Grace and Peace To All

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
We warmly greet you in the Name of the Lord and would like to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support, both in prayer and through your involvement in the ministry God is doing here in Bazna. We are thankful for every thought, every prayer, and every contribution that helps us move forward.

We continue with joy our weekly church gatherings, where we experience fellowship and spiritual growth together. The Easter week was a special time, marked by a deep and intimate closeness with God. On Thursday, we celebrated the Lord’s Supper in a spirit of worship and rededication, and on Sunday we celebrated the Resurrection together with the church, followed by a blessed time of fellowship.
In terms of discipleship, I am meeting regularly for catechism with two individuals, and we are trusting God that at the beginning of summer we will have the first water baptism in our church.
Our afterschool program continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is a real blessing for the children in the village. Recently, we received from the Bazna School a storage cabinet along with tables and chairs for the children's room, for which we are very grateful. This program is a strong testimony of the church within the community.
Also, on Saturdays we meet with the children in the Kids Club, as a continuation of the VBS ministry. We have resumed renovation work in the church yard, including removing the pavement and installing a ground-level water well—a large project that requires both time and resources.
During this period, we received clothing donations which we will distribute this week in the Roma community in Blajel. In addition, we are participating in a village clean-up initiative organized by the local authorities, together with the children from our programs.

We are deeply grateful to the Lord for our family. My wife, Diana, successfully passed her highest teaching certification exam with top marks, receiving excellent feedback from the evaluation committees in Alba Iulia and Sibiu. This achievement crowns 19 years of dedicated work.
Also, Ionatan Junior is doing very well at university in Sibiu, earning top grades in his recent exams. He will have more exams in the coming period, and we trust God for continued success.
In the coming days, we will spend time together with families from Betel Church in Medias, celebrating May 1st in fellowship.

We look ahead with hope and are planning a VBS program in August—three days in Bazna and one day in Blajel. We also plan to continue street evangelism and visits to those in need within the community.

Prayer Requests
• Formation of a ministry team within the church, especially in the area of worship
• Necessary resources to continue the renovation of the church yard
• Health and strength to continue the ministry, both physically and spiritually

 Thank you once again for your support and prayers. May God richly bless you!
With Christian love,
Ionatan Moldovan - PIEI Romania Missionary

“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him...” (Hebrews 6:10)

Dear brother and sisters,

Warm greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! I would like to sincerely thank you for your continued support, your prayers, and your involvement in the work God is doing here in Bazna. Every contribution—spiritual or material—is a true blessing and a testimony of God working through you.
Through this report, I would like to share some of the things the Lord has been doing in our lives and in the ministry over the past period.

1. Ministry

Recently, a significant part of our activity has been dedicated to resolving legal matters related to the church. Over time, many documents were lost and had to be redone. This process is still ongoing, and there are still aspects that need to be finalized.
We have launched an afterschool program with 17 children. Although more children wanted to enroll, we are currently limited by a lack of staff and material resources. We pray that the Lord will open doors for expanding this project.
Starting this week, we are launching weekly Kids Club meetings as a continuation of the VBS programs held in September and February.
We have resumed visits to Blăjel, a village about 5 km from Bazna, where we serve within a Roma community. Some of them are brought to Sunday services using my personal car, creating meaningful opportunities for ministry.
At the beginning of the month, I attended the General Assembly of the Sibiu Baptist community, where we had an encouraging time and the opportunity to connect with other pastors from the region.
Last Sunday, we were blessed by a team from Sweden who served in our church. We are grateful that God continues to send people to support the ministry in Bazna.
We are approaching Easter week, which will be a full and active time of ministry and gatherings.
We have started baptism preparation with two individuals, and we are hopeful that one or two more will join soon.
After Easter, we will organize the first youth meeting at Maranata Church.
Overall, the ministry is growing in a good direction, and our desire is to remain faithful to the Lord and be a strong testimony in the community.

2. Family

On the family side, my wife is preparing for an important exam. She is a kindergarten teacher, and the exam, initially scheduled for March 20, has been rescheduled for April 17.
Ionatan Junior is doing well at university, achieving good results in his exams. It is a blessing that he can come home on weekends and actively serve in the church, especially in worship, children’s ministry, and youth work.

3. Personal

Personally, I have adapted to a fairly busy schedule, with Monday being my only day off. Even so, I thank the Lord for the strength to serve and for the opportunity to be involved in His work.
It is a joy to see how God is working and to be part of the expansion of His Kingdom.

4. Future Plans and Prayer Requests

Looking ahead, we desire to continue developing existing projects and to initiate new ones as the Lord leads and provides.
Please pray with us for:
- God’s protection over our family and ministry
- His provision for all needs
- My wife’s upcoming exam, including the financial aspect
- Protection for our children in their environments
- That the church’s projects would have the impact God desires in the community
Thank you so much for your support, your prayers, and your partnership in the Gospel. May the Lord richly bless you!

With gratitude,

Ionatan Moldovan - PIEI Romania Missionary

Dear brothers and sisters

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24–26

With sincere appreciation, we greet you from Bazna and pray that the grace, mercy, and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ may rest upon you and your households. We are grateful for the opportunity to share several updates regarding the work the Lord is carrying out during this season through Maranatha Baptist Church in Bazna.

We started the year planning the church calendar for the next six months. We desire to serve with clarity, consistency, and purpose. Therefore, we will start the afterschool program every Tuesday and Thursday in partnership with the local school in Bazna, seeking not only to provide academic support but also to nurture Christian character. Today me and Diana had a meeting with the scool principal and gave her the project. She was very opened to help.

Each Wednesday we would like to meet for Bible study and prayer, recognizing that spiritual strength and unity begin in seeking the Lord together.

Children’s ministry remains a priority, and every Saturday we will organize the Children’s Club, alongside Sunday School on Sunday mornings.

Our youth meeting will start once a month on Fridays, providing a relevant and spiritually strengthening environment for the young generation. On the other Fridays of thr month we will continue our evangelistic outreach in Blăjel, serving the community where we have been ministering for many years and where we see gradual openness to the Gospel.

In addition to these ongoing ministries, we have experienced several special events. Beginning March 22, we have planned four Evangelism Sundays leading up to Easter. During this season, our desire is to clearly proclaim the message of salvation and invite our community to repentance and faith.

A particularly significant moment occurred on the second Sunday of February, when we celebrated the Lord’s Supper for the first time at Maranatha. It was a deeply meaningful time of reflection, unity, and gratitude as we remembered Christ’s sacrifice.

On February 14, we organized a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the children of the village. Ninety-five children attended, including some who came together with their mothers. Each child received a small gift, but above all, we pray that the seed of God’s Word will remain in their hearts. We were blessed by the support of a dedicated team from Dragostea Baptist Church in Arad, together with our brother Doru, for whom we are sincerely thankful. The following day, February 15, the same team served during a special evangelistic service at Maranatha. Although heavy rain fell that morning and we feared attendance might be low, the Lord surprised us with a beautiful gathering and receptive hearts.

Looking ahead, we also carry a vision for the development of the church property. As the weather improves, we plan to resume outdoor work: preparing access to the barn, leveling the land, and planting grass. In the future, as financial resources allow, we hope to renovate the barn, stable, and garden area in order to create a welcoming space for meals, outdoor activities, and a small sports field. Our long-term vision is to develop a center for youth and families — a place where the community can gather in a healthy Christian environment, hear the Gospel, and experience genuine fellowship. We pray that through God’s grace, His Kingdom may expand in Bazna and in the surrounding villages of Boian, Blăjel, and Velt.

On a personal note, we remain grateful for God’s faithfulness to our family. Ionatan Junior successfully completed his exam session at the Faculty of Sports in Sibiu. The boys continue faithfully in high school, even though their daily commute begins at 5:00 a.m. Diana is preparing for her final examination in her teaching career, scheduled for March 20, and we deeply appreciate your prayers for her. As for myself, I am seeking to faithfully adapt to the rhythm of ministry at Maranatha, praying that through the power of the Holy Spirit we may fulfill the Great Commission and see lives transformed by the Gospel. I also strive to cherish every moment spent with my family before the pace of ministry becomes even more demanding.

In closing, we hold firmly to the promise found in 1 Corinthians 15:58:

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

We sincerely thank you for your faithful prayers, encouragement, and financial support for the ministry in Bazna. Please continue to pray for spiritual fruit, protection, unity within the church, and the necessary resources to accomplish the vision the Lord has placed on our hearts.

With gratitude and brotherly love,

Ionatan Moldovan - PIEI Romania Missionary

Grace & Peace

Dear brother and sisters,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

As we step into a new year, I want to take a moment to send you my heartfelt blessings. May the Lord fill your homes with His presence, grant you health, peace, wisdom, and renewed strength, and may you experience His faithfulness in every area of your life.

 Thank you so much for your faithful support, your prayers, and your friendship. Your generosity and partnership make a real difference. Because of you, the work of the Lord continues, and lives are being encouraged and strengthened. I am deeply grateful for each of you.

 Ministry Updates

We had a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration in Maranatha Baptist church in Bazna. It was a joyful time of worship, prayer, fellowship, and reflection on God’s goodness throughout the past year, as well as dedicating the new year into His hands.

We have created a six-month calendar with planned activities for the church, including worship services, prayer meetings, fellowship gatherings, and outreach opportunities. Some of the planned activities include:

•  Afterschool program twice a week on Tuesday and Thursda, starting in March

• Saturday Kids Club for non christian children in the village

• Mid-week Bible study meeting

• Friday street meeting in Blăjel for evangelism

• Once-a-month Youth meeting

 These plans bring structure, vision, and excitement as we move forward together.

 Additionally, I had the privilege of attending the Baptist Pastoral Meeting in Sibiu. It was an encouraging time of fellowship with fellow pastors, learning, prayer, and mutual strengthening for the work God has entrusted to us.

This Sunday is special for our church as we're celebrating Communion - The Lord Supper for the first time after the restart of the church.

 Next week, a team from Arad will come to serve in our church. They will lead a kids’ meeting on Saturday where we expect around 60-70 kids and evangelism service on Sunday in church. After that, starting in March, we are planning several weeks of evangelism leading up to Easter. Please pray for open hearts and God’s guidance during this important season.

 Family Updates

Diana is preparing for her last exam in March—please keep her in your prayers.

Jonathan Junior is doing very well in university and has just returned from a one-week skiing course in the mountains, which is part of his studies.

Mathew and Joshua are both doing well in high school.

As for myself, I am doing my best to adapt to the new church ministry and responsibilities, trusting the Lord to lead each step.

 Thank you once again for standing with us in prayer, love, and support. Please continue to pray that God would guide every step, open doors for ministry, and use us for His glory.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you,

may He turn His face toward you and give you peace.

 With gratitude and love in Christ,

Jonathan Moldovan- PIEI Romania Missionary

Church Renovations and a National Holiday

Dear friends,

Hope this letter will find you blessed by God in everything you need. 

This is a very busy time here (as I suppose it is for you also), as we are getting ready for the official reopening of Maranatha Baptist Church in Bazna. We are coming after a long time of renovation and finally we are about to enjoy the hard work and investment in the building. There are still some things to be done untill 14 of December, like carpeting the floor, sound system and video projection. We still need some financial support as the sound system and instruments are quite expensive, so pray for this also.

This last Sunday service was very nice, we were around 35 people or even more (kids, young adults, and families). I was surprised to see some of them from the village as they haven't been to church in a very long time, but also some non-Christians. After the church service we had fellowship, coffee, tea and donuts. It was so good to see this building alive again.

This last Sunday service was very nice, we were around 35 people or even more (kids, young adults, and families). I was surprised to see some of them from the village as they haven't been to church in a very long time, but also some non-Christians. After the church service we had fellowship, coffee, tea and donuts. It was so good to see this building alive again.

Then yesterday on 1st December it was România's National Day, and together with younger families from Medias, Bethel Baptist Church we had a day together in Bazna. There was more than 60 people (adults and kids). The day started with a walk around Bazna at 11 am and then cooking "goulash" on a open fire. Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a meal made of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices.

It was a nice time of fellowship, laughter, prayers and bonding. Hope this will continue in Bazna's ministry as it's a great way for families to come together but also invite people from outside in the church in a non religious context.

Beside this, I am busy with life in the family. Joshua and Mathew were sick for the last week. They got a cold -virus-bacteria , I have no idea what it was as they both were coughing, vomiting, muscle pain, dizziness...no COVID though as we tested them. I suppose it was something from school or the school bus as they are traveling with different kids every day to Medias and back. They feel better now, but not fully recovered.

Jonathan had his first exam session in University and he did very good...almost perfect. Proud of him. It's good that he can be home for the weekends and help with worhip in church now.

Diana has received a letter from Alba Iulia's University that she was waiting for in order to establish the final exam for her degree. It will be part online, but also face to face with some of the examination team. She can decide the date sometime next year - this is great as she can prepare that day in advance and it will not be a surprise (as they usually are).

I hope you'll have a blessed Christmas season with your family and church, and don't forget in the business of this month, let us celebrate Jesus. 

Love you all and looking forward to send some news from the Inauguration day in 14 of December and Christmas in Maranatha, Bazna. Please pray for Bazna. Blessings,

Ionatan Moldovan-PIEI Romania Missionary