| Sam received a call from a local pastor who invited him to speak to his Romanian
congregation. It was a surprise to both of us that there would even be a Romanian congregation in the Charlotte area. Since we are scheduled to minister in Romania at the end of July, we decided that this would be a wonderful opportunity to get our ‘cultural feet’ wet.
A Familiar Face
As we drove into the parking lot for the Sunday evening service, we saw an older gentleman sitting in his car. I exclaimed to Sam, “He looks like your father!” Sam replied, “Yes, he does resemble my father, but he looks exactly like my late Uncle Irving. I wish I had our camera to take a picture for my sister Sandy.” Sam’s grandfather emigrated from Romania to the US before WWII, so we were amazed that the first person we bumped into looked like a long lost relative from ‘the Old Country.’ We later discovered that this same gentleman is a Jewish believer in Messiah Jesus, and the only one at this congregation. What a coincidence!
Singing The Scriptures
As the people gathered for the service, the small chapel became filled to overflowing with people of all ages. I felt like I had been transported to Eastern Europe. The Romanian hymns were sung with beautiful harmony. When I asked for the translation of a particular song, one of the women explained that it meant “to understand, or remember” what the Scriptures say about living for the Lord. She went on, “Under Communism we did not always have the opportunity to be taught the Word; but we could sing. This is why we enjoy hearing all these songs that speak of the wonderful truths of our lives as Christians.”
Forget About
the Jews?
As Sam spoke about ‘God’s Love for Israel and You’ from Jeremiah 31, the pastor translated his message into Romanian. I could see that the group was appreciating what was being said, especially as Sam related the need to believe God for the salvation of the Jewish people in Romania. Sam began his story, “ In 1989, I was at a missions conference in Chicago where leaders were discussing opportunities to reach Eastern Europe with the gospel. As I sat next to a noted Romanian Pastor I said to him, ‘What can we do to reach the Jews of these various countries including Romania?’ He responded, ‘Forget about the Jews! Christians aren’t interested in them. Besides, Communism was started and led by the Jews!’” Sam disregarded this advice, and soon went to preach the gospel in the former Soviet Union, where seventy Jewish people came to faith in Messiah during a single service. Romania and Ukraine are known as two of the most anti-Semitic countries in Eastern Europe, but as a result of this outreach, two Messianic congregations are now growing in Kiev. God is always concerned about the Jewish people.
That night at the invitation, several indicated that they wanted to rededicate their lives to the Lord. Please join us in prayer for our upcoming outreach in Romania as we minister at a nationwide conference for Messianic Congregations and leaders. Thanks!
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