Mission Trip and Evangelism in Romania
October 9th – October 18th, 2013
My mother's illness got worse and her suffering ended when she passed into Glory on October 3, 2013. This reminded me of the wishes of my father when they immigrated to the USA in 1992. He told me the story of Jacob when he left their land and moved to Egypt because of the famine. When Jacob died, his son Joseph brought the body to be buried in the native land and at the same time, Joseph told his descendants that when the Lord will visit them and they will move to their native land, to take his bones and bury them there. My father told me that he and his wife don't want to be buried here in the adopted land. Honoring their desire, I decided to travel to Romania and bury her body there. I used this as an opportunity to evangelize in Romania especially to my Orthodox family that walked into a Pentecostal church. We had a wake of one night at Golgotha Church in Chicago where family and friends were able to visit and hear the word of God preached by 12 pastors from Chicago and other US churches. My father, Viorica, Rodica, Samuel, Viorel, Lidia and I traveled to Romania and arrived there on October 9, 2013. Since the news spread quickly about my mother's body being brought to Romania, almost the entire village came to attend the wake and the funeral the next day. Since my parents donated their own home to a nonprofit organization and the house was being used by a family, there was no place to lay her body. The Pentecostal church board of members decided to receive the body inside the church and allow the services to be held there.
My mother loved the word of God preached by Godly people and she always ran to the churches when she heard that some preachers were coming. The Lord honored her desire at the wake and funeral for about twenty-five speakers shared their heart with the crowd. Some of them walked for the first time in the Pentecostal church just to see the body and coffin that was brought from the USA. Seeing so many attendees, I said this was the best way to evangelize because even though I had brought evangelist and missionary speakers and was never able to attract the whole village in the 70 times I have visited Satu Mare in the past 26 years. After the funeral, I was able to help the poor and needy from the village and we offered a lunch in the name of the Lord for all that attended at the place of Radu Muresan's restaurant (across from the house where she lived).
I visited the elderly house in construction and Pavel Sav came from Timisoara to be with us and visited the project of the elderly home. At my mother's funeral, I met Emilia who came with her parents and Eli. Two days after the funeral, since the relation was going well, I talked to the parents and we agreed to have a formal engagement at my cousin Florin's restaurant. Pavel Sav, my friend that came from Chicago, led the procedure of engagement and friends and family attended. The rest of the days, we ministered to churches and families in need. As I was departing from Satu Mare to the Bucharest airport, I was called by Pastor Florin Mitrig to meet missionary Ovidiu Pater that came from Kalahari Namibia and wanted to meet me and Pavel Sav as he was going towards Timisoara to continue with the mission. It was a great time meeting and sharing with Ovidiu and he made us an invitation to visit Namibia, Africa in the month of January 2014. I told him I would pray about it and let the Lord guide us. All of us returned back to the USA, even though we lost our mother, we have the insurance that we will see her again in heaven. We have the fulfillment that the mission was accomplished because, at her funeral, many people that we could not reach before attended and heard the word of God. We praised the Lord who gave us strength and comfort to do His work even through sad circumstances. His name is Glorified for all of these works. I conclude this report with the words of Apostle Paul; “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” Philippians 1:20.
Apostle Paul says in the book of Ephesians, that God does more than what we ask or think about. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” Ephesians 3:20
I believe that God calls His people into higher places where we can see what He has in store for us more clearly. I believe with all my heart that we as Christians are seated in heavenly places in Christ and in this place; we can offer our sacrifice of righteousness. I believed that God has something for me that I could not see and I need to go higher and deeper into His intimacy of relationship. As I was seeking to find His will for my life and ministry this year and while donating to a seminary student, I received a letter of thanksgiving and while I opened and read the letter, the Holy Spirit moved me mightily to call and enroll in a master program and mental health counseling. I was full of excitement after receiving this diving revelation and guidance. A few minutes later, I was called by a graduate student from this seminary that confirmed and gave me instruction how to proceed to attending the seminary program while having a family, business and mission. His instruction was to take J terms (January, June and July) along with online classes throughout the year. At the same time, I received an invitation from a friend in Nashville, TN to visit a church there. I was confident that the Lord was guiding me to something new that I had not planned for or thought about.
I asked my son, Eli, to join me since he had just graduated from high school. We drove to Nashville together with Johnny Brici and Manole from God Will Provide Organization. When we arrived to the Seminary’s campus, I met Ghita Florentin (a Romanian who held a Masters in Divinity from this Seminary). He helped me with the application and gave me all the necessary information. After the process was done, I was admitted to start the Seminary program in June 2013. Because that campus also has a University in it, I asked Eli to enroll in the college there but he refused saying that it isn’t for him. I took a picture of the campus with him in it. I prayed that the Lord will reveal Himself to him and come to Salvation and realization of the hidden treasure in store for him. Starting the Seminary was such a great experience and blessing because I met a lot of students from different backgrounds that shared their own personal experiences with God. The teachers had such a wealth of information and education throughout the courses that I had. I was able to visit the churches throughout Cleveland. I visited Destiny Community church, Cross Point church, Cleveland church of Evangelical Faith, North Cleveland Church of God, New Covenant church and Voice of Evangelist which also does prayer on Tuesday nights in the attic of a barn and connects to the whole world via a camera. I was so impressed by the mighty manifestation of the Holy Spirit in this humble place where people come with expectation to pray for the whole world. To my surprise one day, I met Pastor Boris Balan (an Ukranian that speaks Romanian and has people that speak Romanian in his congregation). I was invited to speak to the youth and minister to them. I also visited people that were sick in the Cleveland area and brought communion to them.
We flew from there to Budapest where a brother from Romania waited for us and drove us to Romania in the city of Timisoara. There, Pastor Dumitru Mot welcomed us to Elim Church where we ministered to the youth. Here in Timisoara, the youth are on fire for the Lord and so they came on Thursday night to hear the word of God. The next few days, pastor Mot drove us to the churches in the villages that need help with construction or remodeling. We were able to help a few churches with monetary donation. We also helped a few families that were in critical financial situations and had sick members in the hospital.
Pastor Mot borrowed us the church van and blessed us to go to Serbia (former Yugoslavia). I had a time of remembrance as I passed by the villages where I illegally crossed the border in June 25, 1987. As I was driving through those critical areas where I could be shot or caught by the police and army guards, I told my son about the sacrifice that I made to escape Communist Romania and was able to arrive to America's freedom. I remember the Birda Rail station (from where I departed towards the Partos border) where I first sensed the Hand of the Lord mightily manifested in my life. I shared the story with Eli and the group and pointed the dangerous spots where the Lord really protected me and the group at the time we were escaping. Now, we were freely and legally crossing the border of Moravita. Headed towards Belgrade, we first stopped to minister to the church in Vojvodinci (Voivodint) where descendants of Romanian people from nearby villages came together to hear the Word of God and to meet us. Before we left, we blessed the poor and helped the congregation to acquire a larger land that will be useful for large meetings outside and evangelistic purpose. We visited about 11 more churches in Banat, Serbia which had Romanian speaking members but two of them were close down unfortunately because of the lack of members. We prayed for revival in Serbia that the youth will get on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ and restore the churches that are weak or closed down. When we arrived to Belgrade, I remember the place where I stayed in a refugee camp. I visited the church in Belgrade and met some of the members. There are so many changes after 27 years. The country doesn't look the same because it went through a split that brought hardship and destruction. There were still a few destroyed buildings in the downtown area from the bombing in 1999. This reminded me about the prophetic words that were given by the Holy Spirit through Christian brothers that were in living in the refugee camp during the time I was in it. The prophecy was regarding the country nearly having a big destruction and would be split and blood will be spilled all over the country from a lot of youth. Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo were formed from former Yugoslavia Federation. This was the fulfillment of the prophecy; “Country destined for separation”.
On my way back to Romania, we stopped at Virset, Serbia and ministered to the church there. I also visited the prison where I was an inmate after I surrendered myself to the Yugoslavia authorities due to my successful escape. People were very happy to see my after 26 years coming back to those places and recognizing that it was a blessing for me because this was the way that I came to the United States. Pastor Pitic was a young missionary from one of the villages in Serbia and was supported by Sweden church to work with Romanian immigrants at that time. Arriving in Timisoara, we needed to split up due to a flat tire that happened suddenly as we argued where to minister that evening. Before departing to Yugoslavia, I promised Pastor Liviu Sav that I would minister to the church in Ghiroda but the other part of the team wanted to drive to Oradea. The Lord stopped us with a big screw which caused the flat and I was able to go to Ghiroda. The remaining members went to minister in Arad (closer than Oradea) because Pastor Lutu Tibei called them shortly after getting the flat tire. That night, I ministered to the people in Ghiroda and blessed them with the word of God and they rejoiced to see me again. In the morning, my friend Liviu drove me to Arad and met with the other part of the team at brother Lutu's house. We continued our way to Radauti and crossed into many villages and towns. After a long journey, we arrived at Goshen church in Radauti where we were expecting and ministered to the people there. In Radauti, we ministered to other churches and helped the poor people. We then headed to Vicov, a village where the Pentecostal movement grew very strong and multiplied. They had to extend the church building and we participated at the church dedication where a lot of ministers came from all over Romania.
When I arrived in the village of Satu Mare (where I was born), I found elderly people in a very distressful and bad living conditions due to the houses that were collapsing, raining inside them, mud and mold accumulating. This situation shocked me and the Lord impressed in my heart to start a house for the elderly. A couple years ago, we had a desire to build a kindergarten with a perspective to expand it into a school campus but all the steps and approaches we made to obtain the land were unsuccessful and the money that were sent were waiting in a steel company that was to supply rebar material for the foundation. Along with the board of Blessed Hope International Mission, we decided to convert the funds and start building the house for the elderly on the land that was donated by my parents to Nadejde Binecuvantata (a nonprofit organization) in Romania. The Blessed Hope International Mission board approved the project and so we started building the house in cooperation with Nadejde Binecuvantata. During my time in Romania, I was able to minister to many people from villages and towns and also from Piatra Neamt where Pastor Liviu Axinte is an overseer. I visited about 10 of his churches that are in construction and we helped them with supplying money for materials. We also ministered to the churches where he is responsible and performed the act of baptism for a new believer. The annual Romanian Mission Conference was set this year in Valea Draganului in a very remote place in Transylvania in a resort surrounded by vegetation. I remembered that I met George Ritisan (the president of Romanian Intercultural Mission) in 2012 (on my way to a mission trip to the Philippines) and he invited me to the annual RoMisCon. We drove with Liviu Axinte to Valea Draganului where we met a lot of missionaries that serve in other countries. Missionary school students from Agigea Constanta, Romania came to attend the conference and I was able to speak to and motivate them to continue working for the purpose that the Lord has called them. It was a great time of fellowship and interaction with a lot of people. On my way back to Suceava, I was able to stop in Campia Turzii to see Dina Muresan (my brother-in-law's mother) that we prayed for years ago – she was sick with cancer and the Lord healed her. The time passed by very fast as we were busy with activities throughout the whole mission trip.
As I was getting ready to leave towards Chicago, Eli got very upset and claimed that he didn't want to leave Romania anymore. He said he is tired of Chicago. He was right and so because of the sinful environment that was keeping him tired and heavy loaded, I let him stay in Romania and I returned to Chicago. As the time progressed, he changed the environment and encountered the Lord and decided to be baptized in water in August, 2013 in Betel Church in Radauti. It is true that the Lord calls people that are outside the camp of their busy life to speak to them. This was true with Abraham – God called Him to leave his country and go to another place. Another example is from Hosea 2:14; “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her.” God calls people out of their comfort zone or place of distraction to a place where He can be heard clearly and people can make a serious commitment to follow Him. This brought a new start and a new beginning with a real relationship and fellowship with the Lord. This makes the Lord sovereign over everything.
By the Grace of God, I ministered in Cuba together with brothers Johnny Buia, Edgar Garza, Johnny Brici (from God Will Provide) and my son Eli Lupancu. As we passed through Customs in Holguin, we remembered the Romanian Customs 35 years ago (especially since we now had 10 Bibles with us and they are not friendly with missionaries). We waited for Pastor Juan Luiz Font Ruiz and his wife, Evangelist Lisney Marayi Sanchez Calvino – founders of A Dios Sea la Gloria (to God be the Glory) with the motto, “..with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26. This is the second trip to Cuba that BHIM has made. As we arrived in the Hologuin, we had the first worship with the brotherhood in the Rama Del Reino area, town of Alsides Pine on April 23rd. At this church, we had the privilege to preach and teach the Word of God and Brother Edgar was the anointed translator from English to Spanish. Sister Lisney ministered during the service as well and eight people have received Jesus as their personal Savior.
Only by using the card can anyone buy bread, oil, sugar, etc. Communism here is not like that of the one in Russia or in atheist Romania; this one is blended with serving the evil one. It is said that even now some in the Government are bringing offerings to him that came "to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" John 10: 10.
Are you thirsty? Buy drinking water from private distributors. >>
On Wednesday morning, people from our group shopped together for strict needs (soap, rice, cooking oil, meat) of 40 poor families using two cars, and we distributed them to families with sick people and elderly in Holguin. Before departing from their houses, we prayed and we gave them some money. It was a tiring but blessed day. The Bible commands us to do good works and to be the first ones doing good deeds. “The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things” Titus 2:3.
Cathedral Ecclesia was built in 1522.
Traveling eastward we arrived at Guantanamo where Christopher Columbus arrived in 1494. At the entrance of houses of the believers is an emblem with a shield, a cross and a sword. In US these kinds of emblems are posted by security companies that protect homes and businesses. In Cuba, next to this emblem, you can read; "Protected by the Blood of Christ". Pastor Jose Martinez (Assemblies of God) gave us good news of the spreading of the Gospel in Guantanamo. Puerto Ricans have brought the Gospel to Cuba 71 years ago. They are very well organized. Our group bought goods for 60 poor families here: rice, sugar, cooking oil, soap, etc. – distributed Sunday at the "Good Samaritan Service", which is part of the Evangelical Pentecostal Church in Cuba. I remember that when I was a child in Romania, babies were swaddled in cloth diapers that were washed by hand. Here pampers are washed, dried and re-used. Lord, give us wise hearts to know to administrate the gifts we received from You only for Your Glory. We need to be wise with our health, money, time and many other blessings. In Cuba, foreigners are not allowed to sleep at private houses; they have to use hotels only or authorized places. Our group slept at the Guantanamo Hotel (2 stars) where the rent for one day costs more than a monthly paycheck of a Cuban worker. In the spiritual blackness of Cuba, Evangelistic services are accompanied by signs and wonders and many souls are coming to the Lord. During sister Lisney’s last Evangelical crusade in Guantanamo, it was estimated the participation of 10,000 people filled the streets. The Spirit of the Lord came down upon them and until late at night people were weeping, surrendering to the Lord and glorifying His Name. Despite the opposition of the enemy and his priests who opposed the preaching of the Gospel through bloody sacrifices and praying that preachers will die when they get there, the Lord worked powerfully among these people. A person possessed by an evil spirit came in and asked for a glass of water. Instead of drinking the water she broke the glass and jumped to kill sister Lisney, but… "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4. We should not forget this truth when we pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, when we suffer or when we are persecuted. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward”. Hebrews 10:35.
In Guantanamo, on Friday evening we participated with Pastor Jose Martinez at the Ladies’ Meeting. I preached about the fact that we have to know God's Will not only from the Bible, but we need to have our own experiences with Him, and so must our children, coming after us. We continued to visit the Eternal Refuge Temple where Br. Johnny Buia preached about: "You cannot serve two masters" (2). The Church was very receptive and the Holy Spirit moved during our prayers. The pastor’s son had a big motorcycle accident. He testified that by the grace of the Lord now he is totally restored and completely healthy. Alleluia!<< Eternal Refuge Temple – on Friday night.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” Heb 10:24. Are we ready today to suffer or to die for Christ? In the chapter of Faith (Heb. 11), we find about the true Christians who, for their belief “They had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings; yes, more of bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned to death, sawed in two, tempted and slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains and dens and the caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise” Where DO WE STAND in regards to the FAITH?? The communist motto: SOCIALISM OR DEATH, (in Guantanamo). Written on fences is: Long live May 1st, the day of solidarity.
The position of the Cuban communists is clear, "SOCIALISM OR DEATH. Can we declare: CHRISTIANITY or DEATH? They fight for something which is temporary. Do we fight the good fight of the saints so that we can spend eternity with the Lord?2 Tim. 4:7-8. Are we ready to give our life for our Lord Jesus Christ who first gave His life as a sacrifice to redeem from sin and death everyone who believes and trusts in Him? Someone said that if we are not ready to die for Christ then we are not ready to live for Him. We have to live “as Jesus walked" 1 John 2:6. Beloved, we have to come to what apostle Paul said: "according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:20.On Saturday April 27th, in the evening, we participated at the Evangelical Campaign in San German. On the way there we had a flat tire and many times the electrical power in the sanctuary was interrupted. The spiritual battle was in full swing. Satanists brought their sacrifices also. The enemies wanted our death, but “But deliverance (Victory) is of the Lord” Prov. 21:31.
The crowd that gathered there was of about 3,000 people. The Lord used sister Lisney in a special way. Deliverances from bad and noisy evil spirits took place and many divine healings happened. Over 50 people wanted to confess their healing. The growth of the demonic activity is a sign of the end times.“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” 1Tim. 4:1
Br. Costica Lupancu and Edgar Garza spoke. Br. Johnny declared: “The Lord, our King who keeps His promises”. He concluded with the two calls "come" which found at the end of the Bible. One, for the Lord Jesus Christ, called by the Holy Spirit and the Bride, the Church and the second call is to the unbeliever made by me and you. Hallelujah! "And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.
Br. Johnny Buia is preaching translated by Br. Edgar. Here we met a Romanian lady, who lives in Cuba for 35 years. She is a university professor, she loves the Lord and she brought her nephew to the Palace of King Jesus. The majority of the houses (in town) have two floors. On the flat roof, some have a "cage" where they raise pigs. A pig roast was prepared over-night and was our food for the whole church. We traveled to Playa Bianca (White Beach) by truck and cars for relaxation and a water baptism, in the sea, N / E of Holguin. It was very hot and the sun was burning.
Together with my son, Eli Lupancu, we had the privilege to visit Russian, Ukrainian and Romanian churches located around the Portland area. Our purpose was to see the site and work done by ‘God Will Provide Mission’ among those that are lost due to their narcotic addiction. We were motivated by Pastor Peter Nakhaychuk when he visited our mission here in Chicago and communicated his vision and desire to also begin a recovery center in our city (similar to the ones they have in Portland, Sacramento and throughout other countries). Lidia, my sister who lives in Portland with her husband, picked us up from the airport and accommodated us in their home. Portland is a city with a lot of Romanian and many other diverse communities. On Sunday morning, I visited Betel Church where my brother was ordained as a minister last year. In the afternoon, I began my visit to the Russian community and I visited the church of ‘God Will Provide Mission’ where about five hundred people gathered together in the afternoon in a rented church building from the Lutherans. Pastor Peter started this church seven years ago with five small families and a vision to reach the youth and those that have no purpose in this life. The Lord attracted many youth people and also those that need recovery from intoxication with narcotics. The Holy Spirit of God moved among them and ignited the passion and a new desire to seek the Glory of God who liberates and transforms lives from inside out. The words spread out quickly through Russian and Romanian communities and people came with a hunger to seek God and fulfill their destiny. I myself have sensed the hand of God move very powerfully in the lives of the youth (mostly of them being addicted to drugs but now have become addicted and attached to the presence of God – seeking Him with all their heart).After I arrived in the church, Pastor Peter asked me to greet the church and have a short word. I have preached on the endurance that develops purpose – which develops passion – which develops into perspective – which then changes the way that we think and see life. God touched lives and I was so connected with the congregation who listened through their open ears and eyes. I saw this youth when we exhorted them in prayer – they were so devoted and hungry to fill their soul with God’s presence and power that energized them to walk toward their destiny (having nothing and no one to stop them from reaching a high level of living in God’s presence). God directed my feet to meet a young Romanian leader named John Brici who was recovered years ago from drug addiction and a bad lifestyle. This young man had such devotion for God and for the mission and he had just arrived from Kenya where he started a church building project and orphanage.“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27One month ago, I shared a contact with John (Peter Kamau; an evangelist from Kenya) who was a really great help and encouragement for their work there. Now, he is in Portland for a few weeks to present their project to other churches and raise funds to finish building them. For the night service, I visited another Romanian-Ukrainian church and John Brici gave a testimony how the Lord worked in his life and gave him a purpose to live and pursue God’s desire which is to spread the Gospel and work with charity.“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up..” 1 Corinthians 13:4The church had their topic from the book of Romans 11:11 – “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”After the church heard the sermon followed by a testimony of a boy who had no purpose, was addicted & is now being transformed by God and motivated to do the work of God that some of the church members do. Having become lazy & formal (not really doing anything for God other than simply attending church), they felt jealous of this boy’s recovery & how God uses him (& others like him with marginalized lives) and they felt eager to take action because they provoked & motivated them to wake up and raise themselves from their routine & lethargic life. This was Jesus’ invitation and call to the Jew to do their work; but having not responded, He sent His servants to other people that had no direction in life.“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23It is God’s desire to use people for the purpose that He made them for – but when they fail to synchronize their life with God’s will, they feel like they are like the ones walking on highways and hedges in no particular direction and so this church was encouraged to move for the purpose that God has for them. As human beings, if we do not devote ourselves daily to God and make Him our highest priority for living, we might feel entrapped by our flesh and our doubtful way.“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24I encouraged the church to keep the holiness and Godliness in their life and actions because we are changed and transformed by God’s nature as long as we keep His presence in us which gives us supernatural “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..” Galatians 5:22-23Another illustration that Jesus used was by comparing our God-filled life & the fruits of the Spirit, as the flavor of salt that preserves and makes things better.“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?” Luke 14:34We do not have nothing Godly in us alone without God’s presence and His connection to our spirit that works in us and transforms our mind and our body to become Godly to fulfill God-given purpose and destiny.
“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” Romans 11:32
The next day, we visited an elderly brother; Williams Waltz whom God used mightily during his time in the ministry (of about fifty years) and now he refuged himself in some mountains for prayer and quality time with God where he lives with his wife over ninety years old and some other family. We were very inspired to see and hear this man at his old age – yet full of energy from the Holy Spirit – testifying the miracles that God worked through his ministry in the past. While he was giving facts from his testimony on how God healed and manifested His glory during the services in the Africa continent, India, Ukraine, the Holy Spirit came upon him and he had a word of prophesy for me to continue to keep my life pure and the Lord is going to use me and the ministry mightily and will bring many youth that will surrender to the Lord completely and serve Him sincerely. The youth currently live in a very chaotic and stressful condition in our society and the answer is only by changing the goals and purpose of their hearts & humanity; in seeking peace, love, unity and respect for whole human rights of all races and nations. This change of life must come from a change of heart. So our life’s greatest goal is to change man’s heart and mind into a wholesome desire to love and respect others in the human society. This will only happen when a person acknowledges his need of help and it is then an opening of heart and mind to real truth that can make life’s greatest goal become a reality. Jesus’ first teaching on getting set free of the evil heart and mind of the sinful nature of mankind is to have the experience of being born again as it is written in John’s 3rd chapter.“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
This old man prayed for all of us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and even my son Eli (who is not yet a believer) felt the presence of God who shook his body. This trip was an inspiration and refreshment of the vision that God gave me twenty years ago when he called me out of the darkness to His marvelous light to work in bringing Hope for the youth and hopeless. This is possible only through a born again experience or new spiritual birth because our humanity’s nature is depraved. This visit of the churches and the God Will Provide Mission sites (of two buildings for males and one for females) in Portland, manifested itself to me (in a real way), the experience to be born again where people from one extreme of being addicted and slaves to Sin, received a new heart and a new spirit that gives a new wholesome purpose and a positive attitude towards life. These people that I visited in these recovery centers have received a new heart and a new spirit given by the Lord Jesus as He promised in the book of Ezekiel.“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:25-27I learned a lot about their testimony from the people that I saw there as they were brought towards life’s greatest goal – which is to have an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3I also visited Philadelphia Romanian Church in Portland where I also reacquainted with some old friends. This trip was an orientation to what God is doing when people understand to serve others which will bring faith and happiness to them. This determined us to think even though it is hard to cast ourselves aside and carry others’ burdens, help others to be recovered and restore them to the purpose that God made them; and always think towards serving our fellow brethren.God willing, we are ready to partner with God Will Provide Mission to open and operate a center in Chicago and to launch a service in the English language for the youth in our community and church. Our greatest goal is to bring others to a personal and intimate relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. To Him belongs the Glory and Honor forever and ever. Amen!