Romania - Local Church Sustainability Project

Licensed Ministers (pictured at the 2019 district
assembly) are now candidates for ordination

Five Romanians have just completed the course of study for ordination in 2021 and are expected to be ordained at the next district assembly. This is a tremendous milestone since there are no ordained ministers on the Romania District. These three men and two women are equipped and are being empowered to take on new leadership roles in the Romania District, both in existing local churches and in starting new works in neighboring communities.

The Romania District is a small district, consisting of 3 small churches – with many church members coming from disadvantaged communities. Since none of the churches are currently capable of financially supporting a pastor’s full salary, district and field leaders are developing local sources of income to support them, such as developing a carpentry business, selling handcrafts made by church members, and renting out church-owned properties. As these activities increase income, the churches will gain the means to support their pastor and cover other expenses.

With their official theological studies now behind them, these five ministers can invest their time previously spent with their studies in seeking to develop these income generating activities. Change, however, does not happen overnight. It will take time and effort to develop these income-generating activities to a point so that each local church can not only support their pastor, but also cover other expenses (like utilities) and fund the overall mission of the church by contributing to the World Evangelism Fund and to the district. It will involve educating church members to be good stewards of the resources with which they have been entrusted.

Project Description

This project partners with local churches to provide up to 5 years of supplemental funding as they become financially sustainable.

• Prior to the implementation of the project, the pastor and local church board, together with the district superintendent, will determine current and potential sources of income, as well as expected expenses. More than a budget, this financial strategy needs to outline specific ways the church will expand income-generating activities to cover their expenses, including specific actions to be taken and a time frame in which each step need to be accomplished.
• The first step is for each local church to focus on covering all utilities from internal sources.
• Next, the local church board will set the pastor’s salary, based on available local church resources. During the first year of the project, while the church is strategizing how to generate additional income and taking initial steps toward this goal, project funds may be used to supplement the take-home pay of the pastor, as long as the local church is contributing a portion. During the second year, project funds may be used to cover up to half of the take-home pay of the pastor. From the beginning of the third year onwards, project funds will no longer be used for take-home pay of the pastor; the local church will need to cover this from locally-generated income.
• Throughout the duration of the project, project funds will be used to cover the contributions to the state related to pastors’ health insurance, income tax, and pension – which combined total an additional 66% of the net income of a salary in Romania. (In other words: for every $100 received “in hand,” $66 additional needs to be paid to the state.) At this point in time, our churches cannot take on this financial burden, but not covering it puts our pastors and their families at risk. At the end of years 3, 4, and 5, the amount of project funds allocated will decrease by a third (33.3%), as the expectation is that the church will be increasingly generating more income.
• In order to continue receiving funding throughout the duration of the project, the pastor, together with the local church board, needs to submit quarterly status reports that outline the progress made and challenges encountered during that quarter, to ensure that steps are intentionally being made toward financial sustainability.

This gradual decrease of project funds will help the church and the pastor prepare for what comes at the end of the 5 year period of the project – either the church has the resources to pay the pastor a full-time salary, or the church will pay what it can and the pastor will need to seek part-time bi-vocational employment elsewhere. Either outcome is acceptable and can be planned for well in advance. Early in this process, each of the three churches will determine which is the most realistic and appropriate scenario for their local church.

Give now to invest in this careful strategy to establish long-term financial support for ministers in Romania.

2021 EuNC Graduation in Romania

The Romania Learning Centre held its graduation ceremony at the Romania District Assembly on Sunday afternoon, November 14. Due to COVID restrictions, the assembly took place on Zoom, with participants in different locations. Rector Mária Gusztinné Tulipán conferred the degrees, which were presented by LC Coordinator Jonathan Phillips and LC Administrator Oana Cristurean. Magda Cini, Nelutu Cini, Roxana Cini, and Relu Cristurean all received the Diploma in Christian Ministry, while Paula Creely graduated with the Advanced Diploma in Applied Theology.

This was a momentous event for several reasons. Not only was it the Romania LC’s largest graduation to date and the first time accredited degrees were earned in Romania, but it also marks a significant step forward for the Romania District. This year’s four DCM graduates and one other minister have now completed the courses required for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene and are approved to be ordained as elders, which will happen in the near future.

Congratulations!
EuNC rejoices in the recent appointment of Romania LC Coordinator Rev. Jonathan Phillips as Romania District Superintendent. We praise God for such blessed leadership in our Districts and pray for guidance on this new journey.

This article was printed in the Graduation 2021 Special Edition of EuNC’s “In Touch” newsletter.

Prayer Mobilization Line: Country of Focus

Nazarene Missions International - Prayer Mobilization Line - October 20, 2021

Romania

 Country of Focus • Fast Facts

General:

Romania—work established in 1992; 3 organized churches; 72 members.

Regional:

Romania is on the Central Europe Field of the Eurasia Region.

Cultural:

Romania, as a nation, dates back to 1862, and gained independence in 1877 from the Ottoman Empire. During the First World War, Romania joined the Allied Powers, and following the war acquired Transylvania as new territory. During the Second World War, it aligned itself with Germany in the invasion of the USSR. However, overrun by the Soviets in 1943, and the establishment of a communist “people’s republic” in 1947, along with the abdication of the king that same year, Romania entered into a period in its history marked with oppressive regimes that continued until 1996, when the communist-dominated government lost power. Romania is now a part of NATO and the European Union (EU).  

Special:

The official language of Romania is Romanian. The majority religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity (82%). Protestant denominations make up only 6.4% of the religious landscape. Recent laws (2006) have made it more difficult for denominations and religious charities to register in the country. Over 24% of the population is under the age of 25 years, and the literacy rate stands at nearly 99%. The poverty rate (nearly 24%), is one of the highest poverty rates in the EU. The country reports more than 1.5 million children are living in poverty. It is estimated that 41% of the Romanian population have no access to running water.  

Mission and Ministry

Ministry Challenges

During the COVID-19 pandemic the number of cases in the Romania has reached 1,398,264 with 40,461 reported deaths.

Romania has been reporting few COVID-19 cases, and particularly in areas where our churches are located, the numbers were low. However, those numbers have begun to rise as more people choose to stay inside as colder weather increases. Because of the physical sizes of our church facilities, maintaining required social distance is not easy, and churches have had to go to online or hybrid delivery of services. Re-engaging church members and communities is proving a challenge, and churches who have done significant compassionate ministries are finding that people are feeling disconnected from the churches because of limited access to buildings. In rural communities, young teenagers during the pandemic lockdowns have been married, with some brides being as young as 13 and 14, with many becoming mothers for the first time. This will, no doubt, have an impact upon this young generation. 

Ministry Approaches

One of the significant ministries in Romania is the Open Door Foundation, helping those who have fallen victim to the human trafficking, primarily of women. God has been doing amazing things in the lives of those being helped by Open Door, and the ministry of the Bucharest Church of the Nazarene. Many have come to faith in Christ and have begun mentoring younger women. The pandemic closures of churches have made it possible for repairs and renovations to take place in our buildings, an unexpected blessing. Also, children in Tigmandru have returned to the Child Sponsorship Program in greater numbers. Many children have been anxiously waiting for the return to in-person programs through the churches, and there is great excitement that these programs are beginning again. Small gathering services have begun in several homes that were not operating before COVID-19. 

Praises

• “We give God thanks that our churches are able to meet together in person again. Even during this time of COVID, people have come to Christ and have been baptized. Ministries to children are growing.” (Josh and Shannon Herndon)
• Give praise to God that visitation to many in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the birth of numerous house churches that are beginning to reach new communities with the Good News of Jesus. 
• “The upcoming district assembly will see five Romanians ordained, a significant milestone since there are currently no ordained Romanians serving on the district.” (Jonathan Phillips)
• Missionaries serving in Romania “give thanks to God that there is renewed motivation and inspiration for the work.” (Casey Bloom)

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the ministry to survivors of human trafficking that is being carried out through the Church of the Nazarene in Bucharest.
• Pray for the work being done in the renovation of local churches, and construction work in Sighisoara.
• Pray for the young mothers in Tigmandru and their children, and that children’s ministries may continue to grow and thrive on the district.
• Pray for the Herndon family as they begin to make preparations for a transition from Romania to Italy, and all that will involve for their children.
• Pray for the continued work of education through EuNC in the preparation of ministers for the Romanian churches.
• Pray that God will continue to increase the unity among the churches, pastors, and congregations, as they seek to carry out their ministries, that new believers will develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, and that there will be a spiritual curiosity about God in communities.
• Pray that the church may be a transformative presence throughout the country.

Join us in Prayer...

 

Bibles, Bricks & Blessings

Audrey Simpson served as a missionary to Romania with the Church of the Nazarene in the 1990s. She has recently written a book with many of her memories.

From Amazon:

"Follow Audrey as she takes you on the Romanian phase of her missionary adventures! From the streets of Bucharest to the mountains of Transylvania and beyond, you can expect to encounter intrigue and exploits of faith that will touch your heart and reveal to you the wonder of God's presence."

Click here to order the book from Amazon.

Romania woodshop helps provide jobs for local residents

by Lexi Sunberg for Nazarene News | 01 Jul 2021

Jay Hartzler, a retired teacher who moved with his wife to Romania as a volunteer missionary, has turned his longtime summer hobby of doing custom woodwork projects into employment for people in a Romanian village where work is hard to come by.

Hartzler got involved when Magda Cini, pastor of Tigmandru Church of the Nazarene, mentioned that they had dreamed of starting a woodshop for years. After a year of language study and getting to know the church, Jay and his wife, Sheri, began to plan to open a shop in the village.

The Tigmandru church set up a nonprofit called Ateliere Nazarineanului or Nazarene Workshops so they could hire people and sell items separate from church activities. Through Ateliere Nazarineanului, they were able to help provide job skills and income to men in the village. Tigmandru is a small village that is currently in a job shortage. Practical vocational training is a priority for the church, whether through sewing, farming, or now woodworking. Cini is passionate about engaging the community and meeting their physical needs as well as spiritual.

Jay oversees the leadership of the enterprise by marketing, drawing plans, teaching, and supervising the work. He has seen success in business as well as connecting with people. After striking up a friendship with a tour guide in the nearby town of Sighisoara, Jay invited the tour guide to the homes of clients to make introductions and help with translations when needed. Many times, several trips were needed before the order was made. Meetings often included meals, drinks, conversation — sometimes in two or three different languages — and an opportunity for sharing the gospel. In this way, ministry is done both in making furniture and selling it.

“We are grateful to God not only for orders for furniture but for friendships that have been formed among the workers and between Jay and the clients,” said the Hartzlers. “We are thankful for safety, for the ability to teach and learn new skills, and for the opportunity this shop has been to be a light in the community.”

The workshop began in 2015 with three men from the community and quickly evolved from making basic storage structures to custom furniture — including outfitting a new AirBnb in Sighisoara — and restoring traditional pieces. The beginning of the process was not easy; though they had a location for the shop established behind the church, they had to repair and renovate. Some of the initial building construction was done by hand and with a horse and cart.

Jay and Sheri came to Romania in 2013 for a year of work as Nazarene Compassionate Ministry volunteers. They have been there since. Besides their work in the woodshop, they also lead choirs in the community, help with music in Sighisoara and Tigmandru, and help lead a kids’ club in Tigmandru.

House on the Rock, Carved Wooden Spoons, and a Museum of Romanian Folk Arts and Crafts

Originally published in Veritas View newsletter, Spring 2021

The Veritas Foundation purchased the House on the Rock building in 1998 to serve as a center for education, community development and intercultural exchange. It was built on the site of an earlier building, after the great fire of 1676 destroyed three quarters of the properties in the citadel. It was probably originally occupied by a German master-craftsman and his family and apprentices. 

It is appropriate now, after 20 years of use for Veritas educational activities, that a craftsman will once again use the building. House on the Rock is uniquely designed to provide large rooms on three floors for displays. The top floor of the building will be used for hands-on art activities for tourists. 

The International Café opened in 2002 on the first floor of the building, providing coffee, tea, homemade pastries, and pies and more. It will continue to serve tourists and museum visitors. 

The museum is operated by Mark and Raluca Tudose, Romanian entrepreneurs who have successfully created two gift shops in the citadel. One of these has been in the basement of House on the Rock where they have had a craft shop since 2012. 

Their new enterprise is to create a museum of folk arts and crafts of Romania. One of the major features of the museum will be carved wooden spoons. Mark himself is a spoon carver, having learned from his grandfather. He has collected spoons from around the world, attractively displayed and with stories of the craftsmen who made them. 

One of Mark’s goals in opening this museum is to help Romanian artists find an outlet for their work. His craft stores currently carry only Romanian-made crafts. This museum will also feature artists who are named by UNESCO as "live treasury", a designation for artists who are no longer working, but who were recognized during their lifetimes by the Romanian Ministry of Culture.

The Museum will focus mostly on wooden spoons, arranged in three areas:

• Traditional Romanian spoons made by craftsmen in Romania. Each artist will have a well-established exhibit with information for visitors to contact the artist directly.

• Spoons from the traditions of the world. Already 150 spoon collections have been donated or purchased from eight countries and counting.

• Different kinds of wood from which the spoons are made.There are at least 200 types of wood used worldwide.

The main purpose of this museum is to arouse the visitor's curiosity, to enrich his knowledge with ancestral symbols explained and to help him find common ground among the cultures of the world. 

Besides the spoons, which will occupy the walls, the museum will house exhibits of beautiful pieces of furniture, artwork and traditional objects, depicting the multiculturalism found in the Transylvanian region. Purchase of tickets for the museum and coffee and food items from the International Café will provide support for the social work programs of the Veritas Foundation.

We congratulate Mark and Raluca and their work to make this dream become a reality. We are grateful to partner with them so that the House on the Rock will continue to be a place of education where traditional arts are featured.

Loading boxes for the move from House
on the Rock to the Family Center.