Miles, Miles & More Miles

After covering  over 12.000 miles and over 15 states in a little over three months, Bill and I have finally arrived back home in Romania after our long trip in the United States.  While we were there we visited with family, friends and several churches.  The end of August we returned back to Bucharest.

September 8th, the church enjoyed its annual welcome back BBQ.  We had great weather, lots of food and wonderful fellowship.  This year, it's the first time the members of the church organized the event on their own. The day started with everyone meeting for a short service at the church, where Bill presented an overview of who the church is, what we believe in and how someone can get connect it.  Then, we actually tried to connect over lunch in the park. We also had special guests with us from the home office of our mission agency Global Outreach.  Lyle and Rose have been with us to see the ministry but they came with a servant's heart helping us to get ready for the BBQ as we were still trying to get over the jet lag.

September 9th-13th, Bill taught counseling training classes to a core group of pastors and their wives in the south of Moldova.  These are people that have been exposed to counseling before through partnering with the Counseling Ministry of Faith Church, Lafayette.  This partnership is continuing, but it is more focused on leaders that are actually doing counseling now.

September 15th, the church had the Annual Ministry Fair.  This is a time for new comers to find out how they can be involved in the church and how to make a difference in the community.  We had 5 different guests present the ministry opportunity in the community:

  1. Hospices of Hope who ministers to terminally ill adults and children.  The hospice is a new concept in Romania.  It is a Christian organization.

  2. Human Trafficking Shelter lead by Monica, a pastor's wife from Bucharest. The only Christian outreach to the victims that were trafficked.

  3. Touched Romania, a shelter for abused mothers.  They care for the moms and their children as they go through struggles. Also, they teach the mothers various skills to help them be more independent.

  4. Ioana's House a shelter for homeless people. For a limited time people can stay there.  They are helped to get legal status, a job, a place to live and children in school.

  5. Second Chance Romania teaches the unfortunate skills and creates job opportunities helping children go to school, providing a work place for some villages around Bucharest.

On a personal note, Bill and I have just celebrated our 9th anniversary.  God has been so gracious to us.  He has blessed us with a wonderful marriage and has made us great partners in the ministry.  All glory to God!

On The Move There & Here

Over the last few months God has allowed Bill to train Daniel from Nigeria for the ministry.  He came to Romania to study at a local university, but after he started to learn more about the Bible and how to study it on his own he then decided he wanted to go to seminary and be in the ministry full time.  What an amazing opportunity to influence a young person like this from Nigeria in the heart of Romania.  Please pray for Daniel that God will guide him and use him for his kingdom and that a door will be opened for him to study and prepare for the ministry. 

Daniel and Bill studying Bible Study Methods

Once a month Bill is equipping people from our church with the tools every Christian needs to be able to share their faith, to study the Scriptures and to live a godly life.  The end of April he taught us how you can give an overview of the Bible in just twelve words.  It was an amazing ride through the Old and New Testament.   

Bill teaching the overview of the bible

In May, several ladies and I (Naty) from our church attended the annual women’s conference organized by the International Baptist Convention.  God allowed me to be part of the Women’s Ministry Team representing the convention.  Each spring the convention organizes a conference to reach women from many International Churches across Europe and beyond.   This year, 150 ladies from over 20 nations gathered in the hometown of Corrie Ten Boom, in the Netherlands for a time of encouragement in God’s word.  This conference is so important because it ministers to ladies from all over the world who go through similar challenges brought by their transient life style either because of their own job that moves them every 2 years or because they follow their spouse when his job gets relocated.   Praise God for a blessed time and hearts that were restored!

Women’s ministry team for the Convention

Ladies from Bucharest in Corrie Ten Boom’s house

In the last few months the church has been exposed to a new ministry in Bucharest that works with women caught in human trafficking.  Monica, a pastor’s wife from Romania, found out about the grim reality of humanly trafficked women and with God’s help she opened up a safe house for them. Because of the lack of jobs, Romanian ladies go to work in Europe and many of them end up being caught up in this sort of tragic circumstance, but they don’t have anything waiting for them if they ever return to their former life.  This Christian safe house that just opened up ministers to those girls abused, that by God’s grace, are able to escape.   The church is learning how to better get involved in this great ministry opportunity.  Members of the church have already started being involved by providing dry foods, soil for the garden, volunteer work and a lot of prayer.  If you want to learn more about this unique ministry opportunity you may want to watch the movie ‘Nefarious’ which you can find in your local Christian bookstores.  Please pray for Monica, for the workers and for the women that will come through this safe house.     

Monica (in red) shares about the shelter at a Women’s Bible Study

Many of you have been praying for my dad as he was fighting hepatitis C.  This month we will celebrate one year since his liver transplant. While dad was in Italy, before even being on a transplant list, he started a Romanian/Moldovan church.  After one year the church has grown to approximately 60 members.  Recently, they brought in a Moldovan family to pastor the church. My dad has recovered very well and is now serving in the ministry in Moldova.  We thank you for your prayers for my dad over this past year.  

My dad with the new Moldovan church in Italy

On a personal note, Bill and I are now in the States visiting family, friends and ministry partners.  My older brother Vali, who lives in Atlanta, got married May 25^th.  What a great excuse to come back to the States!   While we are here we will be covering over 8000 miles by car and a few by plane visiting with families and speaking in churches.  If we don’t get the chance to thank you in person we would like to once again to express our gratitude for partnering with us in the ministry God has called us too in Eastern Europe. 

Vali (my brother) and Elizabeth on their Wedding Day    

An Amazing Few Months

The end of February Naty and I in conjunction with others from around the International Baptist Convention were honored to be able to partner with our brothers and sisters in Moldova in an Evangelistic effort in the south of Moldova.  The project went from the 18th to the 24th of February.  During this time many throughout the area we were working were introduced to the gospel for the first time.  One pastor from the village of Baimaclia, Moldova said, "During his experience there in that village he had never seen the Lord work in the way He did during that week of evangelistic work."  We pray that the fruit that was bore in that week will last and that it will be the beginning of something significant for the Kingdom of God in that area.

Sharing the gospel with the body in Baimaclia

It was a packed house that night

A few weeks later we had a opportunity to take the church in Bucharest to the mountains of Romania for our annual church weekend retreat.  We were blessed to have my assistants father, Derek Moore-Crispin a pastor in the United Kingdom with us for worship while we were there.  Many from the church attended and once again it was a great time for the church to continue to develop community among each other.  This has proven through the years to be a wonderful annual event in the life of the church which has been helpful in  encouraging growth throughout the congregation.  Please pray for the God's protection on the community of the International Church.

The retreat is held in beautiful Busteni, Romania 

Worship During our time in Busteni

A group picture of the church in Busteni

The middle of March Naty and I had the opportunity to attend the pastor's conference of the International Baptist Convention.  This was a good time of spiritual nourishment and refreshment.  We really considered ourselves blessed to be able join others from around the convention for the wonderful time.  While we were there we had an opportunity to evaluate where we are as a couple and a congregation.  We are so grateful that God has allowed us to serve alongside each other in the ministry in Romania and Moldova and we want to do all we can to serve the Lord as effectively as possible   Therefore, as we made preparations to return to Romania at the end of the conference we were asking the Lord to help us apply the things we learned in the church once we arrived home.   

At the IBC pastors conference banquet

While at the conference we came across something familiar

This last Sunday we celebrated our Lord's resurrection at the International Church of Bucharest.  This was a bit of a different experience this year because many in Romania will not celebrate Easter till the 5th of May.  The reason is that the Orthodox Church of Romania doesn't celebrate Easter at the same time as most churches in the west.  Normally the two dates would only be separated by a week or two, but this year was an exception to that.  Although many in Romania did not observe Easter we did and it was a joyous time of remembering Christ's sacrifice and celebrating his resurrection.  We trust that each of you had a similar time of worship this past Sunday as well.

Easter at the International Church

Finally, we wanted to take a moment and thank each of you once again.  We know just how blessed we are to serve the Lord where He has called us too.  Each of you play a vital role in the work here in Romania and Moldova as well.  We would be unable to do this work without the continued prayers and generous sacrifices that many of you have given on our behalf.  So to say thanks we thought we would share a few snap shots of the smallest among us who's lives are being impacted by each of you.

The children of the International church

Children's Church Is a Big Hit Every Sunday

Looking Back ... Looking Forward

As we reflect back over 2012 we have seen so many things at the International Church that we celebrate.  One of the things that we have learned to celebrate has been the many ways that God has opened the door for the International Church to influence the culture around us.  One of the doors that has been opened to us over the years is the continual work of the after school program that works with Romanian families in the community.  As these children continue to attend the after school we continue to seek to find new ways to introduce Christ to these families.  In this New Year the opportunities to influence the Romanian culture around us continue to grow through things like the after school and other good organizations that are meeting real needs around us like; Hospices of Care, Broken Heart Foundation, Second Chance, etc.  Please pray that God will continue to open doors for the International Church to influence the culture around us with the gospel.

The after school program at the church

Over the last twelve months a very interesting development has taken place at the church.  The men's ministry of the church has been growing and the men are beginning to really take the lead in many ways in our pursuit to reach the culture around us.  This is a very exciting development for us.  One of the ways we have continued to encourage this sort of growth among the men at the International Church is through our annual Men's Retreat.  This year was no different as the men of the church meet for a concerted time of fellowship and bible study at the Romanian Olympic Training Center just outside of Bucharest.  Please continue to pray that the men of the church will continue to grow and take the lead in reaching the community around us.

The of the church worshiping and studying together at the retreat

Take a moment and listen to the men worship at the retreat

One of our favorite ways to reach the community around us is through our Christmas Shoebox Project.  This is a way to help families and children who would not normally experience much of Christmas have an opportunity to do so.  As we have this opportunity to help them it opens the door directly for us to share the good news of the gospel with each of them.  This year had the privilege to reach out to approximately 30 children.  Please pray for these children and their parents that they will see their need for Christ and turn to him for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

The children and their families we had the opportunity to help

Merry Christmas To All!

As we draw to the end of the year of 2012 we want to take a moment to thank each of you for your continued partnership in the work God has called us too here in Romania and Moldova.  As we take stock of all that God has done we can have no other response than to say, "We've been blessed!"  We've been blessed by God's blessing upon the work of ministry, we've also been blessed by your partnership in the ministry.  Therefore, Naty and I thank you for the sacrifices you have made.  We realize for many around the world times are very difficult and we thank you for continuing to consider the work in Eastern Europe through your prayers and gifts.  Our prayer for each of you this Christmas is that your lives would be blessed richly by the presence of God and that He would draw you and your families closer during this holiday season, Merry Christmas to each of you.

Since the last time we updated you we had an opportunity to visit with Naty's dad.  This is the first time we have seen him since the transplant surgery.  We have so much to be grateful for this Christmas and as we celebrate our Savior's birth we thank him for the grace He has given Naty's dad by saving his life.  As you can see below he is doing well.  He has lost a significant amount of weight, but the doctors seem to be saying he is recovering from the transplant nicely.  We thank each of you for your prayers and concerns for brother Andrei over this past year.  We ask each of you finally, to continue to keep him in your prayers by asking God to give him a full recovery.

Naty's dad during his visit a few weeks ago

December 8th the International Church celebrated it's annual Christmas celebration.  This was a wonderful time as we gathered together as a congregation to celebrate the birth of Christ.  This is a time when many in the church invite their friends who would not normally attend church to come and hear a proclamation of the good news of the gospel.  Through the years many unbelievers in our community have been introduced to Christ through the Christmas celebration, this year was no exception.  Please pray for those who attended this celebration who do not know Christ.  Pray that God would use the seed that was planted in them during the Christmas program to bring them to come to know Christ in a personal way.

Bill & Naty making a presentation during the Christmas program

Part of the children's presentation during the Christmas Program

Much To Be Thankful For

Since our last update much has happened and we have much to share with you.  The end of October we made our annual trip to join our brothers and sisters who co-labor along with us in the International Baptist Convention at the annual meeting for the convention in Berlin, Germany.  While we were there we were very encouraged to learn more about how God is using the cooperation that is taking place amongst the churches of the convention to take the gospel to places all around the world.  Over the last six years Naty and I have had the privilege to serve in this effort in a small way.  Naty was asked to coordinate the Women's Ministry of the convention a little over a year ago.  In addition, I have been serving by coordinating the Mission Team's efforts over the last three years as well.  Now we are experiencing an even greater joy in partnership with the IBC as it has forged a new relationship between itself and the Baptist Union of Moldova.  Ultimately, our direct relationship with Moldova has given us the privilege of assisting the IBC by coordinating this new relationship. We are thrilled by each opportunity to serve, but we ask you to please pray that God will help us balance all our responsibilities well.  Pray that we will be able to be faithful with our responsibilities within the work at the International Church of Bucharest, within our efforts to coordinate the different responsibilities in the convention and within our continued work in the Republic of Moldova.

 

Bill updating the IBC on the work of the mission team

Praying for two new IBC churches - one of which is in Romania

Bill & Naty with many of the pastors and leaders of the IBC

As Naty and I returned home from our time with our brothers and sister of the IBC we had a chance to go through Wittenburg, Germany.  This is where Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church in 1517.  This is the place where many believe the protestant reformation began.  For both Naty and I it was a good opportunity to be able to take a moment and thank God for what he began there in Wittenburg almost 500 years ago. 

Standing in front of the door where Luther nailed his 95 theses

The first of November at the International Church we had the chance to celebrate the baptism of three young people within our fellowship.  Daniel from Nigeria, Hashaa from Mongolia and Carmen from Romania.  Recently Daniel has approached the leadership of the church expressing the desire to be trained for greater work in the ministry.  Soon we plan to begin this work with him.  We are thrilled by the work that God is doing in their lives and we trust that God will enable them to fulfill the purpose he has for each of their lives.  As you think of Daniel, Hashaa and Carmen, please keep them in your prayers.

 

Bill leading the congregation in the ordinance of baptism

Bill baptizing Daniel from Nigeria

A week ago the men of the International Church once again took their annual trek to the Olympic Training Center of Romania.  We have been going there with the men of the church for a retreat that is focused on just the men.  Once again this year many of the men of the church participated and many shared by the end of the weekend just how big a blessing it was for them.  One of the testimonies we heard that encouraged us the most was in response to the question, "What is the best thing God has done in your life in Romania?"  Many got a good chuckle from me sharing about God providing me a wife here in Romania.  Yet, I was most encouraged by a few brothers that shared that the church was a real answer to prayer for them.  They shared how when they first arrived in Romania they really desired to find a place to worship, but where unable to do so till they found the International Church.  They continued to share how it has not only met a need in their lives, but how the church has really helped them take steps of growth spiritually in their lives as well.

Our times of worship at the church's men's retreat

Many of the men joined in some great fellowship at the retreat

as we played indoor soccer together

As always Naty and I have so much to be grateful for and each of you would be included in our list of blessings.  We know these days are difficult for so many.  Yet many of you continue to make generous sacrifices on behalf of the work here.  We thank you for the sacrifices you make to unable this work here to continue.  During this holiday season we pray that our Lord will richly bless you and your families for love and generosity you have shown toward so many here in Romania and Moldova. 

 

The Road Ahead

Over the last couple of months some significant things happen here in Romania.  One of the most prominent things is that the Lord has helped us develop a new vision for the church here in Bucharest. This all happened because the leadership of the church has been convicted for sometime about how to challenge the church to be more proactive in its role to more effectively reach out with the gospel to the community around us. It was with that in mind that we recently gathered together for a planning meeting to put in place a plan and structure to accomplish this in the days to come.

IBC Ministry Team Meeting 

In our time together two primary things were accomplished.  First, we were able to develop a vision statement that we believe will assist the church as we move forward over the next few years.  The vision statement is: "IBC seeks to realize what it would be like to be part of a culturally diverse group of English speakers who say, culture is no barrier!  We have been transformed by the love of Christ and challenged by His heart for mankind.  We are young and old, married and single, students and professionals from every corner of the world.  We laugh together, cry together, play together and serve together.  Ultimately, our love for each other is expressed by how we worship together.  We work together to empower the poor, strengthen the weak, help the outcast and reach the lost.  We are willing to link arms with any who want to exalt the name of Christ and to risk it all to see culture influenced and our God glorified." The second thing we were able to accomplish was to develop a structure of ministry that we believe we effectively accomplish the plan that was put in place.  

 The Ministry Structure We Have Chose To Focus On

Since our planning meeting I wanted to share with you some of the results.  To start we knew that every member of the International Church needed to understand this new approach to our city and find their place of service to help accomplish the bigger plan as well. Therefore, just about every week since that Naty and I have been in town we have helped in conducting orientation meetings in our home to help orient and equip the body to engage in this new thrust to more directly serve and reach the lost of the city of Bucharest.

One of the recent meetings in our home to help the body

find their place of service in the church and the city

Since the last meeting we have even more exciting results to share as some in the body have made some important decisions in their lives personally. One young person from an African country began to question parts of his faith.  As a result, this next month we will have the privilege to baptize him. Others who have never been involved in serving are now getting involved and outside organizations are now beginning to come to the church to ask us for our help. One such organization is directly working with women from the city who have tragically been caught up in the sex trade here in Europe. Another organization has been seeking our help to help care for the terminally ill here in the city. These are just a few examples. We are so excited about the new opportunities that God is bring our way to more effectively serve our community. We pray and ask you to pray for us as well that God will help us take advantage of each opportunity.  Also, please pray that God will help us be able to use these new opportunities to build bridges into these peoples lives so that we might be able to share the gospel with them.

IBC Welcome Back Barbecue 2012

Recently the church celebrated its annual 'Welcome Back Barbecue' for the members of the church who have been away during the summer months. This has proven to be a great time for the church to invite friends and colleagues who have never attended the church before. Many came and joined us for the the barbecue and we were excited to get to know each person who visited that day.  We ask you to pray for the church we move into this new school year.

 

Naty and I with the Niblett family

On a more personal note, Naty and I were asked recently if we were willing to be the godparents for the daughter of a family who was an important part of IBC for several years. James and Naomi Niblett were members at IBC for the time that they lived in Bucharest. Recently they had their third child.  They have three children Daniel, Esther and Miriam. Miriam was born a year and a half ago and they asked us if we would be willing to take a special spiritual interest in her life. We were humbled by the the request. Now as a result, we are excited to be able to keep up our friendship with the family as we will have the opportunity to build spiritually into little Miriam's life over the years.

Naty with her father after surgery in Italy

Many of you have been praying for Naty's dad and his recovery from the liver transplant he went through about through months back. We are thankful to be able to report to you that he is making consistent progress in his recovery. He and Naty's mother are now currently living in an apartment near that hospital. They will be there for the foreseeable future as the doctors still want to keep on eye on his recovery. This is a little challenging for them as it is costing them approximately 1,000 euro a month to stay there. So please continue to keep him in your prayers. Pray that he will recover completely and that every need that they have financially will be met. 

Last, we want to take a moment to thank you. We realize that we live in difficult times for so many and we are certain that many of you have made some big sacrifices to help assist the work that God has called us too. We may never be able to fully thank you for these sacrifices.  Therefore, we want to let you know that each of you are in our prayers. We pray that even during these difficult times that you will know the continued blessings of the Lord. We pray that your every need will be met and that your heart will rejoice with the knowledge of knowing just how God is using you and your gifts in the countries of Romania and Moldova. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

A Very Full Summer

Over the last few months since we last communicated with you much has happened.  We first wanted to introduce you to a special couple.  Earlier this spring Emeka and Constanta came to the leadership of the church and expressed their desire to be married.  They asked if we would be willing to unite them in marriage at the church.  We told them the only way we would consider this is if they agreed to attend premarital counseling.  They agreed and we worked with them from March until June. During this period of time we learned that Constanta did not have a relationship with Christ.  It was truly a joy to lead her to the Savior in their 2nd session with us.  Over the following weeks they both made tremendous strides in their relationship with Jesus Christ as they prepared for marriage. Sunday, July 1st it was a joy to baptize Constanta as our new sister in Christ.  On Sunday the 15th everyone at the International Church celebrated they were united in marriage after worship that Sunday.  As you think of this couple please keep them in your prayers.  Pray that the Lord will continue to help them to grow in their relationship with him and with each other.

Take a moment and listen to Constanta's testimony

 Constanta's baptism on the 1st of July

Emeka and Constanta's wedding on the 15th of July

The beginning of the summer marked an important landmark in the history of the International Church.  For the first time in the church's history we had the privilege of sending out our first missionary who had spent over five years at IBC preparing for ministry.  Stuart Harrison, from the United Kingdom, had taught school at an international school in Bucharest up till this time.  Yet during this time God had been laying on his heart to move to northern Romania to a small town with very little evangelical influence to start a work there.  After much prayer, training and counsel the church sent him out to do this work the beginning of June this year.  Please pray that God will bless the work he has led Stuart to and that God will produce much fruit through him for his glory.

Stuart Harrison - IBC missionary to Balan, Romania

Many of you have been praying for Naty's dad over this last few months as well.  As you know he has been suffering from the degenerative effects of Hepatitis C.  We all have been praying that the Lord would allow him to receive a new liver from a liver transplant to extend his life.  Since the last time we reported to you the Lord has done what only he could have.  Approximately three weeks ago we received a phone call from her dad in Italy that informed us that he was on the way to the hospital.  The reason, a liver had become available and the doctors where preparing to have him come so the procedure could be done.  We are happy to report that the surgery went very well and he has been recovering comfortably since.  We would ask you to continue to pray for two things.  First, please pray for his complete total recovery.  There are still many months of recovery in front of Naty's dad.  He will have to remain in Italy over this next year as the doctors continue to work with him during this time of recovery.  Next, please pray that God will continue to provide every financial resource necessary for Andrei while he remains in Italy.  It will cost him approximately 1,000 euro each month that he is there.  This is quite expensive for him, so please pray that God will work in the hearts of his people to give to help him with this great need.

Naty and her dad prior to his surgery in Italy

Naty with her dad the day after the transplant surgery

Naty with her dad as he continues to recovery from the transplant

We are continuing to work alongside the Deo Gloria Baptist Church here in Bucharest.  As you have heard, we have been working alongside this Romanian church to help and assist them as they grow to become a fully established and functioning local church.  Recently we were asked to come and participate with them as they celebrated the baptism of two new sisters in Christ.  They continue to make good progress in reaching out to the local community.  So please continue to pray for this church that the Lord will help them become well established.

Bill participating in baptism service with Deo Gloria Baptist Church