A New Beginning in Dumbraveni

When a group of students begin in a Mission School we have no idea of their potential or how the Lord is going to use them in His service. This was the case when Claudia began her studies in Medias, Romania, some years ago.

The Church meeting place in Dumbraveni

For her it was a great opportunity to study the Word of God in the Bible School and prepare herself for future service, as the Lord would open the door in His time. That open door turned out to be service with the young people in her own church and involvement in translating the courses taught into the Romanian language. For a number of years SGA has been supporting her in this vital ministry.

When she and Beni were married Beni began to study in the Mission School and both of them have been praying that the Lord would show them the place of His choice for them to serve Him together. Their home church in Medias has planted many new churches in the area, some of which now have their own pastor, and the believers prayed to know the next step in outreach from their church. The Lord led them to the town of Dumbraveni where they felt led to revive a small church that had diminished to eight elderly members.

Dumbraveni is a town of 15,000 people which was once thriving with industry, but with the passing of years it has become a deprived area with few possibilities for the residents to find work. Many moved away to seek employment elsewhere. The economic decline also affected the small church where the remaining members became discouraged and had all but given up hope that things would ever improve.

Claudia and Ben with Gloria

Then last summer Beni and Claudia were approached by their home church in Medias to take over the leadership of the work in Dumbraveni. They commenced outreach in June and July with a Vacational Bible School when 50 – 60 children attended. They were able to establish contact with 150 adults, eight of whom have been saved at more recent evangelistic meetings in the church. The husband of a couple who repented at that time had a stroke shortly afterwards, and later died. How thankful his wife is that he met with the Lord during those days. Seven are now going through discipleship classes in preparation for baptism. All this has brought new hope to those few discouraged believers and new hope to the town as well.

What an encouragement when the Lord breaks through and manifests His power in salvation blessing. All these events show us how worthwhile it is to train nationals to work amongst their own people. So, a past and a present student are now united in their involvement in this new beginning in Dumbraveni. The situation was dark and discouraging, but God has intervened through the power of the Gospel to bring about this transformation.

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