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Central & Eastern testimonies

Romania - Unfazed by rumours

Central & Eastern Europe
There is a village in the southern part of Romania where we started a ministry. From the beginning we faced hostility from the Orthodox priest who watched every move we made in the village, especially in our home visits. He spread rumours about us but we overlooked them because our purpose was to present the Good News to the people.

In August we organised a revival meeting at the Culture House of the village with the approval of the local authorities. We preached the Gospel, talked to people in the streets and distributed tracts about salvation. Right after that, the priest and his assistant went door to door in the village to warn the people about us. They said that we had come to them with laundered money, with drugs and in the power of the Devil. They collected all the tracts we distributed and burned them.

The next Sunday, together with a group of Christian believers from another church, we went to the village with the same purpose—meeting people for Bible study and visiting those who invited us to their homes. As we were visiting a family, the priest, his assistant and a bunch of young people burst in and forced us out. They started to push us, kick us, shout hysterically at us and make false charges. The priest hit me with his silver cross on my mouth and started to force it into my mouth while yelling at me that the village is “his harvest”. He also urged the young people who came with him to continue to hit and kick us. One of the girls from our group was hit by a boy from the priest's group. We barely escaped to another house where we meet.

In the meantime the local mayor showed up and he could see for himself the "battle field" and also smelled the alcohol of the priest's group. The priest yelled a final threat, “If you come again, we will kill you.” We had to call the police so that we could leave with our lives! We pray that the Lord will bring peace to this village. —Aidan, Church Planter, Romania square

Do You Know?

For many Romanian Church Planters, it is an uphill battle in reaching their community with the love of Christ. Although millions of Romanians call themselves “Christians” since they have grown up in the Orthodox Church, only 3% of Orthodox believers actively practice their faith. Moreover, some Romanian Orthodox churches are resistant to allowing other denominations within their “territory”. Not all Romanian Orthodox priests harbour hard feelings but in the past, Romanians paid priests for all kinds of ceremonies—marriages, burials and baptisms. Therefore, for a priest to relinquish control is not just to lose church members but also a source of income. 

However, such opposition has not stopped God’s kingdom from advancing. According to the Director of Ministries in Romania, Bible League-trained Church Planters continue to press on in sharing their faith. He says, “Despite the opposition and the hardships of this spiritual warfare, we praise God for all His workers that succeeded in planting many churches."

 

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Action Point
arrow Pray that persecuted Christians in Central and Eastern Europe will be strengthened by God's Word, with their eyes fix on Jesus in their perseverance.
arrow Praise God for the many changed lives through His Word despite much opposition.
arrow Provide Bibles for Christians in Central and Eastern Europe, click here.
   
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