Mission to Bals

by Hayden Furrow                                                                                       Vol. X, No. 9, Nov/Dec 1997

[The previous Banner had two articles reporting last summer’s mission team trip to Negreshti, Romania. In fact, there were two teams which traveled to Romania, the one to Negreshti and the second to the town of Bals. This article reports the trip to Bals. Hayden Furrow is a member West Salem BC and chairman of the church’s Mission Council.]

The Bals trip took place 18-27 August with the purpose of sharing God’s love with the people of Bals and neighboring communities through giving the Gospel of Christ, personal testimonies, and medical aid to the needy. In addition, an important goal was to spiritually strengthen the Baptist Church of BALS to be a strong testimony for Christ in a town of 18,000 20,000 where there is no other church and the Romanian Orthodox denomination has a strong foothold. This was a joint effort between the Romanian Home Mission Board, the Baptist Church of BALS, West Salem Baptist, and Green Ridge Baptist, which — as noted below — built upon an earlier monetary gift from the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.

Romanian Coordinators were Sami Saviuc, Head of Home Mission Board, Baptist Union of Romania, and Rev. Nicolae Maior, Pastor of the Baptist Church of BALS.

Total participants from USA included 7 from West Salem and 3 from Green Ridge Baptist churches. These 10 were divided into two units as follows:

EVANGELISM SPIRITUAL HEALING UNIT:

Rev. Mike Slaughter, Pastor, West Salem

Rev. Mike Palmer, Pastor, Green Ridge

Rev. Ken Nienke, Associate Pastor, West Salem

Wayne King, Layman, Green Ridge

Dale Branham, Layman, Green Ridge

Hayden Furrow, Layman, West Salem

MEDICAL PHYSICAL HEALING UNIT:

Dr. Richard Leggett, M.D. Christian Psychiatrist, West Salem

Mr. Bill Cundiff, Pharmacist, West Salem

Mrs. Cathy Eversole, Registered Nurse, West Salem

Mrs. Margaret Stultz, Nurse's Aide, West Salem

Our work began with God through First Baptist, Woodstock, GA, planting a desire in Green Ridge in 1995 to help the people of Bals, Romania, who had no evangelistic witness. Resources at Green Ridge did not permit their accomplishing the task on their own, and they came to West Salem seeking a joint effort. After investigation, prayer, and counseling, which included a fact finding trip to Bals in the Spring of 1996, a united effort by the two churches in late summer of 1996 was launched to establish a strong witness for Christ in Bals.

In November 1996 with the help $18,000 contributed by the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia a house on the main thoroughfare of Bals was purchased to be remodeled into a church. Plans were set for the Mission Team to go to Bals in August 1997.

In early 1997 monthly planning meetings began and evangelistic and medical supplies began to be collected. Each Team Member prepared two testimonies. One, a short version translated into Romanian which would serve as an introduction and handout testimony and which included the plan of salvation, and a second which would be used in services. We also secured 700 copies of "The Ultimate Question" and 1,000 copies of "Good News" tracts in Romanian. Further, there were 1,000 copies of bookmarks with the team picture purchased for distribution. Altogether there were over 4,000 copies of Christian literature for distribution.

Medical supplies were donated from pharmaceutical companies, tooth brushes and tooth paste came from dentists, Wal-Mart, and Kroger. In addition coloring books, toys, baseball hats, clothing, soccer balls, a basketball hoop, a full set of Bible stories in flannel graph material, frisbees, clothing, etc. were donated by Kroger, Wal-Mart, Sunday School classes, and individuals of the two churches. Altogether there were some 300 pounds shipped ahead, and in addition 12 large suitcases were carried by the team to transport the remaining material.

The Team left Salem on Monday morning, August 18, and arrived at the hotel in Criova, Romania, late Tuesday night. A clinic was set up in the church on Wednesday. Each day consisted of a clinic at the church and evangelistic work in town at the train station, market, and neighboring communities during the day, and an evangelistic service at night.

We found the house purchased in November had been remodeled into a beautiful little church with seating capacity of 40 to 50. The building consists of a sanctuary, Bible study room, and a planned children’s work room. The workmanship was in good taste and professional.

During our four day visit the medical team provided aid to over 400 people and prescribed medication for over 200 from the medical supplies we brought with us. The Evangelistic Team went throughout Bals and into the neighboring towns of Sonarlita, Baldovinesti, Virtop, and Corbeni. While an accurate count was not possible, an estimated 100+ professions of faith in Christ were made. Evening church service Wednesday night was attended by 97 people, and it grew each night. Only about 30% were church people, and they stood outside so the unchurched could be inside the sanctuary. Thursday afternoon Rev. Palmer and Rev. Nienke conducted a Seminar in the bus for church members who wished to learn about stewardship, church government, and discipleship. Some 25 attended the Seminar. On Friday night after worship service they taught tithing from God's Word. Some 30 to 40 attended.

Rev. Palmer, Rev. Nienke, and I visited the Mayor of Bals. The Mayor was very cordial and seemed to enjoy the gifts from the Mayor of Salem. The Mayor said he was glad we were there and the town needs the church. He also stated that all churches must work together. We learned that he heads fund raising to build a Romanian Orthodox church in Bals. This is evidence that the work in Bals is effective and is causing concern for the Orthodox Church.

Sunday was designated for the dedication of the church to service for the Lord Jesus Christ. The service began outside with a 22 piece brass band playing hymns in the church yard. Then there was a ribbon cutting ceremony in which I was privileged to cut the ribbon, and that was followed by the worship service which lasted three hours and was attended by over 200.

At home an army of prayer warriors were busy in both churches. These prayers were and still are being answered. God used our time, talents, gifts, hugs, and smiles to reach out to a hurting people and demonstrate His love in a manner never seen before. Isaiah 55:11 tells us that God's Word will not return to Him empty. Thousands of testimonies were distributed, over 100 professions of faith were made, hundreds attended services, and hundreds more had the Gospel of Christ presented in their own language. Thousands of copies of printed material were distributed, and not one copy was seen to be thrown away. Most Romanians started reading as soon as they received the material.

FUTURE MINISTRY: Continue to support the Baptist Church of Bals until it becomes self supporting. Brother Nick feels this will occur when the church membership grows to 150 and estimates this will occur in 1½ to 2 years. When this church is self supporting, Brother Nick plans to move to another town to plant another church. At that time we could provide the same support to the new church that we are now providing in Bals, if the Lord so leads.

It is important to note that we were augmented by a Romanian team composed of Dr. Laura, a pediatrician, four godly interpreters, and many volunteers.

[Note: If you feel God calling YOU to serve Him in some aspect of partnership missions, be sure to read the article in this Banner titled “Partnership Missions 1998.”]