CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE; OUR GOD REIGNS!!

We greet you with grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul open every single of his letters with a similar greeting, only to Timothy he added mercy to his greetings of grace and peace, in both of his letters. So, 14 epistles, 14 greetings of grace and peace!

It is so fitting that still today, most of the born-again believers in Romania and Ukraine, and some other parts of the world continue to practice greeting each other with peace or peace of the Lord, but some have departed from this practice and no longer find it useful or necessary. One more thing that we leave behind and become more like the world in our daily practices.

“Grace to you and peace** from God our Father* and the Lord Jesus Christ.“ Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1: 2b*, 1 Thess. 1:1b**, 2 Thess. 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3

“Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1 and 2nd Timothy 1:3

Year 2020 has ended. Many people are thankful that this year is over! It had been a difficult one, perhaps the most difficult year of their lives for many people. We all shared some struggles and experienced some of these difficulties, no matter where we were. When we meet with someone and have news to share, sometimes we ask, do you want the good news first, or the bad news? This is something like that! With God in control of all things, there is always good news no matter how bad things get.

The Covid-19 Pandemic: everywhere. Yes, indeed, this was the number one thing that has, and continues to impact our lives. How did this impact our own lives? I am sure that we have so many similarities!

• Unable to travel to Romania and Ukraine. We had several trips scheduled, starting with the month of March 2019. We purchased airfare to fly into Cluj, Romania in March, and were not able to go at all. We cancelled the remaining scheduled trips in June, July, and August.

• The conference with the PIE missionaries was cancelled as well as several scheduled meetings with the committee. We cancelled camps both in Romania and Ukraine, and cancelled short term mission teams from the U.S. Cancellations left and right!

• Restrictions on travel, social distancing, church cancellations in the U.S. and also in Europe. All kinds of restrictions on jobs, visits, shopping, curfew, meetings, etc.

  The Presidential Election in the U.S. gone wild! No need to write much about that; we are exhausted just mentioning it. A country divided like never before. So much hate, so much corruption, all happening during the pandemic, and people wondering if we are living apocalyptic times!

  For the first time since living in the U.S. we have experienced the government closing down the churches, not allowing worship and gathering of people. Fear has been at an all time high, people staying isolated in their homes due to fear.

  “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul.” Psalm 94:19

  As I am writing this text, this is the verse of the day from the Bible app, and I considered it so appropriate to quote it here:

“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” Isaiah 1:16-17

The good news: God is in control of all things!

Many people were able to hold on to their jobs and work from home. Both of our children continued to work from home during this pandemic. My wife and I are so thankful for our children who are grown now, and are both involved with us in the ministry. They grew up going on short term mission trips with us to Romania and Ukraine. Now they are helping us by serving as volunteers in the organizations, and also as financial contributors, partners in ministry.

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Our son Jonathan has been involved with PIEI for several years. He is a member of the PIEI administrative committee, also a volunteer, and he was able to dedicate many hours and more work on the maintenance of the PIEI website, for all 13 countries / 17 ministries of PIEI. We are so thankful to the Lord for his humble nature, his amazing computer and people skills, and for his willingness to put in time and energy to serve with us. https://www.piei.org/

This summer we were blessed to have his oldest son, our grandson (3 1⁄2 yrs old) spend a week with us in Indiana all by himself, which was a huge thing for him to be away from his mom and dad during the pandemic, and we enjoyed having him so very much!

Our daughter Sarah is also involved with PIEI as a volunteer, she does all the online updates for Romania and Ukraine for all the missionaries. Just recently she helped out with our two new videos, and she is there for us whenever we need help.

https://www.piei.org/romania

https://www.piei.org/romania-mission-trips

She is also a supporting partner, she is not only contributing her time and talent to the ministry, but also is a financial contributor. Sarah lives 15 minutes from us, and she is always there for us, serving with joy, helping with love.

This Christmas season we spent two weeks together with both, Jonathan and his family (his wife and two boys) and with Sarah, and we had such a meaningful, blessed time!

We are so blessed with our family! For us the Bible verse from Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” has become true and a tremendous blessing.

I am also so blessed to have a great relationship with the PIE Partnership Committee for Romania and
Ukraine. We’ve been meeting more often than ordinary during this pandemic. Our meetings have been mostly on Google Meet, but we also met in person in Chicago for prayer meetings a few times.

For those of you who might not know, please meet our US Partnership committee:
Cornel Stef, Alex and Rodica Popa, Walter Windsor, Liviu Dragomir, and Daniel Stef.

One of the new things in 2020 was a change in the leadership of the PIE national committee in Romania. After much prayer and leading of the Holy Spirit, we are so blessed and happy to announce that our new committee has been elected, and we could not be more pleased! https://www.piei.org/about-timotei-stanea

The president remains Eugen Stef, he has been the president from the beginning, so we have stability!

We have a new National Director: Pastor Timotei Stânea. Pastor Timotei was PIE’s first national missionary in Romania when we first started the ministry! He has a long-lasting history with PIE, a tremendous leadership experience as a regional church leader, has a master in theology (please visit his new page at ). Timotei has a big heart for PIE-Romania, and is not intimidated by the current pandemic. He is motivating our national missionaries, has already visited them in their field of ministry, and is very resourceful in finding new ways of outreach that are effective during this time so that the missionaries can carry out their evangelistic call even in times as these.

There are two new members of the national committee:

Tani Nemes: a PIE-Romania national missionary for several years; https://www.piei.org/tani-nemes. He has been a very effective missionary, has a central location and has worked closely with the committee in the past, and has hosted the general annual PIE conference two years ago. We are so blessed that he has stepped up to become a member of the committee. Check out his page on the piei’s website.

Emanuel Joldos is the newest and the youngest member of the committee. He has two masters in Theology, a heart of reaching the young people, and is centrally located. Emanuel is very proficient in English, and will be a great asset to the committee. You can find his page on the piei’s website for more info. https://www.piei.org/about-emanuel-joldos

As for me, I am busy with communication on a daily basis.

I am in constant communication with our partnership committee, and with Timotei I meet on a weekly basis. I am very encouraged to see that he is very resourceful and has already contacted pastors and churches in the larger community, and plans to reach out and expand our national relationships, also starting teaching online and explore whatever possible means in order to do outreach and equipping.

I am also conferencing with the missionaries. I am so thankful for the technology that is allowing us to talk and see each other.

Gabi keeps busy as well! She talks to the girls at the Orphanage several times a week. A few of them call her “mommy”! They often feel scared of the virus and also scared of being tested. They feel so much better after talking to her. They share Scripture verses, they share their daily struggles, and were so happy to receive their Christmas packages we sent to them that arrived two days before Christmas! So much joy!

Missionary Traian and his wife were sick with the Covid-19 virus, but God was gracious to heal them! Several of the girls were sick also, were isolated in the Orphanage’s infirmary, but they all recovered completely. We praised the Lord for his healing power and mercy! Brother Traian and his wife have been, as they do every year, busy packing Christmas gifts and going out and giving numerous gifts to everyone, in the poor villages, mainly to the underprivileged Ethnic groups that he ministers to in remote locations by the mountains.

We have been involved in our own local church in NW Indiana, where we have a tremendous supportive church. We are part of our church prayer team, and our church has been praying for our ministry, and especially for our leadership transition during this time. We hope that as soon as this viral epidemic will be under control, we’ll have another team from our own church to go with us to Romania. Gabi continues to do translation work and is involved in communication and prayer.

It’s winter, and during these winter months we are staying in Florida, mostly because it helps Gabi to feel better with her bad arthritis. We have a wonderful church here in SW Florida that we also consider our church, we are so blessed to be part of it, and hope to sometime form a team to go to Romania with us also. Gabi has enjoyed being part of the ladies’ Bible study group, getting to know the women, who have been so generous in giving. We have both been so encouraged each time we attend.

We have plans to take several teams to Romania this year. We hope and pray that we will be able to travel as early as the beginning of March, followed by trip in June, July, and August. However, the Lord thoughts and His
ways we must follow, not our own plans. As He leads, we will follow!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8

We are so excited about feasting from His Word, sweeter than honey, the Living Word of God, who has become Flesh and dwelt among us! To Him we give all the praise!

Yours, for the sake of the Gospel

Chairman for PIEI-Romania/Ukraine

Cornel and Gabi

GRACE AND PEACE

Philemon 1:3 - “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”

In the midst of this global crisis, with no precedent in our lifetime, we greet you with peace! In the middle of so much tragedy, human loss, fear, and confusion, God is in control of all things.

Many people are overcome by fear: fear of death, fear of financial loss, fear for the health and future of their families. We as people of faith ought not to be so.

John 10:10- “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Perhaps it is difficult in such as times as these to fully understand the meaning of abundant life, but Jesus wants us to know that in having Him we have everything. This is a time when our faith is tested.

Proverbs 3:5 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

GOD IS IN CONTROL

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has affected us in a way we did not foresee just a short time ago. We had tickets to come to Romania on March 23rd. We planned a full summer of several short-term mission trips with different teams. These USA teams planned a variety of ministries to work hand-in-hand with our national missionaries in June and July.

In March we were looking forward to our PIE Annual Retreat with our missionaries and their families. This event is cherished by all. Last year the retreat was such a blessing. We met for three days at the PIE Center in Alba Iulia and also in the surrounding area of outreach ministry.

This year especially Gabi met a group of ladies at a Bible study in Florida that were very generous in giving and making some beautiful items for the missionaries’ wives and also donating some chocolates and other household items. We were excited to have this special time to encourage one another and enjoy a sweet time of fellowship. We came together as a group of ordinary people serving an extraordinary God.

This summer we had plans for both June and July. We know that some of you were signed up to go, perhaps for the first time, feel disappointed. Do not let the enemy bring that disappointment into your heart. Remember that God is sovereign, and reigns over all things.

Colossians 1:15-17- “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

We are perplexed that we do not understand why God has allowed this to happen, and on a global scale. We also acknowledge that our ways are not His ways, and we do not see the big picture as God sees it. It is most possible that our full summer plans are going to be cancelled, because God has other plans for us. Perhaps He desires for us to have a travel sabbatical so that we rest more, spend more time in His word, be more a Mary than a Martha, because He is preparing us for something exciting that is yet to come. Pray with us that we can encourage the missionaries to stay strong and courageous, and for God’s protection upon each family.

HOPE

John 14:1 -“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

We celebrated Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, in unique ways, the majority of us being at home, watching a service online, and having fellowship with one another on some type of social media. The best way to celebrate remembers what God’s Word tells us that Jesus has done for us. The majority of our missionaries will observe Easter next Sunday. So this week begins Holy Week for them.

The missionaries are also facing uncertain times. Pray that in spite of massive loss of jobs everywhere that the Lord will provide for their financial needs and carry them through this difficult time. Remember them in our prayers as we spend more time talking with our Heavenly Father. Some of them are going through physical needs, others through various other hardships. May the Lord be gracious toward each of them, protect them for His glory and for His kingdom’s sake. Take some time to look over their pictures, their names, their stories, and thank the Lord for calling them to serve Him.

We also are thanking the Lord for each of you faithful servants, our partners in ministry, brothers and sisters in the Lord, as we serve together to glorify our Risen Lord.

Cornel and Gabriela Stef- Chairman for Romania ministry

FOCUS on Women's Ministry

In the past few years the Lord has opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart with a special burden for the women of Romania. First, a special place in my heart is for the group of missionaries’ wives who serve in remote areas alongside their husbands, many of whom have limited resources and they live in difficult conditions. Second, another group of women from an institution, most of whom have been there most of their lives as they are all considered orphans. Third, women in villages where our missionaries serve, with whom I have come in contact over the years. I am so burdened that they would be in the Word, yet so many still do not know the Savior. And fourth, there are also many who are ill and in so much pain, who are in need of encouragement and prayer.

Em and her daugher Kim

Serving - Loving - Giving - In Every Stitch

Amy is a very giving person, she has worked very closely with Florina, national missionary who has a sewing and craft shop as part of the ministry there.

My dear sister in Christ Em B. with her daugher Kim and her brother have been part of our support team for years. They have been knitting and crocheting baby blankets, hats, scarves, mittens, donating clothing, school supplies, etc. on a regular basis. Every year we ship boxes to both Romania and Ukraine with these beautiful handmade items that our missionaries distribute to families, and many times the missionaries themselves had need of these items. Their love and prayers are woven in the yarn and with each stitch.

Amy P. has been an amazing sister in Christ who has done so much for our fundraising efforts for our short term mission teams from Indiana two years in a row. She also helped us fill our bags with goodies for our women missionaries and their children. She is a good friend and encourager for me personally.

Judy speaking and Gabi translating in the village of Comani Olt, Romania

Teaching / Mentoring

My sister in Christ Judy has returned to Romania after many years as a Bible teacher and an “older woman teaching the younger women”. She has also been an encourager to the widows and the older sisters on this last trip we took together. I believe that the Lord has more for her in using her spiritual gifts and her love for the Romanian people.

There were several other women who served on a short term mission trip this year, and their humble spirit and loving hearts have touched so many people. I am so thankful for each of them. It is the Lord who focused on the Women’s Ministry, and He also provided the people with the right hearts for the work.

Encouraging the Missionaries

Missionaries, especially the women have a special place in my heart. Florina is one of them. Perhaps because Cornel and I got to spend a lot of time at Mark and Florina’s home, getting to know their two boys, that they feel like family. Florina is also a leader among the women in the southern part of Romania. So having the missionary women meet at their home was great. This year we had two meetings with the women: one in the summer and one in the Fall, each unique and special. We also had the opportunity to attend a conference together with three other women, and see them get excited about studying God’s Word and leading a Bible study group.

A true partnership: Women from the LBC Team with the PIE Missionary Women in the South meeting together

Second meeting with the Missionary Women, with Judy and Gabi in November 2019

Studying God’s Word Together

One of the highlights getting together with the missionary women and with the women in their villages was to get them introduced to studying God’s Word. Some of the women who came have never read the Bible before. So the discovery process of learning truth was so amazing. Judy taught 1st and 2nd John to several groups of women, some in homes and some in the local church. I had the privilege of translating her and also speaking to these women. It is such a joy to get to know them and pray for them.

At Florin and Alina’s home, a group of women in the village of Beciu.

At Tavi and Nicoleta’s home, a group of women from Draganesti Olt, together with our November US Team

City of Craiova is a special place, a new mission point, and also a new place for women’s ministry. We met there twice this year, once in the park in the summer where several people, including myself, got to share our personal testimonies. This Fall we met with Judy and women for a time of Bible study and fun with crafts and handmade Christmas cards. I love this group of very intelligent women who ask the best questions!

Special Place - Special Women

These are my sisters in Christ from Arges, who love the Lord and they really love and pray for me! We think we go and encourage them, but each time we go, visit, and spend some time with them they encourage us. Wow! This time I meet several new girls who came to the meeting place outside their institution. I had the opportunity to do counselling with those who prayed for salvation on that day. This is my third visit this year with the girls, and I am thankful for being able to keep in touch with them on Facebook, too!

Radio Ministry - Women Power!!!

In Sibiu at Radio Vocea Evangheliei Sibiu a predominantly women’s team manages the station, with station manager, Cristina, doing a wonderful work. We at PIE have a long lasting relationship with RVE Sibiu. This year we once again continued our relationship with the station.

At RVE Sibiu during Judy’s interview with Lucia, Gabi translating

Gabi, Judy, Lucia / RVE Sibiu and Violeta

Last year we had our speaker from Indiana, Mandi Cornett, interview at the radio station, and together we organized a women’s event at the Ramada Hotel in Sibiu. This year we had Judy share her testimony, and also made a mini series for the radio’s women’s morning show! How exciting! Violeta Stef, my sister-in-law was very kind giving us rides between Alba Iulia and Sibiu, And Violeta also attended one of the Saturday conferences!

And So Much More!

A women’s fellowship at the PIE Center in Alba Iulia with women from several rural areas where PIE missionaries serve.

Meaningful home visits to encourage hurting people.

Two Saturday women’s conferences on Saturday in Sibiu.

And So Much More!

Ministry with Lili

The women’s ministry continued in “the North”, as the missionaries from the South refer to the PIE headquarters in the city of Alba Iulia and surroundings. And indeed, there was more ministry! Judy and I met with Lily, missionary wife from the Alba region, who planned a meeting with women from several villages at the PIE Center. We had a large group of 33 women. The women came from the area of three of our our PIE national missionaries. The next day we went on a home visit to see a new sister in Christ with a terminal illness who needed encouragement and assurance about heaven, her Savior, life, and death.

Ministry with Nuți

The last days were spent with the women in the village of Nou and in Sibiu. Nuți and her family are our family away from home “in the North”, just as Florina and her family are our family away from home in the South! The sisters in Christ in Nou prepared a feast for us after Bible Study and fellowship. The church was filled with women singing, praying, studying together, loving God and loving each other

Sweet fellowship with the women in the village of Nou who filled the church with songs of praise and powerful prayers, and the basement dining room with sandwiches and sweets! Many thanks to our missionary sisters Lili, Violeta, and Nuți, also the sisters in Christ from the Betania Church in Sibiu.

Oh, how much I love you all!

Blessings for Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Your sister in Christ,

Gabi

Sisters in Nou praying

A New Generation of Equipped to Equip Students

The E2E Program was developed out of the need to train missionaries for the urgent “now” need to evangelize unreached areas where there are no evangelical churches.  “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9: 37a-38

The Seminary in Bucharest is a four year academic intensive theological program that trains students to become pastors.  The Olt and Dolj areas alone need dozens of missionaries and workers for the massive spiritual need of this part of Romania.  

E2E is designed to train and prepare students to become missionaries in a six month time period.  It is a daring program that we earnestly bathe in prayer so that it would produce laborers into His plentiful harvest. 

This year is the third generation of E2E students. These 7 students are working hard to delve into the Word of God and learn about ministry. Most of them have shown a desire to do ministry full-time, but will need supporters to partner with them financially and in prayer. If you feel a calling to mentor, pray for, or support any of them, you can learn more by clicking on their names or learn how to contact them directly here.

Meet the E2E Students…

MIHAELA PETRE

These two sessions I have dug into the Word of God, I have laid the foundation of a proper understanding of what it means to be a missionary and what involves this kind of ministry. I understood that you cannot do mission by yourself and besides God you still need people and some financial/material support. I believe these sessions helped me to grow, spiritually speaking, to understand better my position in the ministry/ church and to sketch as accurately as possible the portrait of a servant leader.

Also, I had the joy to plant the seed of Truth and to be part of its sprouting. I thank the Lord and give Him praises for listening my prayers and I am hoping that this seed will grow and bring forth good fruit.

TATIANA DUTA

The deeper I go, the more I realize how little I know and how superficial I am in many situations when it comes to deepen the Word. I realize that when I gave up to go to Poland through Erasmus Mobility program in exchange for the E2E program, I made the best decision.

ZINAINDA ROSCA

The time spent during the E2E courses helped me a lot, besides the care of the teachers I also received good, useful and healthy teachings. I’ve leaned that I don’t have to judge the heart’s motivation. Also, another thing that I’ve learned was that Jesus was a servant leader even when the disciples where thinking only of them, and this fact really improved the way of seeing things, how to work more spiritually and professionally. I would have more to tell about what i did not mention and how the truths heard helped me enormously, but I prefer to remain laconic.

AURA DUINEA

I think I’ve learned and I hope to practice more this unity in diversity. Nothing is desirable, each one is unique and valuable. I liked every situation I got into, because you can learn from anything and you can add to your knowledge. E2E represents my brothers’ ministry: they have the vision and I am very surprised to see that the things that happen are going in a good direction.

NICU VLAD

Attending these courses seemed useful to me, it helped me enrich my knowledge bank, it built me up seeing that are still people who want to do something for God. It is an encouragement to me. I really appreciate the people that I met, the way of living their life, the fact that they are sincere, real and they recognize their mistakes. Specifically, the Partnership course surprised me and the Expository Preaching helped me to understand how a message can be better and more concise.

PETRISOR BOLD

These two session I attended some edifying courses – the most interesting being the Expository Preaching course – which helped me in reorganizing the study of Scripture; I was amazed that when you want to get a message out of a text you can do it even if at first you think it would be impossible.

MARIANA VLAD

Taking these courses, some aspects related to the missionary life were brought to my attention and it helped me understand the importance of a systematic Bible study.

Summer in Romania

This August we were blessed to have three teams from the United States come to Romania to encourage and serve alongside our national missionaries. 

Pastor Bryan Tema and his wife Tammy from Gracespring Bible Church in Richland, Michigan came to see his long time partner, Cornel Fogorosiu. Pastor Bryan and his church have been supporting Cornel and his ministry for twenty years, but this summer was the first time Pastor Bryan has been to Romania. Together we were able to celebrate the work God has done in Sibiu,  and visit the two churches that have been planted in this area.

The southern region of Romania is referred to as a “graveyard for missionaries.” The people of this area are suspicious of outsiders and the prevalence of the Orthodox Church weighs heavy. The weight of religion leaves little room for the transformative power of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Despite the challenges our missionaries face here, God is moving and we are seeing lives changed. lThe Bible tells us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 Under the leadership of our National Director, Raul Costea, our nationals have begun working in a variety of ministries throughout the region. One ministry God is using to speak His word to the people of this region in through evangelism. Teams visit local parks, plazas, and neighborhoods to build relationships with people and pass out New Testaments to those who are interested. 

On August 4, our friends from Hillside Fellowship Church in San Antonio, Texas arrived ready to spread the love of Jesus to the people of Craiova. On their first day, a few members of the team met a young woman in a nearby neighborhood. She was excited to talk with them and and graciously accepted the New Testament they offered her. She soon opened up about her life and the hopelessness she feels from her divorce, the death of her sister, and the darkness her mother brought into her life by practicing witchcraft. The team was able to share the love of Jesus with her and the hope we have in Him. Please pray with us that God would use these conversations and New Testaments for His glory and for the furtherance of His kingdom.

Our teams also had the opportunity to visit local Roma villages with Daniel Davidescu. The Roma people have long been seen as less than and struggle in their bondage to sin. Violence, cheating, and stealing are common values in this community, but God has given Daniel His heart for these people and is doing a work in the hearts of the Roma people. 

This week a team from Calvary Chapel Long Beach in Southern California visited these precious people and witnessed first hand the door God has already opened here. Daniel brought the team to encourage a Roma family of believers and together they broke bread, prayed, shared testimonies, and praised God for His faithfulness. Before they left, the mother of this family shared her desire for a church to be built, and even showed the part of her land she has offered to build on. Join us in praying that the Lord will bring a pastor to teach, encourage, and minister to His people here.

Pastor Andrew Cochran from Calvary Chapel also led a two-day conference for our national missionaries where he encouraged and challenged them in the work God has called them into. 

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10

Thank you for your continued prayer for the people of Romania and your support for our national missionaries.