Hope Baptist is the largest Baptist Church in the country of Romania. It has been spreading the Gospel of Jesus since 1929. Even with opposition from an atheist communist government they continued the work of the Kingdom without fail. In the 1950s the members gathered and built a church building. The communist government opposed it but the members did all the work themselves. Some worked while others prayed and fasted that the Lord would protect them and bless the project. In 1985 they were able to host Billy Graham and the church building filled up to hear him preach. The secret police closed the building and tried to limit the participation but 15,000 gathered to hear God’s Word proclaimed. Those in the church had secretly put speakers in the trees outside and Rev. Graham’s message rang out to those gathered. The police could not get it shut down and many people responded to the Gospel. What the Communist regime was using as propaganda became a kingdom sized movement of God’s Spirit.
The Pastor Romica Yuga is a leader among the Baptist Federation in Romania. He has served the Lord during the time of persecution and after 1989 when communism fell in Romania. He has shared with our team the challenges of sharing Christ in a culture that has been so long shaped by atheism.
This morning our team led worship at the Baptist High school in Arad. We sang praise songs and Reed Bradley shared a message about God’s Kingdom being bigger than culture and boarders. We are enjoying the hospitality here in Romania and will report progress on our mission here. Continue to pray fr the team. We have a rigorous schedule. Blessings!