“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
We thank God for the wonderful gift of His mercy.
When you ask people how they are doing, the answer you hear most often is, “I’m doing well.” If I continue the conversation and ask them what “doing well” actually means, many find it difficult to explain. At that point, I often remind them that the Scriptures define goodness differently. According to God’s Word, to do well means to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
When I ask the same question again, the answer often changes. Some will say, “I’m striving to do what is good.”
That is our desire as well. We strive to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
One of our greatest joys during this season has been the opportunity to begin a Bible study group for several teenagers in our town. We are praying that this ministry will continue to grow and bear lasting fruit. It is not easy, especially in the culture we live in today, to gather young people together to examine real-life situations, ask honest questions, and discover biblical answers. Yet we believe that God’s Word has the power to transform lives.
Please pray with us that the hearts of these teenagers will be changed by the Gospel and that they will become godly examples and an encouragement to others.
Missionaries
As you know, the mission field is vast. This is certainly true for the PIEI missionaries serving throughout Romania. As always, there is a continual need for men and women who are willing to dedicate themselves to serving Christ on the mission field.
Praying that the Lord will send laborers into His harvest—and being involved in preparing and equipping those workers—remains one of our ongoing priorities. This commitment is shared by every missionary serving within PIEI Romania.
Our missionaries continue faithfully preaching the Gospel, discipling believers, visiting church members and other families, caring for their spiritual and practical needs, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.
The life and ministry of a missionary or pastor is often far more demanding and diverse than many people realize. Their calling involves much more than preaching the Gospel. Frequently, they find themselves serving in ways that may not seem directly related to ministry but are nevertheless essential expressions of Christ’s love.
Many missionaries personally care for the practical needs of the people they serve. They purchase firewood and deliver it to families in need. They provide food for the elderly, the sick, and those who are unable to care for themselves. They help people obtain medical treatment, search for solutions to difficult situations, and often transport individuals wherever assistance is needed.
They serve as drivers, counselors, administrators, caretakers, maintenance workers, and cleaners. They supply churches with necessary materials, travel hundreds of kilometers—sometimes across hills and mountains, and often on foot—to reach isolated communities. Above all, they serve with willing hearts because they desire to glorify Christ through every opportunity He gives them.
One recent reason for thanksgiving is that Brother Emanuel has accepted the call to pastor the church in Craiva, a village in Alba County, near the city of Alba Iulia. This is a church with a rich history and a sincere desire to have a strong testimony and meaningful impact in its community.
Please pray for Emanuel, for the church, and for the ministry God has entrusted to them. May the Lord use this congregation to shine brightly for Christ throughout their region.
Reaching Romania
One of the primary goals of PIEI Romania is to prepare and provide effective ministry “tools” that can be used to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
One of these important projects is taking place at our camp in Negrilești, where significant progress is being made on the construction of a new pavilion. This facility is being built to provide a welcoming space where campers can gather for Bible study, worship, fellowship, and a variety of ministry activities.
Construction has been moving forward steadily, and we are hopeful that the pavilion will be completed during the coming week. We praise God for His faithful provision and for everyone who has contributed their time, skills, and resources to make this project possible.
At this time, we are especially grateful for a mission team from the United States that is serving alongside us. The men are actively involved in raising the wooden structure of the pavilion, while the women are participating in children’s camps, women’s ministries, and other outreach activities organized by churches throughout our ministry area.
It is encouraging to witness believers from different countries serving together with one heart and one purpose—to make Christ known and to strengthen His Church.
Short-Term Mission Teams
As mentioned previously, we are thankful that during the months of June and July we have the privilege of hosting two mission teams from the United States.
The first team is assisting with the construction of the pavilion at the Negrilești camp and is also serving in Valchid (Sibiu County) and Bazna (also in Sibiu County) through Gospel Partnership Services (GPS) and local church ministries.
A second team will arrive in July. During their stay, they will serve in two different ministry locations. Part of their ministry will include vision clinics, where they will provide eye examinations and distribute prescription eyeglasses to those in need.
They will also travel to the northern mission field, visiting Câmpeni, where they will spend time encouraging Brother Florin and supporting the ministry there. Following their work in Romania, the team will continue on to Ukraine, where they will partner with local churches and missionaries as they serve people affected by the ongoing challenges in that country.
We are deeply grateful for the team that is already here. Their joyful attitude, servant hearts, and willingness to work wherever needed have been a tremendous encouragement to all of us. It has also been a blessing to hear many of them express a desire to return and continue serving alongside us in the future, if the Lord wills.
Please pray with us:
* for God’s protection over the team currently serving in Romania;
* that everything they do will bring glory to Christ and be a blessing to those they serve;
* for the team that will arrive soon, as they minister in both Romania and Ukraine;
* and for safety in all their travels, both coming and returning home.
We also want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has made these mission trips possible. Thank you for supporting the missionaries serving throughout Romania and for investing in the work God is accomplishing in our country through your prayers, generosity, and faithful partnership.
Stinesa Timotei - PIEI Romania National Director
