Ploiesti, Romania

I Never Had To Move

2008-10-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

On Wed. afternoon April and I went back to the apartment complex we had worked in on Tuesday. We had returned to visit a man who had accepted Christ to complete discipleship lessons. The new believer was not home so we set out to visit other homes and we can upon a man sitting on a bench alone. The nationals ask him if I could share and he said yes so I began to share my story of how my life had changed after having a relationship with Jesus. I completed the cube and ask him if he would like a relationship with Jesus and he said yes. We prayed together and began to do discipleship but a man came up and sat down beside us so I passed off the lesson to a national and I began sharing with the new man who had walked up. We had a very emotional talk and he shared his wife had just passed away and he was concerned where she might be. I shared with him about how we could be sure where he would spend eternity and he began to weep. We continued to share with one another and he very passionately ask Jesus to save him and forgive him for his sins. We started lesson one of discipleship and another man came and sat down and we began to share with him and he also accepted Christ. I started to get up and a forth man came up sat down and ask me to share with him so we began to talk and he ask Jesus into his heart. This week has been very challenging and emotional as we have seen many hurts and confused people but on this day GODS blessing were pouring out and we were allowed to see him move mightily in the hearts of these 4 men. It is hard for me believe that in a Country where many hearts are so hard and cold that God allowed me to see 4 souls won to him and I never moved form one spot. God has broken me this week and really shown me that the time is know to share his word. People are hurting and in need of hope in life that can only come from Jesus. Thank All you for your prayers and support

Story By Paul Colburn

Oppresion by a Priest

2008-10-08T10:53:00.001-07:00

The last two days one of our teams in the town of Florica had an unexpected visit by the Orthodox priest. They approached our team video taping their actions. We believe that they wanted to tape us saying things to the people that could be used against us, they could not. Each time the team would move to a new home, the priest was right behind them. They NEVER spoke to any of our team members. Our team members spoke many times to them, greeting them, telling them that Jesus was Lord, saying God Bless You and other kind things.
The priest even took away Bibles and reading glasses from people our team had spoken to. The priest found our team speaking to one man and the priest drove up to his house and ordered him to get in the backseat of his car. After a few minutes the man got out of the car and came back to our evanglism team and said, OK let's continue. No questions were asked, they just finished presenting the gospel. The man then invited the team into his home where he prayed to accept Jesus as His Lord and Savior. Praise God for giving strength to our team and to those who are hearing the truth.
story by Neal Blackwelder

Power of Prayer

2008-10-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I had the privilege to work Horatio, a Romanian who actually lives in New York City but was visiting in Ploiesti. We had less rejections and more decisions. Frankly, I know the closed doors will eventually lead to an open door. We talked with Gromal who was very attentive and liked the things we were saying. After about 20 minutes of sharing with him, he prayed the sinners prayer with us. He said that he felt a power come into his body from his feet to his head. He said he had never felt this power before. He, his wife and daugther came to our cell group meeting tonight and he promised the pastor he would be in church on Sunday.
Mihai, am man of 72 years told us he was Orthodox, as a matter of fact his father's brother was an Orthodox priest. I shared along with my translator, Daniel who is a seminary student in Bucharest but Horatio had a great discussion with him. At the end of our discussion I asked if we could pray with him. Daniel prayed I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit move. He was also at our discipleship study tonight.
The last visit today was in a secured apartment building we were able to get into. We went to the fourth floor and there encountered a man who was hostile toward God. Horatio talked with him for a long while and then told him we must move on. We then went to the 10th floor where we meet Gheongr a 70 year old man. He was very open to us and invited us into his apartment. He showed us his icons of Jesus. I told him that we can know firmly that we can go to heaven. We held hands and Daniel prayed for him. Again the Holy Spirit came down, Gheongr began to weep and cry as the Holy Spirit broke his heart. We will visit him again. Please pray for Gheongr.
God has truly shown His power in our behalf.

story by Ron Simpson

Hard Earned Fruit

2008-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

Today my team member Bashan, our translators Lidia and Lidia (no typo, we had two Lidia’s) and I went out. Pastor Moses (again no typo) also went out with us and the response was awesome. He’s so passionate about the word and the people respond well to one of their own. Pastor Moses saw this woman sitting on a bench outside her house knitting and starting talking to her. Bashan gave her testimony and Lidia shared the cube with her. At first she was convinced good works were the way to heaven but when she finally understood that we are not saved by works but we are saved for good works. You could see a light go off in her head and her face just lit up.

While Bashan was finishing up, Pastor Moses went ahead because he saw a woman. He called Lidia and I to come to him. I gave my testimony and Lidia shared the story of Christ. We talked about Christ and I asked if she wanted to pray to receive Him and she told me “yes”, but before we could pray with her, her husband came out and ushered her in the house. He did not want her to receive Christ. I’ve never met a more oppressed country. They’re so afraid to receive Christ. The Orthodox Church has such a hold on them, and they’re really afraid. The stories we hear are really comical, but sad. The Orthodox Priest has told them that if they start reading the Bible they have to complete it. If they stop, they have to start over again. So, of course, they don’t start, because they can’t complete it.

We stopped to talk to a gentleman outside his home. He was a Christian and knew his Bible well, but he told us his wife was not. She is very ill and he invited us into his home to talk to her about her salvation. But his daughter was there taking care of her and did not want us to talk to her. He told him to tell us to leave. It was so sad to me. He loved her so much and worries about her salvation. I thank God that my husband is saved and we will be spending eternity together.

Our mission here has been very hard and sometimes heartbreaking, but I remember the words of Matthew 28:29. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

story by Cindy Odgers

Never Too Old To Be Saved

2008-10-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

Never say you are too old to receive the gift of God. Paul and I were able to meet a couple that lived further out of the city of Moren (about 2 1/2 miles). Her husband was a shepherd of some sort and was just walking up as we were talking to her. The number one thing we have learned here in Romania is to listen to the people. They love to talk. Mrs. Mona loved to talk! But thru translation all we understood was nothing more than her troubles and how much her husband was displeased with her, etc. She probably went on for about 5 minutes before we were able to just ask her if it was okay to share our story. She and her husband, amongst the choas with the cows, chickens, turkeys, and goats took a moment to hear my story. Her husband was some what distracted and would not make eye contact with me. I lost his attention and he walked away in the midst of me talking. I kept sharing with his wife and when I came to the punch line I asked her if she died today would she know without a doubt she would spend eternity in Heaven and the typical response we hear in Romania is "All people want to go to Heaven". She continued to share how she was not good enough and that everyone was unhappy with her so there was no way she would be good enough for Heaven. I continued to talk thru her concerns and shared with her how we are all sinners and that I was even a sinner but I still know that I have secured my eternity in Heaven by asking Jesus to come into my heart. We continued to talk and at 80 years old with shakiness in her voice she wanted to pray with me to become a child of God. Yes! An 80 year old woman a child of God! Amen! She walked 2 1/2 miles to the church to participate in the discipleship training. Although her husband walked away, Paul had the opportunity to catch his attention. Paul shared his story and led her husband to Christ as well. We always say that if you can reach the man of the household you can reach the entire household. God was good to let that happen today!

Story by April Oakes

My First TIme Sharing the Gospel

2008-10-07T10:57:00.001-07:00

This is my very first e3 trip, and also my very first trip out of the US without my Mom by my side. I have never really used the Evangecube or shared the gospel with someone one-on-one. So this week has definitely been a new experience for me. After watching everyone else share the testimony and the cube, I finally felt like I was ready. We saw these women standing outside of their house on the street, so we went to talk to them. My translator, Cosmin, introduced me and told the women that I had a story to tell them. They seemed very anxious to hear what I had to say. So, I took a deep breath and started sharing with these women my story of how Jesus Christ changed my life forever. I then started sharing with them Jesus story of love and sacrifice. We asked them if we could come back later and do a Bible study with them. They agreed and we left. After we ate lunch, we went back to their house. We did the first page of the discipleship lessons with them and went through the track with them. To our great surprise they did not believe that good works get you to heaven but that faith will bring you to Jesus. Mrs. Charlotte asked them if they would like pray and accept Jesus' free gift of salvation. To my surprise these women gladly said yes and we all prayed together. Praise God! It is so amazing that my first experience sharing the gospel with someone was successful and two names were added into the Book of Life! Not to mention the future generations from these women that will follow their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother in the footsteps of Jesus Christ! Well, I will stop babbling on, but I will definitely say that this day will be a day that remember for the rest of my life. Praise be to God our Father! -Samantha Hyde, first time e3-er :)

story by Smantha Hyde

Monday - First Day of Evangelism

2008-10-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today is Monday. We got off to a slow start in comparision to other E3 trips. We arrived late in the day on Saturday night and it rained very heavily on Sunday. Today we had a gorgeous day, cool and sunny. All of the teams were able to go out into the harvest fields. The people here are not as easy to lead as those we have worked with in South America however, the Lord prevailed and many people came to salvation.
11 Seminary students have come from Bucharest to work with us as translators. These young men are such a blessing. The seminary buildings in Bucharest were purchased by the Southern Baptist Convention many years ago. It is truly a blessing to work with them.
Please pray for us as we discuss ways to effectively reach these beautiful people.

story by Sam Neugent

Day One Struggles with Great Rewards

2008-10-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

Today was a very different day. Romania is very different from what I have experienced in other countries but God is still working. The people are very closed off and show little to no affection towards us. Many of the people we approach will not even talk to us and I have had several that will not even look at me. I have a awesome team. Alex Ryals and David Holcomb and Me and April Oakes are on a team and wow they are doing a great job. Our translators are very good and so much fun to be with. Today we presented the gospel 33 times and had 17 professions of faith which is awesome because the Orthodox faith wow ( very set in their beliefs) We have heard so many times that you can not know for sure your going to heaven and if you do its by good works. We are remaining faithful as GOD leads us and we are seeing HIM do great things. At cell group tonight we had 17 adults attend 9 of which were new believers and Alex did a awesome job leading the bible study. April and I had 4 children in children's ministry and at the end we had 4 teenagers come join us. We had invited the teenagers to join us earlier and I was very excited when they showed up. I sat down with them and we had a great conversation working out the saved by works thing. God truly blessed me when I ask them if they wanted to ask Jesus in their hearts and all four said yes.( I almost started flying) We did the sinners prayer and started discipleship and all for said they would be back tomorrow for more bible study. I praise God for what he is doing thru our team and allowing us to be a part of his work. Today I did have my heart ripped out. I went to a home where a single 95 yr old man lives and he talked with us. He told me he knew he would not go to heaven and that GOD would not forgive him. I poured my heart into our talk but he refused Jesus and said God knew where he was going to go and that was good enough for him. My heart broke for this man. Please pray for him. I have seen GOD change people before and I am going back to visit him again. Pray for the team, the battles we are facing here are great and we need lots of help defeating the lies of Satan here. Praise the Lord for what we have seen and the many more blessing he has for us this week.

Paul Colburn

Celebrating the Harvest

2008-10-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Many of the churches in the Ploiesti area celebrated their version of Thanksgiving this past Sunday. They call it their Crop Celebration. The morning service was overflowing with people and many gave testimony to God's provision and goodness. They ended the 2 1/2 hour service by handing out and sharing some of the crops.

Pastor Moses took our team to another church that evening where they too were celebrating the Crop Celebration. The people stood outside in the pouring rain to be a part of the service. The music was uplifting and the prayers of Thanksgiving were amazing. Then a man named Gigi arose and gave testimony to his marvelous conversion to Christ. Gigi was a hard and violent man who was tempted to stab the man who came to share Christ with him. Having spent time in prison for various violent crimes, Gigi believed he was beyond help. He was on the verge of suicide when the man who shared Christ with him earlier called him and asked him to drive him to church. Gigi crawled to the door of the church that evening and confessed Jesus as Lord. Those who knew him said that his transformation would not last (it wasn't possible for someone as bad as Gigi to be saved). The Holy Spirit was thick in the place. I followed with a message about God's grace ("with God all things are possible"). We followed with a thanksgiving prayer for the souls that would be harvested for the kingdom this week. Amazingly the closing song was "All Things Are Possible!" WOW!

When we finished some 3 hours later, I realized the morning service at my home church (Bethel Baptist Church) in Columbiana, Alabama had just begun. I could only hope that the Spirit of God was as powerful there as it had been in Bratashanca, Romania. There are thousands of Gigi's out there and none are beyond God's grace. God is Lord of the harvest and He is still seeking workers to go and work in the harvest field. Are you willing to go?

story by Jeff Fortenberry

2007-12-21T05:57:00.000-08:00

The precious people of Ploiesti, Romania need to hear that Jesus loves them. Will you consider going with us October 3, 2008 to carry this good news to them?