Greetings to all! It has been two weeks in the States, and I can confidently say that this journey has been a blessing from the very start, and it continues to be so. I am hopeful and actively seeking His guidance until the end of my stay. I was graciously hosted in the homes of Brother Alex and Rodica, and later in the home of Brother Cornel and Gabi, where we shared a blessed and meaningful time together. I had the privilege of participating in special moments at the PIEI meeting, connecting with brothers and sisters from various mission areas globally. Despite hailing from multiple countries and cultures, we share a common mission of evangelism, church planting, and disciple-making. This shared purpose motivates each of us to serve the Lord as long as we live in this world and wherever He has placed us.
During the nearly two weeks spent here with Brother Cornel, we visited churches and engaged with brothers, pastors, families, and friends. We discussed the current happenings in Romania and the dedicated work of missionaries in their respective areas. We delved into recent events at the PIEI center, where several young people enjoyed sports, fellowship, and received scriptural teachings from Brother Emanuel Joldos and Brother Beni Joldos. This event serves as a pilot program that we aspire to develop further, focusing on working with young people and presenting the Gospel to them. Our prayer is for the Lord to work in their hearts, leading to a genuine and sincere turning to Him, a life lived in obedience, and, above all, to see in each of them the zeal of dedicated disciples serving the Lord in His kingdom on earth.
Moreover, at the PIEI center, a sisters' meeting took place, with over 100 sisters participating in the International Day of Prayer. They rejoiced in the presence and work of the Lord among them, praising Him through songs and absorbing teachings. Reflecting on the past 19 days of my journey, I can affirm that I had a blessed time and fellowship with churches, not only through preaching but also through conversations that allowed me to better understand and directly hear about the current situation in Romania.
Another significant event attended was the PIEI banquet, where I connected with brothers and sisters from both the United States and Romania, who have been here for an extended period. We enjoyed time together, shared memories, and presented the work that PIEI is actively involved in. We encouraged everyone to consider becoming co-laborers with PIEI in Romania. Our prayer is that their hearts will be moved by what they have witnessed and heard, leading them to decide to get involved, whether through prayer or financial support. In particular, they were encouraged to participate in short-term mission teams and collaborate with missionaries in the field. Some have expressed their desire, and we hope that God will bless this intention, turning it into action.
Ministry in Romania
We are very thankful for the wonderful summer we’ve had here at PIEI Center Alba Iulia, Romania and also grateful for an abundant and rich in events fall. We have started with a pastors meeting from all over Alba county, where about 10 pastors and their wife’s have been invited for fellowship and also to find out more about PIEI ministry and how PIEI would like to get involved helping local churches and ministries with this great facility, the PIEI Center.
This meeting was of great encouragement for those present, and it turned up into a sum of events in the following weeks. One of the pastors wife, which is involved in a women’s ministry in church, deceided to come and have an annual women’s prayer confference which was attended by more than a hundred ladies.
Another event that took place on mid octomber was PIEI’s missionary annual meeting. We have been honored to have with us PIEI’s president, Cornel Stef, the treasurer of PIEI – Rodica Popa and her husband Alex Popa as well as PIEI’s mission director, Walter Windsor Cunningham.
PIEI’s annual meeting lasts for 3 days and in this time, our national director, Timotei Stanea is making sure all missionaries get to talk and share how is everything going on the mission field, what the missionaries are confronted with in their local area, a little bit of feedback and how things can be improved. One thing that really helps everyone is that coming to Alba for this 3 days meeting, allows the missionaries to take a fresh breathe and somehow refresh their mind, body and soul, getting to just rest , talk with their mission partners from other counties. Every time we get together with our missionaries we are trying to make it feel like they are at some retreat place, and they are being served by others. Sometimes you need to sit down and rest and PIEI through it’s annual meetings wants to give this opportunity to it’s missionaries to take a 3 days rest and come to Alba where they can just related to others and listen to a word of encouragement from the national director of visitors like those mentioned above.
Since the weather is turning cold outside, Emanuel Joldos, one of PIEI’s missionaries, is holding indoor activities inside PIEI Center. Teens of different ages come along to play and listen to gospel, read and explained by Emanuel to them in small stories or life teachings.
We would like to let know that all this events are possible because people like, belive what the bible verse says … whoever sows generously will also reap generously…and belive it or not, it’s not only about money, but it’s that discipline of taking time and pray or fast, or share with others about the joy that we have to be partners with you and how God works here in Romania.
Thank you and May God Bless you,
Timotei Stanea- National Director Romania
