MBC’s links with Romania go back 33 years to Easter 1991 when following the fall of communism six people travelled overland with aid to some churches there. Over the years many people from MBC have visited Romania and been blessed by fellowship with the Christians there and a number of people from the Romanian churches there have visited us in Leeds. More recently Florin Fodor and family visited us in summer 2022 and Rod Russell was in Romania in earlier this year.
God is at work in Romania. The churches there are very dedicated to sharing the Gospel and over the years the churches have seen considerable growth. We are pleased to have been able to be part of this by sharing in the mission of the churches there. In April last year we provided financial support for the projects listed below and we will be sending further support shortly. Our friends in Romania extend their thanks to all who have made this possible. Further donations can be made via Howard Dews from the Romania Group, Geoff Fennell as church treasurer or in a marked envelope in the church collections.
Manastur Baptist Church is a large church in the major city of Cluj-Napoca in northern Romania. We provide help for the youth work including enabling young people from poorer families to attend summer camps and we supplement the support provided by the Manastur church to people in need.
We also contribute to a bursary scheme for Christian students from poor families in more remote parts of Romania who are studying in Cluj.
We also support an outreach from Manastur Church to a very deprived gypsy community which exists separately to the other communities around it and the practical needs that enable this church to function. Florin Fodor is a deacon at Manastur Church and is in full time Christian work for Campus Crusade. A recent initiative has been to establish a network of Christian teachers.
Another church in Cluj which we have links with is called VIA (The Way) and was formed by people from Manastur church. Although they do not need our material support, firm friendships have been established with a number of families there. They keep in regular contact and pray for us often.
They too have visited Leeds and stayed with members of MBC and we hope to continue these links. When visiting Cluj anyone from MBC would be welcomed and hosted by our friends at these churches.
We also have links with two Hungarian speaking churches in Romania. The village church in Cserefalva serves a very rural community. Zsuzsi and Andor Ferko are both pastors at the Hungarian Reformed Church in the provincial town of Udvarhely. We have provided support for young people’s work and for people in need. We are hoping that Andor, Zsuszi and their worship band will be coming to visit us in the near future and to play for us at MBC.
Our links with Romania took a new and unexpected turn with the wave of refugees from Ukraine.
With our help Manastur Church was able to provide support for people en route to western Europe (as did VIA church). Manastur Church still has nine Ukrainian families as part of their congregation and has taken aid into Ukraine.
Thank you notes from students at Manastur Church:
Peace of the Lord Jesus! My name is Ana-Maria, I am 20 years old and I am involved in the work with the youth of the church and I am passionate about confessing Jesus to other people. Thank you for your gift and God bless you!
My name is Samuel DELPHIN, I’m from Haiti, and I’m 28 years old. I am in my 2nd year of study for my master’s degree in ecological agriculture at USAMV Cluj-Napoca. Since I arrived in Romania, the Lord has prepared for me a church where I can grow in His Word and where I feel well received. So from 2022 I became a member of the 1 st Baptist Church in Manastur and I try to get involved as much as possible in the Lord’s work to glorify Him for everything He has done in my life.
I would like to express my gratitude to you for the way you have thought of the young people of the Church through this scholarship. Thank you very much for this generous financial support which is crucial for me and which helped me understand how well the Lord takes care of me and never fails to respond to my needs. I Know that the word thank you will never be enough to express my gratitude to you! May the Lord bless you abundantly and accompany you in all that you do.
Thank you very much!
Samuel
Hello, my name is Sebastian, I’m from Baia Mare, I’m a student at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, in physiotherapy, in the 2nd year of my bachelor’s degree, since I was little I liked things about God but I started to study seriously in the first year college and I decided to come to the Baptist Church Mănăsturi No. 1 . I wanted to thank you very much for the financial support you gave me that I will use in my spiritual growth.