<![CDATA[HOPE CHURCH - Ministry Updates]]>

<![CDATA[HOPE CHURCH - Ministry Updates]]>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 06:49:39 +0300Weebly<![CDATA[The Fruit of Your Investment and the Next Steps]]>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/the-fruit-of-your-investment-and-the-next-steps

You may sometimes wonder whether your prayers are making a difference.
You may wonder what happens with the financial support you give.
You may ask yourself whether this investment is truly worth it.

You may ask yourself whether this investment is truly worth it.
And you may wonder whether it makes sense to stay committed to our vision over the long term.
Only God sees the full picture, beyond what numbers and reports can show. Still, I want to give you a clear picture of what has happened in recent months, the fruit we are seeing, and why your investment matters. Below are three main areas of our ministry.

1. Craiova: Gospel, Church, and Trained LeadersThe work in Craiova has two clear aspects. Growth through evangelism and the strengthening of the local church.
In recent months, new people have come to faith. We had four baptisms. Lives have been changed. I want to share a few short excerpts from the testimonies of those who were baptized.
Last Sunday, I baptized Andreas. His testimony was simple and powerful:
“From the fear of death to eternal life.”
Mihai shared:
“Through exposure to the Gospel, I came to truly understand God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I realized that God forgave all my sins and that His grace is greater than any mistake.”
Andrei shared simply:
“He saved me and made me His.”
David shared:
“One evening, while listening to a preacher talk about the Gospel, I thought I would hear the same message I already knew. But the preacher began by saying, ‘Today you are dealing with Jesus.’ That’s when I understood the message was for me.”
These testimonies are the fruit of your prayers and support.
Alongside this work, we intentionally invest in training leaders and elders. I personally work with them. Our aim is not to produce spiritual consumers, but servants who can shepherd, teach, and carry the work forward.

2. From Craiova to the Balkans: Evangelism and MissionThe second major area is mission work beyond Craiova.
The ministry among the Roma communities continues, both socially and spiritually. We proclaim the Gospel. We support vulnerable communities. We develop local leaders. At the same time, the reality is clear. There is a great need for full-time missionaries among the Roma communities in Craiova.
During the Christmas season, we organized 8 outreach events and distributed over 800 Christmas gifts to children. Most of these events were in Roma communities. At each event, we sang carols and shared a Bible story, clearly presenting the message of Christ’s birth. Each gift gave us the opportunity to talk with families, pray with them, and share the Gospel.
At the same time, the missionary work in Thessaloniki continued. In 2025, we had five mission trips. Hundreds of people heard the Gospel. We distributed biblical materials. We had open conversations on the streets.
A great joy came through our investment in online ministry. A young woman from Greece came to know the Lord through the content we shared. We never met in person, yet the Gospel reached her.

3. E2E: Disciples Who Become WorkersThe third major area is E2E, Equipped to Equip. E2E is an intentional training program. The focus is not on diplomas, but on equipping people for service in the church and in mission.
This year, we completed the 8th generation, and five students graduated from the program. The fruit is already visible in their lives.
Two graduates desire to continue theological academic studies and already contribute to the exegetical work behind my sermons. One young woman is serving full-time in youth ministry. One brother is serving as a full-time worker.

What’s NextIn 2026, we are prayerfully pursuing the following clear directions:
- To continue mission trips to Greece and, if God allows, to rent a mission house there.
- To launch the 9th generation of E2E.
- To continue ministry among the Roma communities in Craiova.
- To invest strategically in missionary work in Craiova, with a special focus on the children of the city.
- To train and strengthen elders.
- To develop digital mission work with the goal of reaching one million people with the Gospel.
Today, in a small church like ours, we have speakers of Russian, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and English. So far, we have launched Instagram pages in Italian, French, and Spanish to share the Gospel consistently. Through these pages, people in Italy, France, Spain, and other countries are hearing the message of Christ.

The direction is clear.
The fruit is visible.
The vision is at work.
Thank you for standing with us.
Your prayers matter.
Through your support, the Gospel reaches people and God changes lives.
God uses your faithfulness.

]]><![CDATA[AFTER A FULL SUMMER — A CLEAR CRY: WE NEED HELP!]]>Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:44:47 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/after-a-full-summer-a-clear-cry-we-need-help

Looking back on this summer, I can only say: it was full! God gave us extraordinary opportunities — we hosted 4 short-term mission teams, organized day camps (VBS), evangelistic outreaches, fellowship events, a talent show that brought new youth into the church, concerts, and outings with teenagers. We had the privilege of preaching the Gospel both publicly and personally, in Craiova and beyond.

In addition to all this, we finished the sermon series from the book of Jonah, took 3 mission trips to Greece, and the work with the Roma community continues steadily. Andrei was baptized in June, a living testimony of God’s transforming grace!

In the midst of all these activities, God gave me the grace to have one-on-one meetings — for discipleship, pastoral care, or evangelism. But it’s exactly these personal meetings, alongside the events, that have highlighted a reality that weighs heavier and heavier on my heart: the urgent need for more workers.

There are dozens of people who need someone to disciple them personally. The children who now come regularly to church need a long-term, dedicated worker — someone who won’t just serve them at church, but will visit their families, evangelize their parents, and be present in their lives.

The vision is expanding: ministry with children, teenagers, and families. We cannot do all of this alone.
That’s why I wholeheartedly invite you to pray with me: "Lord, send workers to Craiova!"
We need:

Short-term teams to support practical and evangelistic efforts
Long-term missionaries (2 years) dedicated to discipleship and ministry among children, youth, and families
One full-time worker for children’s ministry
People who will visit, listen, encourage, and build real relationships with those coming to Christ

The harvest is plentiful. God is visibly at work. But we need people who will say: "Here I am, send me!"
Will you pray this with me? And maybe… ask yourself: Could the answer be you?

]]><![CDATA[Transformed Lives]]>Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:00:00 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/transformed-lives

We continue to witness how God powerfully transforms lives—whether it’s a former occult follower, women from prison, or marginalized Roma children. The Gospel brings healing, purpose, and light wherever it goes.

Francesco – From Darkness to Light

Francesco is a young man who was involved in occult practices while searching for purpose. His life was marked by fear, confusion, and demonic oppression. But one day, by the grace of God, he heard the Gospel. He says in his testimony, “When I first heard the Gospel, something inside me started to break. I knew I had to choose. That night I prayed to Jesus for the first time. And for the first time in years, I slept in peace.” He renounced every form of occultism, ripped and later on burned all related materials, and boldly declared Jesus as Lord over his life. He was baptized this past month. Today, Francesco is a witness of God's light and joyfully shares the transformation only Christ can bring.

Women from the Prison - Forgiven by God

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we hosted a special event for ten women from the Craiova prison. Two of the women at my table had been involved in human trafficking—not as victims, but as those who had caused harm. Tracy’s testimony touched them deeply, and with tears, they prayed to receive Jesus. One of them kept repeating, “Can God really forgive me? I don’t deserve it… I’ve done too much wrong...” That day, God saved their souls. Please pray for N and L as they begin their journey with Christ. We gave them Bibles, and we pray that God will strengthen them in their new life!

Roma Communities - Great Harvest

Every time I go to the Roma community and have the opportunity to serve, I see a great harvest, but so few workers. These are people—especially children—who, without the Gospel and then access to education, have little chance of rising above their circumstances. They are often trapped in a cycle of poverty and marginalization. This reality moves me to pray fervently and to advocate for the need for missionaries to live and serve among them. More about this project here:
👉 https://togetherformission.com/hope-for-the-future/

Prayer Requests

Andrei – A university student who will be baptized soon. God has radically changed his life—pray for his continued growth and faithfulness.
Texas Team – We’re so thankful for their short term trip here and how much they supported us in our ministry! Pray that God will send more short term mission teams to work alongside us.
Thessaloniki Mission Trip (April) – Please pray for fruit and open doors during this outreach trip.
Monthly support for our new church space – We still need 35 people to commit $25/month for rent. You can donate here if you feel led to help:

👉 https://togetherformission.com/donate-craiova-church-planting/

]]><![CDATA["See, I am doing a new thing!” – Isaiah 43:19a]]>Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:42:35 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/see-i-am-doing-a-new-thing-isaiah-4319a

God is at work in Craiova, and we are excited to share with you the new things He is doing in our ministry!

A New Church Building

At the beginning of this year, we moved into our new church building. We had been looking and praying for a new location for about a year, and God has provided a great place close to the city center! Now, we have only one location that includes a sanctuary, offices, meeting rooms, and a spacious, welcoming lobby. This space is a blessing, allowing us to better serve our community, disciple believers, and reach out with the Gospel.

New E2E Generation – 8th Generation

We have started the 8th generation of our Equipped to Equip program, with six students this year. One of our students moved from Timișoara to Craiova specifically for ministry. He is actively involved in evangelism and shared how open people are to hearing the Gospel here—he was able to evangelize 50 people in just two weeks! Praise God for His work in the hearts of people in Craiova.

New Program – Hope for the Future: We Educate, Disciple, and Help

As you may know, Craiova has the highest percentage of Roma people in Romania. For years, we have been working among Roma communities through children’s ministry, leadership training, and supporting the poor. This year, we want to take another step forward by launching the Hope for the Future project.
Through this initiative, we aim to recruit full-time missionaries to serve among the Roma communities, helping with education, preventing school dropouts, and helping with their spiritual life. This is a great mission field, and we invite you to be part of it!

How You Can Help
This past Christmas, we organized special outreach events where we shared the Gospel and gave gifts to children and adults in several Roma communities. Now, we are looking for missionaries to join this work full-time.
One practical way to support this mission is through financial partnership. We are seeking sponsors willing to commit $25/month to help sustain and expand this ministry. If you know someone who might be interested, please share this need with them.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement as we continue to bring the hope of Christ to Craiova!

]]><![CDATA[Baptisms and a Puppet Show for the Community]]>Tue, 12 Nov 2024 07:52:45 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/baptisms-and-a-puppet-show-for-the-community

The past couple of months have been a season of growth and joy in our ministry here in Craiova. We’ve witnessed lives changed by God, leading to decisions for baptism, and hosted a Gospel-centered puppet show for the children in our community.

In September, we celebrated the baptism of three people whose stories beautifully reflect God’s transforming power, with 110 people in attendance to witness this special moment.
Ianis is one of the young people who initially sought to guide his life through Stoic philosophies, which offered him disciplined thinking but left him spiritually empty. His search led him to the Scriptures, which he began reading extensively. With a deep hunger for God, he would reach out, even at 11:00 p.m., to ask questions about Christianity. In Ianis’s heart, the Gospel proved stronger than Greek Stoicism. How could I not baptize him when I saw that Christ had overcome the lifeless words of Stoicism?
Madalin and Adnana, a married couple, entered our church with surprise, discovering that we don’t require them to be separated during worship. Previously, they attended another church where they were asked to sit apart, Madalin on the men’s side and Adnana on the women's side. The atmosphere of freedom and the understanding of the Scriptures here gave them the confidence that this was the community of believers they wanted to belong to. After a year of attending, they decided to be baptized and become members. Madalin serves in the Romanian army, where he boldly testifies about the Lord, while Adnana writes devotionals about a Christian’s relationship with Jesus.

In October, we hosted a puppet show that shared the Gospel message with the children in our community. With 96 attendees, including 52 children, it was a beautiful moment as the children and parents listened to a Bible story, followed by a presentation of the Gospel. The event also included interactive and competitive games, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for the children.
Please pray for this ministry and share with others about our need for long term missionaries and short term teams.

Also, I thank God that I am almost fully funded. Please pray that God would bring 8 more people to donate $25 a month for my personal expenses. I am almost there!

Thank you for standing with us in prayer and support. Your partnership helps bring the Gospel to the people of Craiova.

]]><![CDATA[A Journey of Faith: Updates from Our Mission in Romania]]>Wed, 31 Jul 2024 14:44:03 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/a-journey-of-faith-updates-from-our-mission-in-romania

A Compelling Story of Faith

Robert came for the first time to our church 2 months ago. He had been following us on social media for a year and finally found the courage to visit us in person one Sunday.

After the service, we went to the mall for lunch, and he shared how good it felt to be with us. Robert had many questions about God and, after our conversation, went home to listen to more of my sermons. He is earnestly seeking God. Three weeks ago, when I gave an invitation for whoever wanted to get baptized, Robert came forward. Praise God! Please pray for Robert as he continues on his journey of faith.

E2E Discipleship on the Road

Our E2E program has been on the move! Over the past two months, we've taken our courses to Bucharest and Alba Iulia. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees expressing that they had never heard missions and church planting explained so clearly. We were able to bless over 30 people across these two locations. Praise God for this fruitful outreach and the growth in understanding and enthusiasm for His work.

Impactful Outreach with the Canadian Team

In May, we were blessed to host a team of 16 from Millar College of the Bible in Canada. Their week with us was packed with activities including adults and kids English clubs, Roma ministry, youth ministry, street evangelism, one-on-one meetings, a worship night, a talent show, a women's event, a soccer event, eyeglass ministry, and childrens ministry. After their impactful week here, they headed to Thessaloniki for another week of evangelism, seeking to establish connections for a future mission hub in the city. We are incredibly thankful for their hard work and the significant impact they had both here and in Thessaloniki. Praise God for their dedication and service!

A Joyful Collaboration with Texas A&M

In June, we welcomed a vibrant team of 20 young people from the Wesley at West Texas A&M University. Their ministry included Roma outreach, youth ministry, evangelism, one-on-one meetings, a trip to Bulgaria for evangelism, and childrens ministry. Their joy and enthusiasm were contagious, bringing encouragement and energy to all their activities. We are so grateful for their partnership and the many ways they blessed our community.

Basketball Camp with the Indiana Team

In July, we had an incredibly blessed week during our basketball camp, despite the sweltering temperatures of over 100 degrees each day. About 100 kids and youth participated, making the camp a tremendous success. The team from Parkside Bible Church in Indiana were not just well-prepared coaches but also beloved brothers in the Lord. Their words, service, and attitude were edifying, and we hope to continue this sweet fellowship in Christ for the long term. May God be blessed forever through these enduring relationships.

Celebrating Baptisms

We recently celebrated the baptism of a dedicated lady who chose not to wait for the planned baptism later this year. The baptism took place at someone's pool a couple of weeks ago and it was a beautiful and joyous occasion. We now have four people who wish to be baptized, and we plan to hold a larger baptism later this year. Please join us in praying for these individuals who will be taking this important step in their faith journey.

]]><![CDATA[News from Comani Feb 2024]]>Tue, 20 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/news-from-comani-feb-2024

We ended the year 2023 rejoicing in service, on the mission field. We bless the Lord for the wonderful work done in Miriam, our eldest daughter, who had given her life to the Lord but had not made the decision to show, publicly, through baptism, her decision.

Baptism

Following a participation in a Christian camp, the Lord worked in her life and that's how we ended up having an event at the end of November attended by many non-believers , a wonderful opportunity for evangelization.

Kids Ministry

Another work that we believe we are called to do, and which we have done in the past, is the evangelization of children, as a result every Saturday we meet and present the Bible through different activities.
Pray for them!
The month of December was a month full of blessings. We had the opportunity to take the Good News to people's homes through carols and visits. Children were also blessed by the fact that we managed to get gifts and almost 60 children were happy to receive one.

Discipleship

The work in Comani is blessed, people come to church and to the Bible study that we have every Friday where we go through the Gospel of John following the footsteps of Jesus and seek to discover Him more and more. Together with the women, my wife, studied the 10 commandments. We were pleasantly surprised to have the testimonies of some women who, at the end of the study, memorized them even though at the beginning of the study they had no idea what they were. Also, men discover wonderful things about God after the study that they do.

Thank you for your support in prayer! Pray for us that the Lord will give us wisdom in everything, use us for His Glory and protect us from the evil one who surrounds us like a lion ready to catch us. Pray also for the people of Comani, especially for those with whom I worked directly, to desire His Word and make a decision to follow Him.

Be blessed!

]]><![CDATA[RAul costea - Missionaty update 2023]]>Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:27:23 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/raul-costea-missionaty-update-2023

2023: A Year of Growth and Community

As we reflect on the year 2023, it's incredible to see how far we've come since the inception of our church plant in December 2019. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and the Ukrainian refugee crisis, our journey in Oltenia, though tough, has been a testament to faith, resilience and community.

This year, by the grace of God and with your support and prayers, we've reached a significant milestone - transitioning to Stage 2 of our church planting. This means we're now an officially operating church, recognized by the local government, with a dedicated name and address, and a growing congregation of over 21 members. Our regular church services and discipleship meetings have become the cornerstone of our spiritual journey.

Celebration

We had 2 baptisms last year. In June, 5 people were baptized and in November, 6 people were baptized. These moments are a beautiful reminder of the love and grace of God and how He has brought each of us from death to life.

Youth

Our Summer Youth Camp was a highlight, filled with laughter, learning, and spiritual growth. The relationships that were built are still ongoing and growing and we praise God for His faithfulness.

On December 1, we launched the 'Echo' youth group, marking a new chapter in our engagement with the younger generation. The energy and enthusiasm of that day was so evident and the atmosphere was full of joy.

SUPPORT CRAIOVA CHURCH PLANTING

Community Building and Outreach:

The Basketball event in Craiova was a resounding success, building trust in the city and creating new relationships. These moments are such an encouragement to us, to see the fulfillment of our work.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the multiple short-term teams that joined us this year, enhancing our events, doing evangelism and particularly enriching our relationships with the youth.

Discipleship:

The countless one-on-one discipleship meetings have been the cornerstone of our spiritual growth. We praise God for the deep connections and personal journeys of those we are reaching.

The formation of 8 small groups has been a significant development, fostering intimate communities within our larger church family, enabling more personalized support and growth.

Growth:

Our move to a new temporary location once a month has been a step forward in accommodating our growing church family. This new space is welcoming and provides a larger place to worship and build relationships with each other.

Looking Ahead:

As we step into the new year, we carry with us the lessons, the joys, and the challenges of 2023. Our journey continues, and your prayers, support, and involvement are as crucial as ever. We look forward to growing together, serving together, and celebrating many more milestones in the years to come.

]]><![CDATA[Alexe COSTEA - MISSIONARY UPDATE - AUGUST 2023]]>Sat, 09 Sep 2023 08:46:34 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/alexe-costea-missionary-update-august-2023

Peace to you, our dear ones!

We bless you in the Name of the Lord Jesus and may He pour abundant blessings over your life and family. I bring before you a reason for prayer and I appreciate every prayer raised.

About a year ago, my heart started to be stirred and I understood from the Lord that we should start the work with the young people and children, from Comani. In the past, Veronica, my wife, worked with children but because of the pandemic the meetings stopped. She began focusing more on women's ministry, where she is still involved today. Yes, people started coming to the church as I mentioned on other occasions. We can see God working! But despite all this I did not have peace because I kept having the thought that we needed to be investing in youth and children.

That's why we decided that from this autumn we will start "to fight" in this direction.

I bought a ping pong table and I intend to invite young people to socialize, first of all, considering that we live in the era of technology in which most of the time of young people's lives is spent in front of the screens: be it a phone, be it a laptop, be it a tablet, etc. I am also working on the preparation of a mini soccer field and a basketball court.

Pray that the Lord will give me wisdom in this work but also to help me to develop a strategy for their integration in the church in Comani.
We need support in prayer, short-term or long-term teams to help us, but also financial support to be able to purchase sports equipment.

Thank you for being with the Work of God in Comani and may He reward you, fully!

]]><![CDATA[RAUL COSTEA - MISSIONARY UPDATES - August 2023]]>Fri, 08 Sep 2023 12:55:55 GMThttps://www.hoperomania.org/ministry-updates/raul-costea-missionary-updates-august-2023

“Nobody knew that I had suicidal thoughts.”

This is what a young girl said publicly at youth camp. She struggled accepting God's love. Because of legalism and spiritual abuse in her life, she thought that she could never please God.

She thought it would be easier to kill herself than to keep trying to please God. But that night at youth camp, she received God's love and said she experienced something that she never had experienced before. That night, many youth came forward and confessed what the Lord is doing in their life and how He set them free from sin and guilt. Many decisions to receive Christ and get baptized happened at youth camp.
I want to thank all of you that have been praying for our youth ministry and for your donations.

Family Festival event

One of the largest evangelistic events happened in downtown Craiova last month. The Gospel was shared both nights at the Family Festival event. Also, this group from the US went to different neighborhoods during the week to share the Gospel. We had a follow-up event with those that wanted to learn more about our church and what we offer to the community.

short term team - Adventures in Missions

Every Saturday we have new youth coming to our weekly youth event. A short term team from Adventures in Missions helped us to put on an America’s Got Talent event and we were able to build relationships with the new youth who have started coming. We have been having follow-up one-on-ones with those that have just started coming to our youth events and are interested in learning more. With this team, we were able to put on an’ Eyeglass Ministry’ in Bals. We also had a team from the UK come and help us with our youth night and we had a pizza party for everyone that night. They also helped with our church service on Sunday.

We are so thankful that short term teams are coming to work alongside us to help bring new people to our events and discipleship groups.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for the new people who want to get baptized. Pray that they will stay strong in their faith when it is tested.
We praise God for the new people that have started donating $25 a month. We still need about 20 people to donate $25 monthly to my ministry fund.
We would like to have one short term team coming to work alongside us per month.
E2E, our missionary training program, is starting in September. Please pray for each of the students that will be attending.
I am going to take a vision trip to Thessaloniki, Greece in September. Please pray for safety and guidance as we are seeking God’s will.

]]>