Romanian Mission Trip Report

by Glen Pearce                                                                                                                    Vol. XVII, No. 5, May 2004

     Interim Pastor, Cave Spring Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA

[Note: This report is an example of what your church can do in direct missions. TCP]

From March 12 – March 23 a 16 member team was on a mission in Romania. The team was composed of eleven members of Cave Spring Baptist Church of Roanoke; three members from Beaverdam Baptist Church of Moneta; one member from Lakeside Baptist Church of Roanoke; and one member of Swift Creek Baptist Church of Colonial Heights. Before we left, Hayden Furrow from CSBC developed detailed plans of activities. The team was led by Glen Pearce, Minister of Education/Administration & Interim Pastor of CSBC. Each team member was allowed one personal suitcase and one carry-on bag. Each of the 16 members also carried a large suitcase filled with mission supplies.

We flew into Bucharest and traveled by bus to Craiova where our hotel was located. The team was joined by 11 translators and a coordinator. On the Saturday of arrival we stopped in Slatina for a worship service which we led in the Grace Baptist Church. Our work in Romania was primarily in the City of Filiasi and the Villages of Butoiesti and Bilta. Emanuel Baptist Church in Filiasi and her Pastor, George “GiGi” Spatarelu, were our host for the days of mission work. We concentrated our efforts through this church and its two mission churches in Butoiesti and Bilta.

Our mission work was varied in focus. We utilized a Focometer that we borrowed from the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association and did eye screening. This allowed us to distribute approximately 500 pair of glasses in the 3 areas. While the eye screening was taking place, we had three nurses that were conducting hygiene classes. As dental hygiene was covered, we gave out a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste to each participant. One suitcase of over the counter medication was left with Pastor GiGi’s wife, who is a nurse, to help their congregations. Two suitcases of over the counter medicine were donated to the medical clinic in Butoiesti where we have developed a relationship with the doctor over the last three years.

In the Public School in Filiasi and Butoiesti, four of our adult members taught various subjects including American History, Accounting, Electrical Systems, and Church History. These were basic in nature and really served as a way to build relationships in the community. Two of our youth accompanied the teachers and had opportunities to dialog with Romanian youth in the classrooms.

Part of our team worked with children through games, crafts, and Bible stories. They were in Public and Christian Kindergartens and at the churches. These times took place in the three locations and in the village of Artenseti where Pastor GiGi is attempting to build relationships in hope of beginning a new mission point. Highlights for the children included playing with the parachutes (which we left for them) and learning how to do the “Hokie – Pokie” (thanks to our Virginia Tech faction). Simple things like working with one school to help the children understand what crayons are and how to hold them were very moving for our children’s team. The attention and the affection for the children and from the children was beautiful to behold.

In Filiasi we were able to secure an old theater building to show the “Jesus” video. Approximately 1,100 people crowded into the auditorium to see the film. Many wept as they saw the story of our Savior unfold before their eyes. Most of the chairs had two people sitting in them, the floor at the front had many children sitting on it, and the aisles were literally packed with people.

In Butoiesti we showed the children’s version of the “Jesus” video because we had no building large enough to be inside and outside was limited by time due to the sun setting. Approximately 100 people filled the street of the small village to view the film.

The two team members that are vocational pastors conducted a one day seminar for pastors in the Oltenia Baptist Association. There were 52 pastors in attendance at a Hotel in Craiova where we taught and dialoged with them. We provided a very nice lunch and then finished the conference in the afternoon. Subjects included pastoral characteristics found in I Timothy, church structure and duties of pastors, deacons, committees, and congregations. Practical issues like sermon preparation and resources were given as well as covering the topic of security of the believer which many struggle with in Romania. During the discussion time we were able to deal with the problems of legalism that tend to face many Romanian churches.

Finally our team conducted Sunday Worship services on both Sundays. We were in Emanuel Baptist Church on Sunday morning and evening and the team split between the mission churches in Butoiesti and Bilta on Sunday afternoons. During the trip there were a total of eleven worship services conducted.

We were able to provide enough cash for the Butoiesti location to purchase and level fill dirt that is necessary across the property and around the slab that was poured last year. A water-well has already been dug on the site. The funding will also provide for the purchase and installation of required fencing of the church property. The fence will be concrete and wrought iron frontage and chain link on the other 3 sides.

Upon learning of some medical issues for the Spatarelu family (specifically Christiana, their oldest daughter, and Miriam, GiGi’s wife) we agreed as a team to provide financial assistance.

God truly blessed as we worked, planted, and in some cases watered. We pray now for the harvest. We look ahead with great expectations to the continued relationships and work with Pastor GiGi and Emanuel Baptist in the future. Our sights are already set on 2005 in Romania.