Veritas Celebrates 30 Years of Service to the Community

Veritas Founder Dorothy Tarrant

By Jonathan Phillips

When Professor Dorothy Tarrant moved to Sighișoara, Romania, in the summer of 1995, she did not intend to establish a social service agency. She was concerned about providing her American study-abroad students from Eastern Nazarene College with a cultural immersion experience that included learning the Romanian language and culture while living with Romanian host families.

“More importantly,” Tarrant reflected, “students learned how to put their Christian faith in practice by serving some of the most disadvantaged people in Sighișoara.”

Students began working with abandoned children in the municipal hospital, with poor kids begging on the street, and with the socially-isolated elderly. As Romanians joined the ministry team, Tarrant saw the need to legally establish an organization in order to pay salaries, purchase property, and apply for grants – leading to the creation of the Veritas Sighișoara Foundation in 2001.

On Thursday afternoon, June 18, nearly 200 friends, donors, volunteers, staff members, and beneficiaries of Veritas gathered to celebrate 30 years of dedicated service to the community.

Speaking to the crowd gathered, Veritas board president Mihai Șerengheu explained, “Behind the number 30 are the hundreds of employees, hundreds of volunteers, thousands of volunteer hours, thousands of people and lives that have been changed. It’s more than a number.”

Reunion of past & present Veritas staff members 

Over the years, Veritas has offered a wide range of services to the community – from social services combatting domestic violence, to educational services like English camp for high schoolers, to cultural events such as craft fairs and concerts, to a Gospel choir and café which served as connection points for members of the community.

Executive director Petra Popa reported that Veritas currently offers accredited social services in the areas of children and teenagers, senior adults, persons with special needs, and a soup kitchen. Veritas benefits from partnerships with the Sighișoara city hall, with the Princess Margareta of Romania Foundation, as well as with individual and corporate donors and volunteers. Additionally, Veritas is a Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partner organization and a participant in the NCM Child Sponsorship program. Nazarene volunteers and teams have been instrumental in the development of Veritas through the years.

Sighișoara mayor Iulian Sîrbu,
Veritas Executive Director Petra Popa, &
Veritas Board President Mihai Șerengheu

Sighișoara mayor Iulian Sîrbu, present at the celebration, thanked Veritas for “three decades in which you have stood by children, the elderly, families in need, and all those who have needed support at some point. Your work is often unassuming, but it makes a real difference in people’s lives.”

The day’s festivities included tributes from various individuals connected to Veritas, a performance by the Gospel Choir, and a refreshment break for socializing and sharing memories. Interspersed throughout the celebration were artistic moments from each of the current Veritas programs in which children, persons with special needs, and senior adults recited poems and sang songs.

Performance by the Children

Gospel Choir

Senior adults

Reflecting on the past 30 years, Dorothy Tarrant remarked: “For me, it was a great privilege to be used by God to establish an organization that has had such an impact on so many lives.”

For more about Veritas, visit https://veritas.ro/en/ & https://www.facebook.com/VeritasSighisoara/.

Donations can be made at https://give.ncm.org/donate/134477

ENC Professor Emerita Dorothy Tarrant and Romanian Studies Program alumnus (now Romania District Superintendent) Jonathan Phillips, holding the sign that used to hang outside ENC’s Education Center (and first internet café in Sighisoara) in the early days of Veritas.

This article was also published at eurasiaregion.org, Nazarene News & NCM blog. 

Home Assignment: Jonathan Phillips Shares Stories of God’s Work in Romania

Originally published at https://www.eurasiaregion.org/jonathan-phillips-ha/

Jonathan Phillips has been serving in Eurasia for 17 years. As a missionary on sponsored deployment, he currently leads the Church of the Nazarene in Romania as district superintendent. Today, we get a glimpse into another part of a missionary’s role – Home Assignment, where missionaries return to their home country to share stories of what God is doing through the Church of the Nazarene around the world.

Following seven weeks in the United States for home assignment, Jonathan Phillips returned to Romania after speaking in 17 church services and 5 small groups across three Nazarene districts, travelling through 9 airports, driving more than 4,200 km in 6 rental and borrowed cars, and staying in 13 different beds across 7 states and 2 countries.

“Home assignment is a blend of promoting Nazarene missions, visiting and thanking long-time sponsors and prayer supporters, raising funds for my deputation account, reconnecting with friends, spending time with family, getting regular medical check-ups, buying items to take back to Romania – all while also keeping up with certain responsibilities in Romania,” Jonathan shared.

During his time in churches and small groups, Jonathan shared stories of how missions giving through the World Evangelism Fund, Alabaster, Work & Witness, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, special projects, and missionary deputation is making a difference in Romania. He also led smaller groups in prayer for the four ministry areas that continue to shape his work in Romania: making disciples, equipping leaders, developing churches, and serving through compassionate ministries.

Jonathan also reflected on how home assignment broadens the perspective of missionaries as they reconnect with Nazarene congregations in many different contexts and communities.

“A seldom-mentioned aspect of home assignment is that as I visit churches, I gain a broader vision, too,” Jonathan remarked.

Join us in prayer for missionaries across the Eurasia Region as they travel, reconnect with churches and supporters, and continue serving faithfully in the places where God has called them.

Obituary for Jonathan Emerson Twining

Originally published at https://www.winfieldandsons.com/obituaries/jonathan-twining/

Jonathan Emerson Twining, 63, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after an extended illness. Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Emerson and Rita (Howells) Twining. He was the devoted husband of 37 years to Julia (Elsen) Twining.

Besides his wife, Jonathan is survived by his beloved son, Jonathan J. Twining; and many cherished aunts, uncles and cousins. He also leaves behind countless friends, colleagues, former students, and members of the many church communities he faithfully served throughout his life.

Jon dedicated his career to higher education as a college professor, sharing his passion for caring for God's creation with his students. He touched the lives of many young people over the years, inspiring them through his knowledge, compassion, and unwavering commitment to teaching them about caring for the environment. One of his favorite outdoor classrooms were vernal pools. He also took his students to Hawaii and Costa Rica, introducing them to the diverse ecosystems of each area. He was also involved in frog bioacoustics research in Costa Rica, with his close friend and colleague, Professor John Cossel, PhD. His influence extended far beyond the classroom, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts and minds of those he mentored.

Jon made yearly mission trips to Sighisoara, Romania, between 1997-2003, with his wife Julie. The focus of these trips was to educate the local youth and residents about how to care for their environment and the importance of environmental stewardship. He took ENC students with him on several of these trip where they helped with the education. He touched the lives of many during these trips, while making lasting friendships.

A gifted musician, Jon found great joy in worship through music. He played guitar and sang with the worship teams of several churches over the years, using his talents to glorify God and encourage others in their faith.

Jon was also an enthusiastic nature photographer, his favorite subjects were sunrise/sunset at the beach and lakes.

During the last few years, Jon was actively involved in Virtual Eco missions. He helped to support the Upendo Conservation Area, focused on restoration and preservation of a protected area and the Snake Community Action Network (SCAN), focused on snakebite prevention, both located in Kenya.

Jon will be remembered for his deep faith in Jesus, kind spirit, dedication to his family, and the positive impact he made on so many lives. He will be greatly missed by his wife, son, extended family, friends, colleagues, and students.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Tufts Medical Center for the exceptional care and compassion Jon received throughout the past 18 months.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 1p at Hope Church, 1114 Scituate Avenue, Cranston, RI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to https://givebutter.com/jonathan-emerson-twining-memorial-fund-lpdj37 in Jon’s memory, to help support and continue the Virtual Eco Missions work in Kenya.

Central Europe Field - Pastors’ Retreat 2026

From 30 April to 3 May, pastors and leaders from across the Central Europe Field gathered in Šibenik, Croatia for the Central Europe Field Pastors Retreat 2026. Centered around the theme “Abide,” the retreat created intentional space for pastors and leaders to slow down, be refreshed, and simply be poured into.

Many serve across the field as ministers in smaller churches and communities, where ministry can sometimes feel lonely and exhausting. Throughout the retreat, pastors were encouraged through messages from David Graves (General Superintendent Emeritus) and Regional Director Mark Louw, who spoke about pruning and the important role it plays in the life of a minister.

“Our goal was not to give training to the pastors. Our goal was to create a space of pastors being ministered to,” shared Cezarina Glendenning, Central Europe Field Strategy Coordinator. “Since a lot of our pastors operate in smaller realities or smaller churches or districts, sometimes it can feel lonely and tiring. This was a time where they could rest, reconnect, and be renewed together.”

Join us in prayer for the Central Europe Field, for pastors and churches walking through difficult seasons, and for a new generation of leaders to emerge as God continues to guide new initiatives and ministries across the field.

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You can watch a highlights video from the event here: