February 2014

Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO NEWSLETTER February 2014

“For we are laborers together with God…” 1 Corinthians 3:9

Costea Raul- pastor at Hope Church Draganesti-Olt, Romania / RESO Ministry Coordinator

“The

harvest is

plentiful

but the

workers

are few.

Ask the

Lord of the

harvest,

therefore,

to send

out

workers

into his

harvest

field.”

After six months, I did not know that the

vision of the harvest for 2014 means also

a major change in the structure of our

mission. God, in His mercy, has revealed

to us not only the agenda, but also how

we should operate in the future to be

more efficient.

Following the meeting between

representatives of Hope Church, the

mission team RESO, Cetatea Church,

Sibiu Community and the Community of

Oltenia, we understood that the Holy

Spirit wants an integration of Hope

Church within the Community of Oltenia.

Therefore, RESO mission is now directly

subordinated to the local church, Hope

Church in Drăgănesti-Olt. This

rearrangement of the organizational

structure will eventually lead to forming

new missionary teams in Oltenia.

Although much of my work has meant

reorganizing the mission with all its

implications, it was my joy to see how

other souls have confessed their faith in

Jesus. Pray that God will work steadiness

to their beliefs and to grow in the

knowledge of Jesus.

February being a cold month, people are

not busy with farm or household chores, so

they have more time to relate to one

another. We took advantage of this and I

motivated both missionaries and the

discipleship team to have the perspective

of disciple multiplication. I was glad to see

both, in the city and in the villages that it

was the 4th generation of disciples (2 Tim

2:2).

A great blessing for our church and for

RESO team was organizing a conference on

the theme of disciple multiplication that

answered our need to be equipped for the

harvest. The conference bore fruit in terms

of equipping members and missionaries,

but also generated a partnership with GEM

( Greater E), led by Brother Dwight and

with other churches in the country that

want to help us in discipling people in

Oltenia.

For all these changes, I’m asking prayer for

God’s protection and my family. I felt some

pressure spiritually, emotionally and even

physically.

Despite this intimidation of the evil, I tell

you, all our partners, we continue to move

forward in the will of God with great joy.



Comani- Costea Alexe

Praise God!

We continued the church building

construction by putting the flooring upstairs,

and we made preparations to build the

guests’ rooms.

Praise God that He is working in the hearts of

people. Corina, one of the women who comes

regularly to church, has expressed her desire

to know more about God. She wants a life

with Christ. I was glad when I heard this.

Where there is desire to know more God

means that He is working in that heart. Last

Sunday we had guests from Alba Iulia, Nelu

and Dorina Sofrac family. We had a blessed

time. We were strengthened and encouraged

by their ministry here. May The Lord bless

them!

Prayer requests:

March 8th-women’s event in Comani. Pray

that Lord may change their hearts!

-to complete construction

-Children’s ministry-their salvation

-Corina-May the Lord reveal himself to her and

that she may seek Him wholeheartedly

-Gabi and Ionut-passion for the Lord

- a van for our ministry activities

Berechet Octavian-Maruntei

We were visited by a group of brothers who held a conference in

Drăgănesti on the theme of discipleship. On this occasion, a

family and three other young people were exposed to the

Gospel. Also we were glad to be visited by brother Nelu Sofrac

from Alba Iulia. He brought much encouragement to our family,

as well to the ministry in Maruntei.



Opris Daniel- Draganesti-Olt, Coteana

Through the grace of the

Lord, we continued the

evangelistic visits in

Drăgănesti-Olt and

Coteana. Through weekly

meetings, we wanted to

show people that sin

separates them from God

and to show them how

they can be forgiven through faith in Jesus.

I continued to visit them and prayed that

through the Spirit of God, they may come to the

knowledge of salvation. A man admitted that he

had a sinful life, but he thought that he had a

good relationship with God. I read a verse that

showed just the opposite. His wife understood

more that sin makes man an enemy to God. She

wants to come to church in Drăgănesti, but

cannot due to her paralysis. Last year, she was

very sick and we prayed for her. Now she can

walk inside her house if she gets some support.

On another visit to a man, we presented the

danger of sin and he asked, "Well, I have to quit

smoking?" And I explained him why smoking is a

sin.

My ministry has two purposes: visits to the

unsaved by meeting with them weekly and to

study God's Word. I met two families who

agreed to study together.

We took advantage of the cold weather as

people spend more time inside the house, so we

met more often. I do not know if they made a

personal decision, but we want them first to

understand the message of the Gospel. My

strategy was to encourage them to read one

verse, and then I would help give the answer to

the questions. This way they can better

understand what the Bible says. A family’s

daughters gladly attend kids clubs and learned

many lessons presented by my wife from the

Bible. During one visit I asked, “How many sins

must a man commit to be judged by God? Only

their oldest daughter answered that one sin is

enough. I was glad to see her and other children

from the kids groups understanding spiritual

truths. We are praying that they may be saved.

Lydia continued to teach a Bible study with a few

teenage girls from Coteana.

Few people from Coteana have expressed their

desire to be baptized. Next month we want to

start catechesis with them.

In Drăgănesti-Olt, Lydia has studied the Word of

God with some children and teenagers. Investing

in children is not in vain. They memorize Bible

verses, come to the church programs, pray when

they are in our home, and they even want to

serve. A brother’s son from Coteana evangelized

about the Lord at school to his classmates and

teachers (main and religion). He prayed for his

main teacher to quit smoking and after a short

time this happened. Ionut told me that he was

left by his wife and

he barely could see

his daughter.

Ionut prayed again

and the next day

an opportunity

came for this man

to see his

daughter. God is

working through children and teenagers! My

prayer is that more of them will be saved and



that they would be an army who brings God’s

Word in this area of spiritual darkness.

The other purpose of my mission to Coteana was

meeting with the brothers there and with the

unsaved. Sunday between church services in

Drăgănesti, I went to Coteana. Here we had our

meetings in a believer’s home. They invited

children, neighbors and friends. From 2 to 3 pm,

we had a children’s group and from 3 to 4 pm, a

group of adults. We sing for the glory of the

Lord and we pray. One brother had a short

message and I taught a Bible study. We also had

discussions with the unsaved that were present.

Some of them expressed their desire to come to

Hope Church in Drăgănesti. A brother picked

them up every Sunday evening. On Saturday, we

went to another family of believers. Here we had

another group of children and we prayed with

this family.

Dorothy Reid –Draganesti-Olt, Calinesti As coordinator of children's ministry it is always

a joy to get to visit other clubs to meet

with the workers and spend time with the

children. I was so encouraged last month when

Marinela,

one of the young

moms in our

church, said she

wanted to start a

group at her

home as she saw

so

many children in the growing little community

where she lives. The snow and cold did not stop

the children from coming Thursday afternoons

and by February 13 the weather had warmed up

so much that we began holding club outside!

Pray for Marinela

as she takes her

first steps in

learning to work

with these

precious children

and to teach

them God's Word and the Good News of Christ.

Another wonderful work that God is doing is in

the village of Daneasa where discipleship is

happening at all age levels.

One day our zone leader and I talked about the

children and what would be the best way to

reach them~eg. Through a weekly club or a

group to learn English. Marian mentioned a

young lady named

Maru (Mariana)

who has shown a

real seriousness

and commitment

to the weekly

youth study held

by the pastor's wife, as well as attending Sunday

evening services in Draganesti. As we talked and

prayed, God guided us to talk to Maru and ask

her if she would be willing to start a group.

Someone would come alongside to help her get

started, but it would be up to her to invite 4-5

children that she wants to disciple and it would

be HER group. Even when the weather, snow

storms, and car trouble prevented me from

going some

weeks, Maru continued to faithfully meet with

her group of children. One Sunday when she

came to church someone asked her if she was

going to stay upstairs. She replied, "No, I am

going downstairs (to Sunday School). I want to

learn as much as

I can about working with children!"



Praise God for the way He is touching hearts and

raising up workers to love and teach and disciple

the children!

Thank you also for your prayers for 44 year old

Niculina. She is a new believer we met in the

village of Farcasele last Fall.

Although she is often in hospital due to severe

asthma attacks, we were able to meet a few

times to continue a discipleship

Bible study to help

her grow in her

faith. Pray that God

will show her the

works He has

prepared for her to

do even though she is mostly confined to house

and bed. Pray as she prepares her testimony to

share with some American youth and their

parents who will come to visit her in the month

of March.

Perhaps God will use her story to touch the life

of one of those visitors that will lead to

salvation!

Corabia- Dumitru Mircea

God again blessed

our ministry in

Corabia this

month.

Two weeks ago,

our daughter

Damaris, asked for a book: "What Baptists

Believe?” She said that a friend asked for it. In

fact, her friend’s father wanted to know more

about what we believe. I didn’t know him, but I

prayed for him. Last week, I was cleaning the

rented place we have for our meetings, and I saw

a man who stopped and watched us. I went to

talk to him and I found out that he is Mr.

George, Damaris’ friend’s father who asked for

that book. I invited him to come to our worship

meeting and he said that will surely come. He

kept his promise, and after that he invited us to

his home to talk more about the Gospel.

Florin is a baptized believer. Before starting a

Bible study together, he lived a life of sin. At the

beginning of this month, I asked him what topic

to address in our study. I knew his problem, but I

wanted to see if he is sensitive to his need also.

His answer made me understand that he wants

God to work in his life. Pray for a sanctified life!

After many prayers and much waiting, God has

helped us to rent a space where we met to

worship God every Sunday. We also use this

room for the children’s group and for other

activities.

Stoica Marian- Daneasa

I invite you to pray for us as a family, but also for

RESO team because spiritual resistance is strong.

A special lady who we’ve known for 5 years, Mrs.

Mary loves us, comes to the church and supports

us. For 2 years she regularly attended the church

programs, but resistance from her family and

neighbors is high. On February 18th, we

attended a three-day conference in Draganesti-

Olt on discipleship. For the practical part we

were able to visit Mrs. Mary. The discussion was

encouraging. We were glad to see that Mrs.

Mary understands the message of the Gospel

very well, she prays and her attitude toward



Jesus and His authority is correct. But at the end

of our discussion, we realized how close she is

from salvation by grace and the kingdom of

God.

Many times people begin their faith's journey

with enthusiasm and they end up in this risky

situation: not being inside the Kingdom. Pray

that God will give us wisdom to bring people to

Him and to help them understand the difference

between being close and being inside.

According to

Matthew 9:35, this

month we served

people spiritually

and physically. We

purchased

firewood and food

for four needy families with the support of a few

believers from Germany.

Prayer requests:

We will go to Germany in the next period to

present RESO ministry-the central area. We

need:

-wisdom and strength during our visits to the

churches there.

-Protection from God for the trip back to

Romania; we will travel by car

Serban George- Stoenesti

We give thanks to

God for He poured

out His grace upon us

this month. He saved

us and then He called

us into His ministry. It

is only His grace. We

want to tell others to

seek reconciliation

with God. He wants

no one to die, but have everlasting life.

For this, we have trained this month through a

conference, held in Drăgănesti-Olt. We learned

many theoretical things and we also had the

chance to put them in practice by walking down

the streets and talking to people.

At Stoenesti, we continued to go from house to

house two days a week, to bring the Gospel to

people. We want everyone to be able to hear the

Gospel. I am amazed at how little people know

about God, forgiveness of sins or eternal life.

We want God to illuminate their lives with His

Gospel. We also pray for the Orthodox priests,

to know the truth and to live it. In Gostavatu, we

continued to meet in a sister’s house.

We were glad to see unbelievers who came to

listen. Last time it was a woman who opened her

heart and said she could not sleep and that she

had bad thoughts since she quit reading the

Bible. I encouraged her to approach God’s Word

and to not relay on her righteousness.

Also here, Dana takes care of a group of

teenagers and they began an evangelism study.



Pray for one of those girls who at 18 years had

undergone an abortion. Pray for her to realize

her sin and to

receive forgiveness

and emotional

healing.

Every Thursday in

Stoenesti, we study

the Bible with a

group of young boys.

Two of them are starting to understand the

Word of God better. Pray for Florin, another

young man who gave up coming to the study.

Pray also for those who come to church to be

saved, for the sermons to be relevant, clear and

biblical. Thank you for your support in prayer!



Click on the image bellow to visit the Hope Church website!

http://bisericasperanta.ro/mission/regional/

Documents

February 2014