The Ministry in Tereblecia

I've been able to visit the church in this village on nine different occasions this month, nine times. We worked on the church building too. I met eight times with the people from the church - four times for Bible study and prayer meetings. We studied Galatians 3,4,5, and had four church services where I preached four sermons.

I visited ten families and spent more time with two families in particular. We had a Bible study together. One of the families had had some issues with Jehovah Witnesses. These so - called Christians had been very persistent and debated over some things we did. For instance, they said it was wrong to greet each other the way we did (we say "Peace") and also questioned the Lord's prayer. I had to spend half a day with those people (they're older and cannot come to church). I had to explain and support everything with Bible verses. But I am glad they understood and remained firm in their faith. The Jehovah Witnesses no longer visit them. We don't have them in our village but they come from the neighboring villages and purpose to approach Baptist believers to get them to take their side. We thank the Lord that none of our church members have been deceived by them.

The other family I spent more time with, had some problems with the Adventists. They're also older people. Their son and his wife live in a different village. They go to the Adventist church. But they're the ones who take care of these people. I visited them twice and spent half a day there trying to show them from the Scripture why we didn't keep the Sabbath and eat pork. I am glad they understood as well, God worked in their hearts and they decided not to go to the Adventist church.

Both the Adventists and Jehovah Witnesses are well prepared and they cunningly try to shake the faith of the older people who are no longer able to come to church. This is the reason why I started to visit these families more often and to have Bible studies with them on specific topics. I feel more challenged to diligently study the Scripture so we can systematically study different Bible books with the whole church.

When visiting the other families, I gave them communion, studied the Word and prayed together. I also met unbelievers there with whom I shared the Gospel. They listened to me but they made no decision for their lives. We pray that God will save them.

As usual, after the church services or the Bible study meetings, I stay a little longer and do counseling with people form our church, both adults and young people. I counselled 15 people last month. The problems the youth usually face are alcohol, secular music, relationships with unbelievers, lack of commitment, and money problems. The adults have some of these problems as well. I thank God for the victory He gives and for the change He does within me and in the hearts of the people I counsel.

One of our church members has been excommunicated this month. Also, a young family is being discipline because they lied to us three times. I want our church to be blameless and have a good testimony. We are praying for these people to repent of their sins and come back to us.

The Ministry in Cernauti

I visited the churches in Vanccauti and Stanesti. We have a mission in Vanccauti and two missionaries working there. One of them is from Tarasauti and the other is from the States. They had some issues between them so I went to help them resolve things so the ministry would not be affected. I met with them twice and we will meet again on Saturday. I pray that God will work out this situation for His glory and for the salvation of the village. I am aware that Satan is behind everything.  He doesn't like the fact that there is a ministry in the village. Please pray for this.

I went down to Stanesti and preached. After the church service, we had a special time with the church members to talk about the potential candidates for the pastor position. The pastor they had resigned because of old age.

I visited the church there on another occasion. I had a half a day of Bible study with four preachers. The following topics were addressed: the Holy Spirit, the Law, Giving and Preaching the Word. We all had a blessed time in the Word and prayer.

As usual, we have had meetings with different missionaries and preachers each month. Last month we met with ten missionaries and talked about different issues and prayed together.
Tomorrow we are having a conference for all the missionaries and pastors in the area. Brother Cornel B. from Romania will be here. Afterwards, we are going to have a conference only for the HeartCry and Nehemiah missionaries. Pray that God will strengthen all the missionaries with His Word.