Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO

NEWSLETTER February 2014

For we are laborers together with God 1 Corinthians 3:9

Costea Raul- pastor at Hope Church Draganesti-Olt, Romania / RESO Ministry Coordinator











The
harvest is
plentiful
but the
workers
are few.
Ask the
Lord of the
harvest,
therefore,
to send
out
workers
into his
harvest
field.

After six months, I did not know that the
vision of the harvest for 2014 means also
a major change in the structure of our
mission. God, in His mercy, has revealed
to us not only the agenda, but also how
we should operate in the future to be
more efficient.
Following the meeting between
representatives of Hope Church, the
mission team RESO, Cetatea Church,
Sibiu Community and the Community of
Oltenia, we understood that the Holy
Spirit wants an integration of Hope
Church within the Community of Oltenia.
Therefore, RESO mission is now directly
subordinated to the local church, Hope
Church in Drgnesti-Olt. This
rearrangement of the organizational
structure will eventually lead to forming
new missionary teams in Oltenia.

Although much of my work has meant
reorganizing the mission with all its
implications, it was my joy to see how
other souls have confessed their faith in
Jesus. Pray that God will work steadiness
to their beliefs and to grow in the
knowledge of Jesus.
February being a cold month, people are
not busy with farm or household chores, so
they have more time to relate to one
another. We took advantage of this and I
motivated both missionaries and the
discipleship team to have the perspective
of disciple multiplication. I was glad to see
both, in the city and in the villages that it
was the 4th generation of disciples (2 Tim
2:2).
A great blessing for our church and for
RESO team was organizing a conference on
the theme of disciple multiplication that
answered our need to be equipped for the
harvest. The conference bore fruit in terms
of equipping members and missionaries,
but also generated a partnership with GEM
( Greater E), led by Brother Dwight and
with other churches in the country that
want to help us in discipling people in
Oltenia.

For all these changes, Im asking prayer for
Gods protection and my family. I felt some
pressure spiritually, emotionally and even
physically.
Despite this intimidation of the evil, I tell
you, all our partners, we continue to move
forward in the will of God with great joy.
Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO
NEWSLETTER February 2014
For we are laborers together with God 1 Corinthians 3:9


Comani- Costea Alexe
Praise God!
We continued the church building
construction by putting the flooring upstairs,
and we made preparations to build the
guests rooms.
Praise God that He is working in the hearts of
people. Corina, one of the women who comes
regularly to church, has expressed her desire
to know more about God. She wants a life
with Christ. I was glad when I heard this.
Where there is desire to know more God
means that He is working in that heart. Last
Sunday we had guests from Alba Iulia, Nelu
and Dorina Sofrac family. We had a blessed
time. We were strengthened and encouraged
by their ministry here. May The Lord bless
them!
Prayer requests:
March 8th-womens event in Comani. Pray
that Lord may change their hearts!
-to complete construction
-Childrens ministry-their salvation
-Corina-May the Lord reveal himself to her and
that she may seek Him wholeheartedly
-Gabi and Ionut-passion for the Lord
- a van for our ministry activities



Berechet Octavian-Maruntei
We were visited by a group of brothers who held a conference in
Drgnesti on the theme of discipleship. On this occasion, a
family and three other young people were exposed to the
Gospel. Also we were glad to be visited by brother Nelu Sofrac
from Alba Iulia. He brought much encouragement to our family,
as well to the ministry in Maruntei.
Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO
NEWSLETTER February 2014
For we are laborers together with God 1 Corinthians 3:9

Opris Daniel- Draganesti-Olt, Coteana

Through the grace of the
Lord, we continued the
evangelistic visits in
Drgnesti-Olt and
Coteana. Through weekly
meetings, we wanted to
show people that sin
separates them from God
and to show them how
they can be forgiven through faith in Jesus.

I continued to visit them and prayed that
through the Spirit of God, they may come to the
knowledge of salvation. A man admitted that he
had a sinful life, but he thought that he had a
good relationship with God. I read a verse that
showed just the opposite. His wife understood
more that sin makes man an enemy to God. She
wants to come to church in Drgnesti, but
cannot due to her paralysis. Last year, she was
very sick and we prayed for her. Now she can
walk inside her house if she gets some support.
On another visit to a man, we presented the
danger of sin and he asked, "Well, I have to quit
smoking?" And I explained him why smoking is a
sin.

My ministry has two purposes: visits to the
unsaved by meeting with them weekly and to
study God's Word. I met two families who
agreed to study together.
We took advantage of the cold weather as
people spend more time inside the house, so we
met more often. I do not know if they made a
personal decision, but we want them first to
understand the message of the Gospel. My
strategy was to encourage them to read one
verse, and then I would help give the answer to
the questions. This way they can better
understand what the Bible says. A familys
daughters gladly attend kids clubs and learned
many lessons presented by my wife from the
Bible. During one visit I asked, How many sins
must a man commit to be judged by God? Only
their oldest daughter answered that one sin is
enough. I was glad to see her and other children
from the kids groups understanding spiritual
truths. We are praying that they may be saved.
Lydia continued to teach a Bible study with a few
teenage girls from Coteana.

Few people from Coteana have expressed their
desire to be baptized. Next month we want to
start catechesis with them.

In Drgnesti-Olt, Lydia has studied the Word of
God with some children and teenagers. Investing
in children is not in vain. They memorize Bible
verses, come to the church programs, pray when
they are in our home, and they even want to
serve. A brothers son from Coteana evangelized
about the Lord at school to his classmates and
teachers (main and religion). He prayed for his
main teacher to quit smoking and after a short
time this happened. Ionut told me that he was
left by his wife and
he barely could see
his daughter.

Ionut prayed again
and the next day
an opportunity
came for this man
to see his
daughter. God is
working through children and teenagers! My
prayer is that more of them will be saved and
Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO
NEWSLETTER February 2014
For we are laborers together with God 1 Corinthians 3:9

that they would be an army who brings Gods
Word in this area of spiritual darkness.
The other purpose of my mission to Coteana was
meeting with the brothers there and with the
unsaved. Sunday between church services in
Drgnesti, I went to Coteana. Here we had our
meetings in a believers home. They invited
children, neighbors and friends. From 2 to 3 pm,
we had a childrens group and from 3 to 4 pm, a
group of adults. We sing for the glory of the
Lord and we pray. One brother had a short
message and I taught a Bible study. We also had
discussions with the unsaved that were present.
Some of them expressed their desire to come to
Hope Church in Drgnesti. A brother picked
them up every Sunday evening. On Saturday, we
went to another family of believers. Here we had
another group of children and we prayed with
this family.

Dorothy Reid Draganesti-Olt, Calinesti

As coordinator of children's ministry it is always
a joy to get to visit other clubs to meet
with the workers and spend time with the
children. I was so encouraged last month when
Marinela,
one of the young
moms in our
church, said she
wanted to start a
group at her
home as she saw
so
many children in the growing little community
where she lives. The snow and cold did not stop
the children from coming Thursday afternoons
and by February 13 the weather had warmed up
so much that we began holding club outside!

Pray for Marinela
as she takes her
first steps in
learning to work
with these
precious children
and to teach
them God's Word and the Good News of Christ.

Another wonderful work that God is doing is in
the village of Daneasa where discipleship is
happening at all age levels.
One day our zone leader and I talked about the
children and what would be the best way to
reach them~eg. Through a weekly club or a
group to learn English. Marian mentioned a
young lady named
Maru (Mariana)
who has shown a
real seriousness
and commitment
to the weekly
youth study held
by the pastor's wife, as well as attending Sunday
evening services in Draganesti. As we talked and
prayed, God guided us to talk to Maru and ask
her if she would be willing to start a group.
Someone would come alongside to help her get
started, but it would be up to her to invite 4-5
children that she wants to disciple and it would
be HER group. Even when the weather, snow
storms, and car trouble prevented me from
going some
weeks, Maru continued to faithfully meet with
her group of children. One Sunday when she
came to church someone asked her if she was
going to stay upstairs. She replied, "No, I am
going downstairs (to Sunday School). I want to
learn as much as
I can about working with children!"
Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO
NEWSLETTER February 2014
For we are laborers together with God 1 Corinthians 3:9


Praise God for the way He is touching hearts and
raising up workers to love and teach and disciple
the children!

Thank you also for your prayers for 44 year old
Niculina. She is a new believer we met in the
village of Farcasele last Fall.
Although she is often in hospital due to severe
asthma attacks, we were able to meet a few
times to continue a discipleship

Bible study to help
her grow in her
faith. Pray that God
will show her the
works He has
prepared for her to
do even though she is mostly confined to house
and bed. Pray as she prepares her testimony to
share with some American youth and their
parents who will come to visit her in the month
of March.
Perhaps God will use her story to touch the life
of one of those visitors that will lead to
salvation!

Corabia- Dumitru Mircea

God again blessed
our ministry in
Corabia this
month.

Two weeks ago,
our daughter
Damaris, asked for a book: "What Baptists
Believe? She said that a friend asked for it. In
fact, her friends father wanted to know more
about what we believe. I didnt know him, but I
prayed for him. Last week, I was cleaning the
rented place we have for our meetings, and I saw
a man who stopped and watched us. I went to
talk to him and I found out that he is Mr.
George, Damaris friends father who asked for
that book. I invited him to come to our worship
meeting and he said that will surely come. He
kept his promise, and after that he invited us to
his home to talk more about the Gospel.

Florin is a baptized believer. Before starting a
Bible study together, he lived a life of sin. At the
beginning of this month, I asked him what topic
to address in our study. I knew his problem, but I
wanted to see if he is sensitive to his need also.
His answer made me understand that he wants
God to work in his life. Pray for a sanctified life!

After many prayers and much waiting, God has
helped us to rent a space where we met to
worship God every Sunday. We also use this
room for the childrens group and for other
activities.

Stoica Marian- Daneasa

I invite you to pray for us as a family, but also for
RESO team because spiritual resistance is strong.
A special lady who weve known for 5 years, Mrs.
Mary loves us, comes to the church and supports
us. For 2 years she regularly attended the church
programs, but resistance from her family and
neighbors is high. On February 18th, we
attended a three-day conference in Draganesti-
Olt on discipleship. For the practical part we
were able to visit Mrs. Mary. The discussion was
encouraging. We were glad to see that Mrs.
Mary understands the message of the Gospel
very well, she prays and her attitude toward
Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO
NEWSLETTER February 2014
For we are laborers together with God 1 Corinthians 3:9

Jesus and His authority is correct. But at the end
of our discussion, we realized how close she is
from salvation by grace and the kingdom of
God.
Many times people begin their faith's journey
with enthusiasm and they end up in this risky
situation: not being inside the Kingdom. Pray
that God will give us wisdom to bring people to
Him and to help them understand the difference
between being close and being inside.

According to
Matthew 9:35, this
month we served
people spiritually
and physically. We
purchased
firewood and food
for four needy families with the support of a few
believers from Germany.


Prayer requests:
We will go to Germany in the next period to
present RESO ministry-the central area. We
need:
-wisdom and strength during our visits to the
churches there.
-Protection from God for the trip back to
Romania; we will travel by car






Serban George- Stoenesti

We give thanks to
God for He poured
out His grace upon us
this month. He saved
us and then He called
us into His ministry. It
is only His grace. We
want to tell others to
seek reconciliation
with God. He wants
no one to die, but have everlasting life.

For this, we have trained this month through a
conference, held in Drgnesti-Olt. We learned
many theoretical things and we also had the
chance to put them in practice by walking down
the streets and talking to people.

At Stoenesti, we continued to go from house to
house two days a week, to bring the Gospel to
people. We want everyone to be able to hear the
Gospel. I am amazed at how little people know
about God, forgiveness of sins or eternal life.
We want God to illuminate their lives with His
Gospel. We also pray for the Orthodox priests,
to know the truth and to live it. In Gostavatu, we
continued to meet in a sisters house.

We were glad to see unbelievers who came to
listen. Last time it was a woman who opened her
heart and said she could not sleep and that she
had bad thoughts since she quit reading the
Bible. I encouraged her to approach Gods Word
and to not relay on her righteousness.
Also here, Dana takes care of a group of
teenagers and they began an evangelism study.
Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO
NEWSLETTER February 2014
For we are laborers together with God 1 Corinthians 3:9

Pray for one of those girls who at 18 years had
undergone an abortion. Pray for her to realize
her sin and to
receive forgiveness
and emotional
healing.
Every Thursday in
Stoenesti, we study
the Bible with a
group of young boys.































Two of them are starting to understand the
Word of God better. Pray for Florin, another
young man who gave up coming to the study.

Pray also for those who come to church to be
saved, for the sermons to be relevant, clear and
biblical. Thank you for your support in prayer!

Spreading the Gospel in Southern Oltenia RESO
NEWSLETTER February 2014
For we are laborers together with God 1 Corinthians 3:9








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