seems to be blessing this effort.

Teaching the children to serve like Jesus served

A Great Holiday Season!

Every year at Christmas time many within our fellowship travel back to their countries of original origin to spend time with family and friends. Yet, for those who remain in Bucharest we were able to celebrate our Savior's birth for the first time in a candle light service Christmas Eve this year. In the past we always had to rent a worship facilities, therefore, we had no place to host such an event. This year we were able to do so because of God's blessing of our new building. It was a great evening and an encouragement to all who attended.

The Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

Over the holiday's we had many interesting things take place here in Bucharest. My brother Jim from Chicago came to Bucharest and visited with us for a few days. While he was here we had the biggest snow storm of the season. Many of the children of the church also had the opportunity to enjoy the weather God gave us as well. It was a great time for family and fellowship. Currently we are praying that God will direct us and help us in making new in roads into our community in 2010. We are praying that God will bear much fruit in our fellowship in the New Year!

Visiting With My Brother Jim From Chicago


The Teens of The Church at Their Christmas Party


The Children of The Church Enjoying The Winter Weather

Sharing The Love of Christ This Christmas

Over the month of December the church had the honor to help assist Casa Iuana, a home those who are homeless this Christmas. Our church collected many different shoebox gifts to give to the children of the families located at Casa Iuana. This was a unique opportunity to bring a little Christmas joy to a small child, as well as, to be able to share the gospel with their whole family. We trust God will use these sorts of opportunities to produce the fruit of repentance in the hearts of these families. Please pray along with us that this will be the ultimate result.

The Children of Casa Iuana

Singing Christmas Chorals With The Children

This past Sunday we had the unique opportunity to go to the Embassy of the Philippines to share with the ambassador, diplomatic personnel and citizens of the Philippines in Romania the gospel and true story of Christmas. We praise God for this opportunity as we were able to share with almost 100 individuals. Several mentioned that they would like to visit the church. We are trusting that God will use this to open many of their hearts to Christ. Please pray with us that God will use this opportunity to produce fruit for His glory.

Bill Sharing The Gospel At The Embassy


Bill & Naty with The Philippine Ambassador & His Wife