From the Superintendent's DESK

A team representing the Portland headquarters is in Romania for a nearly three-week visit to our churches there. John Musgrave, Director of Romania Work, and his wife, Rodica, along with Harlan and Debbie Lee, arrived on Friday, November 1, and have already visited several congregations. At each location, they have brought greetings from Portland and report that the saints in Romania are praying for us. In turn, I assured them of our prayers for the saints there and for this mission trip. Let’s pray God will bless every meeting, spread a mighty revival, and further the Gospel work in that country.

As our team travels, they are accompanied by Gheorghe Macovei and Ted Bora, the Eastern and Western Romania District Superintendents respectively. Their first church visit was on Friday evening to Zadareni, the Western region headquarters, for a combined service. It was well attended by representatives from branch locations in Bucharest, Craiova, Gottlob, Sanpetru-German, and Teremia Mica. Several groups of young people provided the song specials and then our team shared two exhortations from God’s Word. The service closed with prayer and then a sweet time of fellowship as everyone enjoyed catching up with old friends.

The next morning, the ministers and their wives gathered again at the Zadareni headquarters for separate conferences. In the ministers’ meeting, two more branch churches were represented: Comlosu Mic and Perium. Reports were shared from each location, and a common theme among them was that God gives His people victory despite challenging circumstances. Following the reports, Brother Harlan gave a presentation on “The Measure of a Minister” and then Brother John spoke on “God’s Financial Plan for the Church.” The meeting was marked by a spirit of unity and closed with prayer. Then lunch was provided for all.

In the evening, a service was held at the location of our first Apostolic Faith church in Romania: Sanpetru-German. There were thirty-five in attendance, and our team reported a sweet spirit throughout. Following two messages and several music specials, the entire congregation went to their knees at the invitation to pray.

On the Lord’s Day, our team attended three services. The first was at Comlosu Mic where a small but faithful group of twenty or so believers is led by Viorel Farcas. During the meeting, Sisters Rodica and Debbie shared their testimonies and several people were prayed over, including a man who recently had a stroke. Two messages were given; the first from Philippians 1 on Paul’s prayer for the church, and the second from Luke 1:37, which states, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Afterward, there was a time of prayer and then all enjoyed lunch in the newly remodeled activity room. Brother Harlan commented that this congregation has worked hard to take a dilapidated building and make it one of the nicest in town.

The next service was held in Gottlob, and the sanctuary was filled to overflowing with more than two hundred in attendance. The former pastor, Benjamin Cret, greeted everyone and then turned the service over to his son, Nicu, who is the current pastor. One highlight of the meeting was the music provided by a children’s choir and then a youth choir. The messages were taken from 1 Thessalonians 3:5-8 on “Standing Fast in the Lord” and from John 5:5 on “Looking to Jesus.” The service closed with a good time of prayer.

The third service was at Zadareni with forty-five in attendance. Several music specials were enjoyed and then two messages were given. The first was from Psalm 37:25, reminding all that God will never forsake His children. The second was from Mark 10:46 and spoke of Bartimaeus taking advantage of the opportunity of Jesus passing by. After the service, our team was treated to a delicious meal prepared by the Tudor family.  

Let’s remember to keep the Musgraves and Lees in our prayers as they continue to visit our Romania churches over the next few weeks.