Mission Trip to Romania and Ukraine
May 5th – June 11th, 2014
Dedication of the new Elderly Nursing Home – Chritian Social Blessed Hope (Nadejde Binecuvantata)
I want to thank God for what He is doing when we are moving in obedience according to His Will. It is always important to move where God moves first and be blessed by the Work that He is already doing. In the last twenty seven years, I was blessed to visit Romania many times for the purpose of mission and charity. Our goal and purpose was to reach families in distress, hopeless or broken from all over the country. Whilst travelling all over the country after the revolution, I could see the effects of the former communist regime that ran the country from 1965 to 1989 and that motivated me to do something for the poor and needy. Years ago, we had a plan to construct a school center in Romania. After making a lot of efforts to obtain a prime land from the government in the city of Radauti, our efforts were not granted by the government. When I visited Europe and Romania in May/June 2013, I passed through my village and my eyes were opened to see the elderly that were ignored living in houses that were collapsing. A lady approached me and asked me with a soft tone, “Are you not doing something for us?” I was very touched by her voice and moved with determination to do something for the first time in the village where I was born despite the attitude that I had when I departed Romania (deciding not to return to or visit this country again). The Lord changed me and I visited it many times with this purpose – bringing hope to the hopeless. Due to the attitude and cruelty of the people from this village, Satu Mare, I told my parents to move from that area permanently because of the theft and other crimes. When you are serving the Lord, you have to move in obedience where the Lord moves and so He moved me to start a house project for the elderly. Since we donated the money already for the school project, the BHIM and Nadejde Binecuvantata boards both approved to start the project on the land that my parents donated to Nadejde Binecuvantata Association years ago. With determination not to change the plan, we met the mayor of the city and architect from the village and told them of our plan. The officials welcomed and agreed with this project so the construction company was hired and the work began. When I had a visit in October, they already had poured the foundation and built the structure because the winter weather was still favorable and they were able to continue with the interior. In the month of February 2014, my sister Tabita and my brother in law Cornel Muresan (treasurer of BHIM), called me and asked when we will do the inauguration of the center. This motivated us to accelerate the work and finish by June 7th, 2014 which was also the date that Cornel planned to visit Romania with his family. This date accommodated my schedule due to the fact that I had a school seminary to attend and other obligations. God orchestrated everything and I departed from Chicago with my father and Pavel Sav on May 5th. Arriving in Bucharest, our team separated – My father and I went to Satu Mare and Pavel Sav went to Timisoara. When I arrived in Satu Mare, the work had advanced rapidly. I could use my BHIM credit card to purchase the materials from Radauti for the finishing touches from a warehouse named Olint. I stayed in the house and worked from the morning until late evening and coordinated everything according with our plan. I fenced the property all around with an iron fence.
When I decided to build the nursing home in the back of the old house behind the barn, I noticed there was a problem with the access to the house and I talked to my uncle Valerian (who owns the land nearby) to allow us to pave a path; which he agreed to. However, after we started building the house, he changed his mind. The Lord gave me wisdom to open the barn and have access to the house through the barn. Despite the plan of others that wanted to destroy the barn, I convinced them to open a driveway and keep the barn to raise chickens because the elders that we will help will be sheltered and fed here. On some evenings, I preached in Satu Mare and the nearby villages (Voitinel, Bilca and Vicov). I also went to Timisoara where I preached to the church in Ghiroda and attended a service where Hristic Mission was celebrating 16 years of musical ministry and charity. On May 27th – 30th, I attended RoMisCon of APME (Agentia Penticostala de Misiune Externa) in Calimanesti Caciulata, Valea Oltului. At this conference, I met a lot of Romanian missionaries that are working all over the world. I was able to speak to them and motivate them to continue the good work because the reward is great for those that don’t give up. To my surprise, I met a pastor that was attending high school in 1977 in Sibiu where I met him but have not seen him again since then. After the conference, I passed through Cluj where my brother in law Cornel and Tabita and his family came from Chicago. Together with them came the VP of BHIM, brother Edgar Garza. We had a great time in Cluj with his family and departed to Bucovina and arrived at midnight in the northern part of Bucovina in the village Nisipitu.
Great Work in Satu Mare (the Grand Village)
GOD Still Performs Miracles Today!!
From the time that I sensed the call of God to mission, I consider this a great privilege and responsibility and I based on clear vision that must be fulfilled with much passion. I learn to seek and depend on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and cooperate with God in all my mission trips that God moved and empowered me to join Him in on the work that He was doing in so many places around the world. When I left communist Romania in the summer of June 1987, never thinking or hoping that I would return back to the country or the village where I was born and raised in. However, God has His way of changing and transforming our stubbornness and mentality. After my born again experience and baptism in the Holy Spirit in the Chicago Southside Romanian Church of God my first desire and affection was to go back to Romania and give my testimony of my changed life to my family, neighbors and the village where I first heard about God. Since my first visit in Romania in 1990, I have seen the hand of God moving and guiding me to join God in the work that He was doing throughout Romania changing lives in prisons, jails, helping the poor and needy many times. Through my all the trips to Romania I have joined God in building churches in many villages and cities around the country, but never thought of any project to be done in the village of Satu Mare (close to Ukraine border). As I visited the poor and elderly people last year, I was moved by the words of a very old widow whose house was with a damaged roof and the structure beyond repairs. “Can you do something for us, the old people that live in damaged homes?” she asked. I was moved to tears by her words and the Holy Spirit moved me with determination to start a home for the elders and those without shelter. I decided the same day and contacted the village architect for blue prints and city permits to build the house for elders on the land that my parents donated to Blessed Hope International Mission (BHIM) years ago. Now God was doing something new for the elderly. With the funds that the Lord had provided years ago, the home was built and finished on June 7th, 2014, the day of inauguration, dedication to the Lord, and the day when the elderly came in very happily and moved in. Our team that came from USA together with the local church had prepared for this event with fervent prayer and fasting pleading and asking God to move and attract many unsaved people to hear the gospel of good news. In spite of the big opposition and ignorance, God’s hand moved and mobilized over 250 peoples that responded to come and were stirred up in their soul by an atmosphere of music, and the word of GOD was preached like words of fire that melted the frozen hearts. Almost everyone was touched and blessed by God’s mighty presence. Those that participated in the service were pastors and leaders from different churches around the country. To name a few; Liviu Axinte – overseer of Moldova Pentecostal Church, pastor Stefan Morar from Radauti Maranata Church, Viorel Bordei that was born in Satu Mare but is currently a pastor in Radauti, Constantin Moisa from Bucharest former Orthodox priest, Bogdan Ionescu from Ploiesti. Lidia Rascol an 82-year-old lady that resides in Detroit but works with poor people in Vaslui, pastor Ilioi from Phoenix Arizona, singer Costel Busuioc from Timisoara, Dorel Pantea with Hristic Worship Group from Timisoara, Petrica and Filon Moloceniuc from Radauti that had a very big contribution during the construction project, and other leaders from the local church of Satu Mare.
On the next day, Sunday June 8th, the day of Pentecost, I decided to attend the local church with the desire to build a strong relationship between the church and the Christian Center for Elderly. On this day, I was surprised by the Lord like never before in my walk with Him. At the service that morning Adina Nistor (a lady from another village) attended our church service for the first time. She was crippled due to a car accident that happened 2 years ago in which her sister in law died in the car accident. This woman that came that morning to the house of prayer came with her crutches to the altar as I made the invitation for the sick and needy to come with expectation to approach the throne of grace and mercy and I would pray for them. As I joined them in prayer with the church in unity I saw the portal of heaven open and the glory of God manifesting and touching people. I was part in a service that is hard for me to describe. I was not even preaching on the topic of healing, because it was a Sunday when we remember the event of Pentecost with its demonstration and experience “Jesus went up and Holy Spirit came down”. When the glory of God touched the body of the woman supported by the crutches, she raised her hands toward haven in a sudden praise to the Lord for what she felt was happening in her body, forgetting about the crutches that supported her body and help her to move about. As she raises the arms the crutches got loose and fell on the floor. While praying for her and 
being a witness of all this confirmation and demonstration of the healing power, I was moved and compelled to grab her hand instantly and encouraged her to continue exercising faith looking at Jesus (like Peter waking on the seawater), standing on her feet jumping up and down (without the help of the crutches) to the back of the church and returning back to the altar where she came to thank the Lord for her miraculous healing saying: “I thank God, I thank God.” All of the church was moved to tears and revived the life of their spirit in the Holy Spirit.
The most moving testimony was when she described in her own words when she said how surprised she was when she felt the surge of the Holy Spirit’s real warmth, not imaginary. She actually felt her legs on fire (during the prayer). She felt astonished as the heat surged throughout her body; she was moved with excitement to lift her hands towards heaven and forgetting about her crutches. The cloud of magnificent splendor changed the condition of this woman and brought revival to the church that never experienced such a move of God’s power. After this healing experience, Adina went and visited many churches and testified what the Lord has done to her. I spoke with her a few weeks ago on the phone and full of joy and great thanksgiving she said, “I am so happy to walk and run like before the accident.” Adina was totally released and restored from her conditions and completely healed by the power of the Holy Spirit confirming the words and works of the gospel with signs and wonders. We can continue to keep the declaration that great work started and is growing in Satu Mare and not only there but also everywhere where people proclaim a declaration by faith and believe that the power of God is greater than every sickness, difficulty or any other adverse circumstances.
Nothing can replace the joy of seeing others come to know our amazing God and no great fulfillment comes in our life until we find our self doing and working for the purpose of what God created you to do. Our desire is to show everybody that it is possible to have a vibrant and passionate life for Jesus Christ and to give to the people around the world a flavor of what the Christians were doing in the book of Acts when they were working together with the Power of the Holy Spirit to reach the lost and help the needy. If people can get close to God and a hold of God’s heart, they can influence and change a community through mobilization of others to care for their community and reach others for Christ. For this purpose, it is going to take men and women who see their life as purposeful for Jesus Christ and not for their self. This will elevate them for influence to do the greater things God has called them to do.
“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, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team
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!
One of our friends and mission partners in California was called by Pastor Vasilica Croitor (the pastor overseer of the Dobrogia area in Romania) to help rebuild a church in Mangalia since it was burnt by a radical and extremist group. Constantin Antemie from California helped us build the church in Haiti and I could not refuse the invitation to join him in Dobrogia. Seeking the will of the Lord in prayer, I called Pastor Liviu Ugeniuc (a prayer warrior) from Itscan in Suceava, RO. To my surprise, he told me that he is leaving to a mission trip in Scandinavia. He invited me to join him to do the Work of the Lord together in that part of Northern Europe. Since the steps of the righteous are guided by the Lord. I considered this invitation as an answer to fulfill the desire that I had for many years of visiting Scandinavia (while believing that the Lord had something special to accomplish there). Throughout my time as a missionary, I was prompted to pray for that part of the world many times. That part of the world (and not only) is cold and frozen being that it is close to Greenland. On the spiritual side, it is also cold and bare because of the secular influence and prosperity. The Lord moved me with compassion many times to pray for a revival there. When I was invited, I responded right away – because my heart was already there (in prayer) even though I knew no one there. I asked Samuel Butnariu (my brother-in-law) to join me in this mission trip because Constantin Antemie was unable to join me or go to Dobrogia due to some circumstances (but God used him to move me and motivate me because I had no plans for a mission trip in December).
God has many ways to accomplish His purpose. We just need to respond and be willing to follow His purpose. God works in us to motivate, change and transform us and then He uses us to do His will and fulfill His plans that he has ahead of us.“A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9Samuel responded and we made the necessary preparations for this long trip. Many times in the past, I was invited by a musician (Alexandru Groza) who sings in the states to come and visit his country (Denmark). I called him and he answered and welcomed us even though he was preparing to go to London. We arrived in Copenhagen where he was waiting for us. He introduced us to Pastor Jon Pitik (who leads a church in Hässleholm, Sweden). I met him for the first time in the refugee camp of Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1987. I haven’t heard of him for over twenty-five years and we were so surprised to be reconnected. After arriving in Copenhagen, we spent some time with brother Alexandru and observed Denmark as a harmonious land of the old and new. We remembered about the Vikings who lived over a millennium ago and brought the world’s attention to the country. From there, we took the train and traveled to Hässleholm, Sweden (our next destination) where Pastor Jon awaited us at the rail station. I had such a great joy to meet him after twenty-five years. We went to his home where we met his wife and children. Before we had lunch together, we had a moment of prayer and the Spirit of the Lord moved so powerfully and connected us in such a great unity and I believe that the Lord has something special for that city. The first night, we visited the local church where we met brothers Liviu Ugeniuc and Dragos Croitor and we all ministered to the local church. We spent a special time with the members in fervent prayer for the baptism in the Holy Spirit for them. A lot of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and fresh power from above. In this church, we met Florin and Claudiu Pugna (board members of their church) who told us about the history of their church.
At night, we had a service at Församlingsblad Pingstkyrkan Hässleholm Church pastored by Jon Pitik together with a Swedish pastor. We were so blessed to meet people from Sibiu, Romania that I had not seen since 1981 and also have Swedish members worshipping God in the same building. In 1977 I left my birth village (Satu Mare) and went to Sibiu to start high school where I was friends with the Cosma family who lived nearby the CFR Industrial Railroad School. During the four years of high school, I sometimes attended the Pentecostal church in Sibiu where I met the Pentecostal community. I saw brothers and sisters that moved to Sweden from that church, thirty years later. One that I remembered very well was Dodo Cosma and we renewed some moments and memories. The service was so powerful and anointed by God’s Holy Spirit. What a great privilege we have to be an ambassador of Christ in this age and spread the aroma of His good news!
We left Sweden by train and bus a few days later and traveled to Norway (Europe’s Wild West). A country with rich historic sites from Viking ships to medieval churches, with lakes and mountains. After a day of traveling, we arrived at Kristiansand, Norway around midnight and met the Romanian community of that city in a big house. Some Romanians which I met here are among those from large families that lived in Romania when we started Blessed Hope Mission (in 1992). Youth from Plavalari, Romania moved here and got married with Norwegians and so a community was formed in Norway. In the morning, we met at Bethany Church where we had a very long service because people were so hungry for the Word of God and eager to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. With words of exhortation and encouragement, we challenged them to attach to the Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Hope and the Source of blessings. On Sunday, it was a special day because the church asked us to help them in the election of new board members and leaders of the church. The plan was also to ordain an exhorter (deacon) but no one reached a +66% vote. We then headed towards Oslo (Norway’s capital) after all these days of refreshment & revival, & brother Nicolae Zemciuc drove us to the airport so we could fly to Bucharest to continue our mission trip.
In Bucharest, we visited the Pentecostal Theological Institute where we were accommodated by them. From Bucharest, we took the train to Constanta and on the way, we stopped in Mangalia. We stopped in Medgidia and Pastor Vasile Croitor met us and drove with us to Mangalia to see the church that was burned down. Pastor Dorel Toma accommodated us in his home that night. This area of Dobrogia was not reached very much with the Gospel of Jesus during the communist regime and there is now a desire of this new generation to minister and mobilize in an adequate way to win many souls for Christ. Due to the work of the ministers, a few families from Mangalia (of an Islamic/Turkish background) surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. This created a tension against Christians among the other ethnic groups of Turks & Tatars and they burned the house of an evangelist minister of the Gospel years ago. When the church of Mangalia was almost finished, the pastor was notified by the security alarm company one night – that the church is burning. Nothing could be saved because of the fire and the fireman’s actions fighting the fire. This year, a team from Canada sent the materials and came there and rebuilt the structure. On a day when we arrived, they needed someone to pay for the plywood and the metal sheets for the roof. God moved us at the right time and with his provisions, I was able to pay for the roofing materials at the supply store. As I traveled to this area, I remembered that on those fields, I was incorporated in the army in 1982 and spent almost two years in Mangalia, Techirghiol and other towns around Mangalia city. This was the first time (since discharging from the army) that I visited those places again. We took the train from Constanta and traveled to Suceava (northern part of Romania). On the way, we stopped at Roman where we had a night of prayer at the family Carmil Motoc from Horia. Brothers and sisters in Christ from the area gathered together and we brought a message of encouragement and spent a
quality time in prayer before the Lord. The next day, we traveled to Piatra Neamt and met Pastor Liviu Axinte. We visited the Pentecostal Community Center and the church in Piatra Neamt (where we ministered that night). From there we went to Suceava, where we visited a few families and had prayer meetings in villages: Ipotesti, Vicov, Putna, Burla, Fratauti Vechi and Volovat. In the city Radauti, we had a night of revival at the church of Gosen. The message of God was delivered with freedom and many people were blessed that night. Another night we had a night of evangelism in the church of Burla where a lot of visitors came to hear the Word of God (including the mayor of the village). Because of the winter season with a lot of snow, I could not drive to Satu Mare where I planned and so we went to Burla and ministered there on Sunday morning. In the church of Burla (where I was for the first time), I met past co-workers from Imil Radauti (the factory that used to work at as a maintenance mechanic 26 years ago). Other people were surprised and blessed to meet us and we helped them with some money to buy necessary things for living during this harsh winter season when there is barely any work available for some. We headed towards Suceava after the church service and then we took the train to Bucharest from the Suceava Rail Station where we met our friend, Mircea Lubanovici (a newly reelected deputy in the Romanian Parliament for Diaspora), which we supported. We traveled with him to Bucharest and our friend, Pastor Constantin Gramada, picked us up from the rail station and accommodated us in his home until the next day when we left to the airport to head back home.
It was a great privilege for my wife and I to attend the Church of God Pastoral Convention in 2012. I was very excited to attend four days of empowerment and fresh anointing with the Holy Spirit. I arrived in Hollywood, FL with great expectations believing that God will move powerfully. I was ordained as an exhorter by the Church of God on December 4th, 2005 and I kept a good relationship with the organization. Since then, I had the privilege to enjoy the fellowship with ordained ministers and pastors from many churches, many times. I know and believe that God provides everything necessary for us to fulfill his purpose and plan that He has for His church in this season. This convention was hosted by the local church in Florida pastored by Gelu Strimbu. The theme of this convention was focused on being empowered by the Holy Spirit. This theme really inspired and motivated us with new energy from the great power of the Holy Spirit which enabled us to fulfill our call and mission. The work of God cannot be accomplished with our own strength and power at all. We need to always be fulfilled and filled with the Holy Spirit energy to accomplish the purpose to live in a Godly way. No wonder Apostle Paul prayed for the Church in the book Ephesians.“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 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, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
If Apostle Paul needs to receive strength from the Holy Spirit, we also need that power to influence our human being to live in victory for God’s purpose. Even the son of God (Jesus Christ) said in the book of Luke 4, that the Holy Spirit is upon me. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19How much more do we need to be energized and empowered to live a
These were all the words that I was inspired by at this convention to memorize and apply to my life and ministry.
We were so excited and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God that used also Dr. Tony Lane, Wallace Sibley and Dr. Mark Williams (the Church of God General Overseer) and other speakers to bring clear messages that inspired us to embrace God. I believe God has done a great work at this convention. My spirit was so refreshed and empowered during that Sunday’s evening service that Dr. Mark Williams preaching from the whole book of Acts (I saw that this man of God had memorized the whole book of Acts and preached every chapter with such emphasis showing a real application for the church today to live in victory accomplished already by the Lord Jesus Christ. This was a practical teaching that enabled and empowered us to return to the book of Acts where the church of Christ was founded and conquered the world through the oppositions and persecutions. The whole congregation was very attentive and responsive to his dynamic preaching and quotations of the verses in Acts from his memory. It compelled all of us to memorize the scripture every day and speak the words with boldness and fire. It also sparked and ignited a passion in us to start reading the Bible in the following year with our entire congregation and renewed our commitment for memorization and meditation like it did with Joshua.“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8
Delaygon and Dios! (Praise the Lord!). We praise the Lord for another blessed trip to the Philippines. The masonic rain that flooded the streets of Manila this year in the fall had slowed down and made it possible for us to travel again to the Philippines. It is amazing how the Lord Jesus, though His Holy Spirit, moved and guided us (my son Tiberiu and I along with John Buia from Detroit) a second time to have another mission trip in the Philippines. After spending time in prayer and fasting to seek the Lord’s will about this trip, I was prompted through a divine confirmation (while sensing the Holy Spirit that moved me to understand that this is aligned with God’s plan and purpose for our ministry. Thus, the confirmation to begin the trip preparations was accepted. My oldest son, Tiberiu (which is deaf) even texted me (shortly after the confirmation) that he concurs with joining the mission trip to the Philippines. After God’s confirmation, I asked a few brothers to join me in this trip but everyone was busy with other tasks. As I was planning to be accompanied by other people, I went to mission trip to Alaska but on my way there, I attended a Romanian conference in Seattle where I was asked to bring greetings to the convention. Brother John was watching the convention live on the internet when he saw me and called me and left a message inquiring where the next mission trip would be so that he can join me. I called him and told him about the plans for the mission trip to the Philippines which I already had purchased the tickets to make sure I wouldn’t change my mind. Many times our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and our ways are not God’s ways. As Isaiah says; “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
The first mission trip that I had in the Philippines was in October 2010 and I was divinely connected to pastor Belshiezar Simbrean who called me to come to the conference with the team “Ignite the Fire”. With obedience to the Holy Spirit, I obeyed Him without knowing anyone there but I knew that according to the Psalmist, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way.” Psalm 37:23. God was really faithful to us and we saw His hand moving and His blessing during the first mission trip to the Philippines where we connected with hundreds of people. When I was introduced to the church congregation by pastor Bonifacio Simbrean the first time, he told the pastors that I had a large family of eleven children. There was also another pastor (Olegario Albiso from the organization ‘International Leadership Fellowship Connection’) who had fifteen children and he described their lives to me towards the end of the conference. He pointed towards a group of bible school students from ILFC that were present at the conference and he said that he has a daughter attending the bible school in Dipolog. God works in a wonderful way to accomplish His plans and purpose more than what we think or ask. After I came home from the first mission trip (in 2010), I showed the pictures of that mission trip to my family and I told my son (Tiberiu) about a group of girls from the bible school in the Philippines. Not long after I returned home, pastor Bonifacio spoke to me on the phone and asked me to bring over some youth to make a strong connection with the International Leadership Fellowship Connection. Pastor Bonifacio referred to the verse in Deuteronomy regarding unity and cooperation on the mission field.“How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.” Deuteronomy 32:30This motivated my son Tiberiu to start the connection with one of the students there. Even though I confused him with the picture of another girl, he continued to communicate with Jojie Albiso (a student of the bible school and daughter of pastor Albiso from Tinyon, Ipil). With prayer and fasting for the preparation of this trip, the Lord guided us to go to this mission trip being unaware of the Lord’s plans and purpose.
the Christian School and Nelson (her husband) is the pastor of Calvary Christian Fellowship Church in Pasig. We had a tour in the Christian School and we helped them with supply and some donated money for some of their school expenses. At night, we had a youth fellowship in a building of six 
levels (which consists of the school and the pastor’s house). We shared the word of God with the youth from the subject that ‘A Christian life is a balanced life’.“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2
On Saturday (10/6th), we flew to Dipolog on the Mindanao Island south of Manila. Pastor Belshiezar (Joshua) Simbrean and his wife along with Jojie welcomed us for the second time in the Philippines. Being very tired, I went to rest but Tiberiu developed a stronger relationship with Jojie and to my surprise, she was a different girl than I had initially shown him. Even though we make mistakes, the Lord does not – and so we stood in His will. God’s Will is good, pleasant and perfect in any area of our life. Even though for us (as human beings), it is sometimes hard to accept and adjust to His Will. But God works in us through His Holy Spirit and convicts us to accept and surrender to His Will. God’s Holy Spirit is The Matchmaker – even for matching characters in marriage – and so as soon as Tiberiu and Jojie met, they almost instantly became attracted to each other and within that week, they decided to get married. A good custom of the Philippines is that the church wakes up and spends an hour of prayer and devotion to the Lord at 5 AM – so the teachers from the Bible School, students, orphans and the guests living in the ILFC all worship God. We lack this time of devotion in our western world. It is very important for us to follow the example of David. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” Psalm 5:3“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.” Psalm 59:16“And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.” Luke 21:38Our Sunday service started in the morning with worship and prayer but the instruments were louder than our voices. Brother John Buia spoke about the requirements to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I spoke about the importance of pursuing a life of holiness.“Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.” Psalm 93:5The Grace of God touched the church and their hearts were transformed and freed as Forgiveness and Grace descended from above. In the evening we had a meeting with the students from Josei Rizal Memorial State University. We exhorted them to have a motto in life (and recommended; do what is right in the eye of the Lord). Brother John used an example of Joseph in Genesis.“There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9“..it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.”1 Samuel 14:53As we traveled and ministered to these people, I observed that there was a lot of religion but little relation with God.
There was a Pastoral Conference in Dipolog from October 8th – 10th. The program was led by Pastor Belshiezar Joshua Simbrean (the president of ILFC). On Mindanao Island, there are 178 churches affiliated with the Pentecostal movement of ILFC. Twenty-two million people live on this island – Davao being the largest city. We participated in this conference and were invited to speak from the Word of God. Brother John exhorted the conference to worship God in the Spirit and Truth.“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24I spoke and motivated the church to be filled with the Holy Spirit and shared gifts of t-shirts with them. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:18
After the divine service on Tuesday (10/9th), there was a time where we remembered the founder Bonifacio Simbrean whom passed away a year ago (2011). Many leaders from the city came to show their respect.
A team from New Zealand came who spoke about humbleness and service – and as an application, they completed the act of washing the feet of every pastor. I also spoke about following the legacy of a leader; “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9
Even though Belshiezar Simbrean is young, every pastor from the organization recognizes his leadership and respects him as the new leader of the organization. I also motivated him (in my sermon) to serve the Lord with all your heart and bring the organization to a higher level of living with God. With our God, there is no static condition rather; God always has great things prepared for us so that we progress from power to power and from victory to victory. “They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.” Deuteronomy 33:19
The last day of the conference (Wednesday, 10/10th), was wrapped up with the marriage of Tiberiu Lupancu and the young Bible School graduate, Jojie Albiso. She comes from a family of fifteen children while Tiberiu comes from a family of twelve children. Pastor Olegario (her father), following the principles of tithes, dedicated his 10th child (Jojie also known as Joyful) to the Lord. In the Philippines’ traditional wedding, when the newlyweds are kneeling in prayer, their parents tie a rope around them representing the yoke of the marriage. Next was the prayer of blessings towards the marriage. The ceremony was led by Pastor Wilson Cal assisted by Pastor John. The newlyweds signed four copies of the marriage certificate during the time of ceremony. I declared that the best matchmaker is the Holy Spirit (which put two youth together in love). The purpose of the wedding in the Philippines was strictly for legal documentations as well as for her church and large family. Their wedding in Chicago, IL is being prepared soon after her arrival in the USA because their marriage was not consumed. At night, at the conclusion of the conference, I spoke about the importance to honor God in our daily life (living in righteousness and holiness). We finalized with special prayer for the sick and anointing them with oil. At the end, we had a meeting with the bible school students and exhorted them with the verse; “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15We gave an honorarium to all of the fifteen new graduates.
On Thursday (10/11th), we started the mission in the villages and towns of northern Mindanao even though it was a rainy weather. Our first stop was in the town Disakan where we spoke to a group of thirty people waiting in the kindergarten yard. They were believers in Christ and friends. I spoke about the Living Water who satisfies the thirst forever.“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:10-14
There is a well of living water in every one of us but sometimes it is covered up with the things from the world which are meant to never satisfy us completely. We encouraged them to open up the well of Living Water which brings happiness and fulfillment in our life as we put Jesus Christ in the center of it. Many people responded with joy. After the service, bishop pastor Simbrean introduced us to Ray Rodriguez (a local pastor) who told us that they need a land to build a church. He showed us a place that was for sale and we prayed to seek the Will of the Lord. Pastor Ray and his wife Mary are supposed to proceed in making the necessary negotiations with the owner. In Mobortidot (a village about 9 km away), we found a smaller piece of land which costs about $900. The people here are very poor and they work very hard in rice fields to earn their living. A lot of rice was scattered around the rode to dry up. The rice costs about $350/mo. for the students, orphans and teachers from Dipolog’s ILFC. On the way to Liloy, traveling southwest, we had lunch with rice and fish (as the sea shore is very close). From there we traveled towards Gatas for the night service. The road was very bad and with a lot of dirt. The church led by Wilson Cal was waiting for us. We motivated the church to live their lives in holiness and righteousness before the Lord. Much later that night (near midnight), we lodged at a hotel in Liloy.
On Friday morning (10/12th), we started with the dedication of the land of the future church from village Sindangan. We had a short service led by the newly bible school graduates (Cherryl (Chechi) Mae’s colleagues). Chechi is the girl who I confounded Jojie with before arriving to the Philippines. With a chainsaw, the mahogany trees were cut and the materials for the new church building were prepared on-site. We worked very hard all day (with their team) and prepared all the lumber for the new church. During lunch-time, we evangelized to the neighbors that were scattered through the woods in their small houses and were very welcomed in their homes. We sang songs, prayed and presented Jesus Christ and gave them an honorarium of 500 pesos (as a gift). A father of thirteen children said that he has a bible but does not have the glasses to read it and so we purchased him a pair of glasses. Now, with my son and his fiancé and other people, we formed a team of seven and continued our mission towards Lipacan. The church (called the church by the ocean), is in a critical area of Muslims. It is pastored by Pastor Junreal Mpatan. The members of this church are very poor but we exhorted them to keep what they have as it is very precious (salvation, faith, hope, love and the Holy Spirit). At the end, we provoked them to pray fervently and dynamically for the Holy Spirit to manifest among them.
Saturday (10/13th), the whole team traveled from Liloy to a town named Overview for a divine service that morning. The church is pastored by Cherryl Mae (a fresh absolvent of the bible school). After the service, we visited the pastor’s house (which is next to the church). The church is held by support posts and the floor with cross spaces. As I walked into the pastor’s house, one of the floor boards fell under my feet and I fell into the cross space. This was due to a termite contamination. John also fell into a cross space right after me. Thank God that the cross space was not too deep to break our legs or backs. Neither of us got hurt. This compelled us to donate enough pesos to rebuild the personage house. Our team continued the trip through the mountain area and arrived to a village called Butong for a divine service. The name of the pastor is Francis Escubido (who is a good craftsman and carpenter) who helped build a lot of churches in the area. We were surprised to see the church filled with adults, youth and children. We preached to them about the prayer; Heavenly Father.“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13
These people can replace the bread with rice daily because this is what they have with every meal. From here we took Lori (a vehicle adapted to transport persons across mountains) and stopped for a prayer at a church in Merkulisan which is pastored by Venjie Cabasag. For us, this was one of the poorest churches that we had ever seen. Wet and unsettled dirt was everywhere and the wood was eaten by termites. From our budget, we donated 3,000 pesos to pour concrete. In the area, there are a lot of rubber trees. They use the tree sap to make a living based on its rubber properties. In the evening, we held the first evangelic crusade in the city of Tampilisan under the open sky.
The local pastor gathered together a lot of youth, adults and children to hear the word of God. After we delivered the revival message, the Lord opened the hearts of a couple dozen people and they accepted the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. About midnight, we arrived at the orphanage in Gatas where Pastor Belshiezar Simbrean’s house is located and he hosted fifteen orphans. We were grateful to the Lord for His Grace and anointing that was manifested that night. Sunday morning, we worshipped at the church in Gatas where pastor Simbrean leads. In this area (surrounded by rubber trees and singing of birds creating a rustic atmosphere), it is pleasant and wonderful to worship God in such an environment. The evangelistic crusade could not be held at Tampilisan because of the rain and so it was held in Gatas Church instead. During the night service, the presence of the Lord’s Holy Spirit manifested in such a dynamically vibrant and powerful way that many people experienced refreshment and empowerment to live a life of victory with the Lord Jesus Christ. A dozen people came forward and we prayed for them. This area lacks bibles but we did not have enough to give to everyone.
On Monday (10/15th), we visited the prison and the church in the city Ipil and we preached the Gospel of transformation to hundreds of inmates. We distributed hygienic goods to all of them. Here at this prison, every inmate was very hungry for the Word of God and asked us for copies of the Holy Bible. John and I preached the Gospel and my daughter-in-law’s father (pastor Olegario Albiso) led them to the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer. In the afternoon, we stopped at the church Namnama for a prayer meeting. This church is very small (8m x 13m) and does not have a concrete floor but the Lord put in our hearts to help them with 6,000 pesos to pour concrete. That night, the Lord gave us a great joy and surprise in the church of Ipil (where the founder of ILFC had his vision from God to pioneer the area in the early 1980s). His son, Belshiezar gave us a tour of the city and showed us many places where his father gathered the church in the house and everybody called it ‘the church without walls’. After going through a lot of trials and difficulties, moving from place to place, the Lord spoke prophetically about a land where the church will be built. Where the Lord guides, He provides. Even though they were very poor financially, they knew to seek after God and not rely on man. The Lord sent a missionary from England who provided the money to purchase the land and build the church and even the pastor’s house – and so, the organization was launched form that point forward. Pastor Genelou Cahijas welcomed the officials from the city on this night and they stayed until the service ended and we prayed for them. As I was sitting on a bench, I was inspired by the Holy Spirit to deliver a message for the church; ‘Make your election sure’.“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” 2 Peter 1:10
On Tuesday (10/16th), we visited and ministered to the inmates from the prison of Liloy in the morning. We were accompanied by our large team and local people and purchased the necessary hygienic goods and gave them to every inmate. We taught them the importance of having a vital relation with the Lord Jesus Christ – not only the knowledge about Him. The time for the inmates to make a decision came and many of them surrendered to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to have a personal relation with Jesus. We gave everyone the Gospel of John. A local pastor named Calabruso said that he plans on having at least one service with the inmates per month. The Philippines had a Spanish domination for over 300 years and because of that, the Catholic traditions are very strong. The advertising bill boards in the cities inspire the public to spend time with family and to raise children with good morals. Before getting married, young couples are counseled by authorities how to keep a good and healthy marriage. Because of this, the country’s divorce rate is very low and families are very serious about marriage.In the afternoon, we arrived in Disakan (Manukan’s municipal) where we continued the negotiation to purchase the land for the church. We decided to purchase it on Wednesday, October 17th at the Office of Attorney; Jeneth C. Napiquit-Baje where the seller Josefina Cabrera signed the documents to transfer the property to ILFC – also signed by Joseph Belshiezar Simbrean and Blessed Hope International Mission, Inc. signed by Constantin Lupancu and Ionica Buia. We included the name of Blessed Hope International Mission, Inc. in the title to prevent the transfer of the land/building to anyone else and to insure that it will maintain the integrity of using it only for church services and activities. On that weekend, together with Jojie (my daughter-in-law) and Ann Simbrean, we flew from Dipolog to Manila. Jojie saw Manila and stepped into an airplane for the first time.
In Manila, Alina Voda (a missionary from Romania), waited for us, hosted us and gave us a tour to her mission site in Antipolo. We met her staff of nurses and the children that are under her care and basic Christian education. We also visited the surrounding area of the medical clinic where many poor people live and benefit from the mission service that Alina is doing.On Sunday morning, I ministered to one church in Manila and Pastor John ministered to Calvary Christian Fellowship church. At night, both of us ministered in Manila in a very poor area (Cainta) to a church led by Pastor Jeffrey Datangel. There was a good worship with great songs and prayer. During this final service for us, the Lord anointed us to preach about “The Work of the Holy Spirit”. Pastor Jeffrey shared with us that last time, he felt in his spirit the need to teach the church about the work of the Holy Spirit and this was a confirmation since the Lord gave us the same inspiration. This was the second time that we ministered to this church. Pastor Jeffrey testified of how God healed people when we held a healing service in our trip there in 2010. On our last night in Manila (after the service), we were hosted at the Strength Ministry Hotel near the international airport where we rented three rooms (one for my son and I, one for Jojie and Ann Simbrean, and one for John). Antipolo is a very poor city and is located near Manila and has a neighborhood called Solid Cement where Alina Voda is ministering to the people that just moved in the area (like squatters, without legal rights in the land). These people are coming from the villages to the city to work for the cement factory.
